Council Members seek approval of living wage bill
Title
Council Members seek approval of living wage bill
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7
Vtmbh article author
by Marimar Navarrete
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The majority of the City Counsel seeks to pass a living wage bill that will set the minimum wage at $9.60 an hour for some workers.
If Intro 66-A, known as the living wage bill, is passed, it will amend local laws to mandate a decent salary and guaranteed health benefits to workers at companies that have contracts with the city or receive subsidies or tax credits. It would raise the minimum wage $8.10 for those with health insurance, and to $9.60 for those who have no benefits. The federal minimum wage is currently $5.15 and the federal poverty level is considered to be $18,100 a year for a family of four.
We support this bill because we believe that our Latino community and other minorities work very hard, sometimes 40, 50 even 60 hours a week, but they receive the lowest wages and cannot pass the federal poverty level, said Wilfredo Larencuent, a member of the Executive Committee of the Working Families Party.
But this government bill is not well-regarded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who feared it would affect the citys financial condition.
Companies are given incentives to stay in the city and reduce their costs. If the bill is passed, these costs may be raised and so will the possibility of companies leaving New York, said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff.
Eighty-one cities across the nation, including Baltimore and Santa Fe, have passed Living Wage laws.
If Intro 66-A, known as the living wage bill, is passed, it will amend local laws to mandate a decent salary and guaranteed health benefits to workers at companies that have contracts with the city or receive subsidies or tax credits. It would raise the minimum wage $8.10 for those with health insurance, and to $9.60 for those who have no benefits. The federal minimum wage is currently $5.15 and the federal poverty level is considered to be $18,100 a year for a family of four.
We support this bill because we believe that our Latino community and other minorities work very hard, sometimes 40, 50 even 60 hours a week, but they receive the lowest wages and cannot pass the federal poverty level, said Wilfredo Larencuent, a member of the Executive Committee of the Working Families Party.
But this government bill is not well-regarded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who feared it would affect the citys financial condition.
Companies are given incentives to stay in the city and reduce their costs. If the bill is passed, these costs may be raised and so will the possibility of companies leaving New York, said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff.
Eighty-one cities across the nation, including Baltimore and Santa Fe, have passed Living Wage laws.
Vtmbh article date
2002-04-24
Vtmbh article edition
18
Vtmbh article hit count
94
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1
Vtmbh article original language
Spanish
Vtmbh article publication
Hoy
Vtmbh article section
briefs
Vtmbh article thumb
Vtmbh article title
Council Members seek approval of living wage bill
Vtmbh article translator
Telesh Lopez
Source
born-digital
Media Type
article
Created by Author
yes
Described by Author
no
Date Entered
2002-04-24
Collection
Citation
“Council Members seek approval of living wage bill,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 1, 2026, https://911.dev.chnm.gmu.edu/items/1538/.