Friends-
It’s outrageous. Barely a week after the elections, the Capitol is already buzzing about pay raises for New York State lawmakers.
New York has the worst income inequality in the country. Millions work multiple jobs but can’t make ends meet. This legislature can’t raise their own wage until they raise the wage for all New Yorkers.
Lawmakers should get back to Albany right now to raise the minimum wage, tie it to inflation, and let local communities raise their own wage even higher!
Here’s what needs to happen: the minimum wage needs to go up, it needs to be indexed to inflation so that workers can earn a decent living without having to pass a new law every couple of years, and local governments need the authority to raise their own minimum wage because the cost of living is higher in some places than in others.
The Senate and Assembly have the power to pass a wage package like this right now. And Governor Cuomo should call them back to Albany to do it.
Right now, 3 million New Yorkers are working hard, but living in poverty. It’s a disgrace.
Before legislators give themselves a raise, they need to help families who are struggling every day.
Click here to demand that New York pass a robust minimum wage package right now!
Thanks for all you do,
Karen Scharff
Executive Director
Citizen Action of New York