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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

BP and Bronx Pols Support Paid Sick Leave Bill

Tomorrow, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and other city leaders will rally on the steps of City Hall in support of a bill that would require all businesses to offer employees a certain amount of paid sick leave each year.

The bill has been a controversial one since its introduction last year, with supporters saying it fulfills an urgent public health need, while opponents argue it would overburden small businesses during what's already a hard economic time.

In addition to Diaz, most Bronx City Council members support the bill--Annabel Palma, Oliver Koppell, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Larry Seabrook, Helen Foster, Joel Rivera, Fernando Cabrera and James Vacca are all co-sponsors. A spokeswoman from Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo's office said they would get back to us with her stance (we'll update you when they do).

The legislation already has enough supporters--35--for a veto-proof majority, but has been laid over since May. It's in the hands of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to decide if it should be brought up for a vote.

The bill would require all private sector employees with 20 workers or more to provide nine paid sick days a year, while smaller businesses would have to give five. Supporters, largely labor and union groups, have been at odds with opponents in the business community over how much the amendment would actually cost. A study commissioned by the business group Partnership for New York City that was released last week says it would set the city back $789 million a year, though supporters argue much less.

3 comments:

  1. From the BP's website...
    Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr... hosted a hearing on “Jobs for the 21st Century,” a public meeting... to receive input from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to better determine what local, state and federal government can do to create jobs and put New Yorkers back to work.

    Apparently, this was an exercise in futility, as he and the City Council plan on supporting socking it to businesses one more time with this legislation.

    Here's a novel idea, how about "reducing taxes" so that people have more money to take care of themselves... Hmmm...

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  2. "A study commissioned by the business group Partnership for New York City that was released last week says it would set the city back $789 million a year, though supporters argue much less."

    How much less? $500 million? $400? $300? Even if it is less than half of what the study says, can we really afford to lose any more money in the city/state?

    These taxes are grinding small businesses into the ground. Soon enough, we'll all have to stand on the food stamp line. But I guess that is the point, isn't it?

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  3. Is it going to costs small business more that a $120 parking ticket on Arthur Avenue when someone steps in to buy a $4 mozzarella? Leave the city! Small businesses already work only for the benefit of the Landlord, Sales Tax and Con Edison. There is no room anymore for small businesses in the People's Republic of the Bronx.

    ReplyDelete

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