- See more at: http://blogtimenow.com/blogging/automatically-redirect-blogger-blog-another-blog-website/#sthash.Q6qPkwFC.dpuf Living Wage Supporters Seek Compromise | Bronx News Networkbronx

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Living Wage Supporters Seek Compromise

Faced with criticism from opponents who say the bill would squash jobs, backers of a proposed "living wage" mandate in the City Council are now reportedly willing to make some concessions.

"We're trying to take into account some legitimate concerns," Bronx Councilman Oliver Koppell, who sponsored the legislation with Councilwoman Annabel Palma, told the Daily News. "What we want is something that'll work and also something that will engender as little resistance as possible."



According to the article, changes considered include raising the amount of publicly subsidized money received by a project for the mandate to apply (which was, originally, $100,000 or more) and exempting more small businesses from the requirement.

If passed, the Living Wages for New Yorkers Act would require developers of projects receiving taxpayer subsidies to pay workers $10 an hour with benefits, or $11.50 without.

Supporters have been actively campaigning for the bill since it was introduced over a year ago, but still don't have the 34 City Council votes needed to potentially override a mayoral veto. Mayor Bloomberg and the business community oppose the legislation on the grounds that it would kill jobs.

Speaker Christine Quinn, who decides what comes to a vote in the Council, has yet to take a clear stance on the bill, though she did hold a hearing on it last month; the Daily News said she was "pleased to learn its sponsors are willing to compromise."

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