Quinn Won't Support Paid Sick Leave Bill

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced this afternoon that she won't support a controversial bill that would require all businesses to provide paid sick days to their workers. Labor groups and politicians have been rallying for months to get the legislation passed (nearly every Bronx City Council member, and Borough President Diaz, supports it).

Her decision means a probable end for the bill, at least for now, despite the fact that it had the veto-proof support of 35 City Council members. As Council Speaker, Quinn decides what bills come to the floor for a vote--meaning the Paid Sick Leave Act will likely be shelved, as it's been for the past several months.

Quinn said she was concerned that the requirement would be too much for small business owners to take on during a time of recession.

"In an ideal world, we’d be able to provide all benefits to every New Yorker. In a better economy, we might have the financial freedom to both expand benefits and create new jobs. But that’s not the reality we live in," Quinn said in a statement sent out this afternoon. "Now is simply not the right time for a measure that threatens the survival of small business owners."

The Paid Sick Time Act would make all businesses with 20 workers or more provide nine paid sick days, while smaller businesses would have to give five.

Groups in support of the bill are already coming down hard on Quinn, with accusations that she's looking to appease the business community to safeguard potential future plans for a Mayoral run.

"Speaker Quinn's decision not to move forward with this bill is a victory for the fear-mongering tactics of business lobbyists who have opposed every piece of pro-worker legislation from child labor laws to the minimum wage," said  Bob Master, Co-Chairman for the Working Families Party.

Bronx News Roundup, Oct. 8

Happy Friday everyone! Looks like it's going to be a lovely weekend in the Bronx. Enjoy.

We'll start with what's becoming a big citywide story that has serious implications for the Bronx: Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to ban sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda and other sugar-heavy beverages) from being purchased using food stamps. Bloomberg faces several legal hurdles and what will sure to be a strong push-back from soda companies and their lobbyists. Earlier this year, the so-called "soda tax" Bloomberg, health advocates and nutritionists wanted implemented went absolutely nowhere in Albany. (I'm going to post this up as a topic for debate in our newly created forum later today. Feel free to chime in. UPDATE: just posted this topic on the forum. It only takes a minute to register. I just did it. Totally painless.)

The other citywide story we're keeping tabs on is the push to require businesses to provide paid sick leave for employees. Bloomberg says the legislation would be "disastrous" for small businesses. Most of the Bronx delegation in the City Council and Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. are strong supporters of the bill and yesterday, Council Christine Quinn agreed to negotiate on it.

Could the Bronx become an environmental-tourism destination? The Bronx Tourism Council is offering a Bronx EcoAdventure Tour as one of its five trolley tours. The Eco tour stops at the Botanical Garden, the Zoo and culminates with a canoe ride down the Bronx River, with a lunch stop at Arthur Avenue sandwiched in between. It's $65 for adults, $55 for seniors and children (the website says it's not suitable for kids under 10 and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

After a whirlwind journey that took him across the country and to three different junior colleges, Bronx hoopster Anthony Nieves, a standout on the club level who attended John F. Kennedy High School but never qualified academically to varsity play ball, has committed to play basketball next year for Southern Mississippi, a Division I school in Conference USA. Nieves, who is now 21, was nicknamed "Barbosa" for his likeness to Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa. 

Jury deliberations will continue today in the Bronx bomb plot trial after jurors sent two questions to the judge yesterday.

The Observer fleshes out a NY Post report that sex worker-turned-art teacher Melissa Petro has been offered $60,000 to pose nude in High Society magazine.

And for all you Bronx Bomber fans, here are highlights of last night's 4-2 Yankees victory over the Minnesota Twins, putting them up 2-0 in the best of five divisional series.

Paid Sick Days Rally Canceled as Quinn Comes to Negotiating Table

Apparently the threat of a rally was all it took to get Council Speaker Christine Quinn to negotiate on a bill that would require city businesses to provide workers with paid sick leave. Most of the Bronx council delegation and Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. are hearty supporters of the legislation.

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.