Diaz Jr calls for Living Wage vote

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. first had the Fair Wages for New Yorkers bill introduced to the City Council in 2010, and in 2012 is now calling for the Council to vote on the bill.



A December Quinnipiac poll on the living wage--$10/hr. with benefits or $11.50/hr. without--found that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support a living wage. However, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has so far sided with Mayor Michael Bloomberg strong opposition and not allowed it to come to a vote in the Council. Rumors among the city-wide media say the bill once had enough supporters to override a Bloomberg veto, but more recently the bill appears to be losing steam, even as City Council Members G. Oliver Koppell and Annabel Palma, the two main sponsors, scaled the bill back to appease opponents. 

In the video, Diaz says, "This is simply a matter of fairness, and to the mayor and the City Council: it is time for you to be fair to the people of New York City. We can no longer wait. The time to vote is now."

Koppell met with Quinn recently, trying to convince her to support for the bill. He said the meeting didn't convince her to take a stand, and didn't want to speak for her.

"She hasn’t made up her mind yet." Koppell said in a phone interview. "I’m hoping she makes up her mind."

A comment from Quinn's office is forthcoming.