By Alex Robinson
U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and Nydia Velazquez (D-Ridgewood) signed a letter sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo asking that local municipalities be allowed to set their own minimum wages.
“New York state leads the nation in income inequality, and women and families are paying the price for this severe economic injustice,” the letter said. “The impact of wage inequality has reached crisis proportions for families, too, with over 1.1 million children having at least one parent who works at a low-wage job.”
The letter urged the state government’s leadership to pass a bill, called RaiseUpNY, allowing local governments to set their own minimum wage rates in an effort to eradicate the wage gap between men and women.
Women make up 53 percent of low-income wage earners in New York state, where the minimum wage is $8, the letter said.
More than 125 prominent women signed onto the letter, including 18 state lawmakers, nine city councilwomen and a long list of leaders from union, business and community organizations.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
