If Democrats were calling for an increase of $3-$5 to the minimum hourly wage, I could see why Republicans would be concerned for businesses. But raising it from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour doesn't seem like much to me. Even $8.50 an hour isn't going far in this town. Not with Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Quinn running the show. Let's see what happens in Albany next Legislative session. It appears the purse strings are tied for now.

An effort to raise the State's minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour has hit a dead end in Albany. The Democratic-led Assembly is poised to pass a bill increasing the wage today, but the Senate's Republican majority says it won't even bring the bill to the floor for a vote. GOP leaders argue the bill will hurt small businesses, and tax breaks are a better way to spur job creation.

Meantime, the City Council voted to override Mayor Bloomberg's veto of the prevailing wage bill. It would guarantee higher wages to service workers in buildings the City subsidizes, or where it is a major tenant. Bloomberg has threatened to take the Council to court over the bill he says will stifle economic development. What do you say?

Should Senate Republicans vote to raise the State's minimum wage? Is $7.25 an hour enough to live in New York? Why do you think Mayor Bloomberg plans to sue Council lawmakers for passing the prevailing wage bill?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

There is no way that $7.25 is enough to live off of in NYC, neither is $8.50 an hour. Let's be realistic. Rent is crazy, food is expensive, transportation is high and health care (including dental) is outrageous.

Adelin
Jamaica, Queens

It's an insult to call $8.50 a living wage, especially in NYC. Do you ever wonder why people NYC rather stay on welfare and receive socialize medicine (medicaid) than work for a anyone at these low wages with no health benefits? Bloomberg never cared about the working class so why should he start now....

Howard from Flushing

Even at $8.50 an hour these wages would still be insufficient for those living in such an expensive city as New York, and our super rich mayor should know that, and end his frivolous law suit to stop the wage increase from becoming law.

Felix
Bay Ridge

Of course they should raise it, though in truth even $8.50/hour isn't enough to live in NYC. As far as it hurting small businesses, I believe the smaller businesses tend to pay a higher then minimum wage as is. It's the big corporations, who could well afford to pay more, that abuse their employees by paying as little as they could possibly get away with, and then paying those at the top exorbitant salaries.

Barri
Jackson Heights

Simply put, people need to live. 8.50 an hour will not hurt economic growth. Greed hurts economic growth.

Damond
Clinton Hill
Brooklyn New York

POOR BABY! $2 BILLION LOSS with an estimated $16 BILLION ANNUAL PROFIT! $4 BILLION PROFIT JUST THIS QUARTER! aGAIN, THE "JUSTICE DEPARTMENT" (another rookie kid learning the ropes-- the FBI FILLING THEIR TIMESHEETS ON THE TAXPAYER), INVESTIGATING JPMORGANCHASE again--A JOKE! sOMETHING WAS RECENTLY MISSED in one of these investigations! Five ("5") banks control 60% of the banking business in the USA (world ?). IS SMALL BETTER--MORE JOBS! Do banks and stockholders ever lose? Banks are guaranteed by the federal government ak/k/a taxpaeyr, e.g., 2008 Wall Street debacle, and NOW ANNUAL PROFITS--GUARANTEED. ALL THIS WHILE CONGRESS--"WE THE PEOPLE"-- IS 'STRUGGLING TO PASS A BILL TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE WORKING SLOB WHO DRESS IN 'bum clothing"--ragged and hand-me-downs--while IT APPEARS ON THE TELEVISION anything in a uniform or a politician appears to be living pretty good and still receive large raises on the taxpayer. The working slobs pay fees and taxes for services, but usually have a lot of SELF-SERVICE SERVICES--INCLUDING, Fast food franchises which are cafeteria style where you wait on yourself and are usually given the BUM'S RUSH--GET YOU IN, SHAKE YOU DOWN AND GET YOU OUT, and, EITHER SIT ON A HARD PLASTIC SEAT INSIDE OR EAT LIKE AN ANIMAL IN YOUR CAR. NO CLASS FOR THE WORKING SLOB WHO PAYS JUST LIKE THE BIG SHOTS.

Gail

John,

Can anyone tell me where the government gets the authority to dictate the wages that an employer must pay? Isn’t that fascism?

Fascism is a system of government under which property is ostensibly privately owned, but the use of which is regulated by government.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

Hi John,

How about if we sue all of them to get them the heck out of there. We are in desperate need of jobs and this is all they can come up with after all this time. SHAME ON THEM = ALL THEY DO IS LIVE OFF THE FAT OF THE LAND AND DO NOTHING BUT AGGRAVATE US TIME AND TIME AGAIN. WE ARE MORE THAN JUST GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF EVERYONE OF THEM. GOOD GOD = PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK ALREADY. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT EVERYONE OF THEM ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE.

Thank you John,
maxxiee
mp

I believe that though an impossibility. If the median rent in Manhattan is $2000 a month then salaries should be 150% or $3000 a month. What has to be done is costs on basic necessities like shelter and foodstuffs need to be curtailed and corporations and wealthy individuals need to pay their fair share of income tax. Also an emphasis on green technology & energy sources like solar and wind have to be considered. If we want more welfare reform and more people working they should be justly compensated. Shout out to the working people!

Jimmy from the Bronx

Never met a Manhattan Landlord who lost money..Rent Stabilization Associatoin... Is For The aBOLITION of Rent Stabilization....If They Truely Are Losing Money ....Get out of the business.

DMD in Wash HGts

Wages go up at such a slow rate. Meanwhile taxes go up regularly, MTA charges more every three years. The cost of living is rising at a higher rate, This minimal wage increase does not keep in line with what we working class have to pay on a daily basis.

Tony from Sunset PARK Brooklun

that caller is so wrong! undocumented immigrants get less than minimum wage, not more! that's why contractors hire them, and why bloomberg supports immigration reform. All these rich developers make a bundle on the backs of these workers who without a doubt make less than minimum wage.

Meryl from manhattan

Let's break in down by yearly wages: 15K to 17.5K before taxes. Who could live on this in NYC?

Slow

Raising minimum wage rate to anything below $9-10 won't make much of a difference to anyone living in NYC. Lowering the tax rate for those who live in the lower income tax bracket as WELL would help boost the economy, NY workers' morale, and small business revenue in the long run.

-Dominick, Fresh Meadows, Queens

7.25 is not enough. HOWEVER, those that make minimum wage are those with no education. If you want more, get a degree!

Michael from Staten island

im durand from queens i think 7.25$ for the city like new york because the republican make life so hard if the life is expensif now the are the reason for me 10.50$ hour ii be better for some one who are trying to life in ny

Let's address the back and forth ping pong game going on with the Prevailing Wage Bill. Please this seems to be just another trick of Christine Quinn trying to show a separation from Mayor Bloomberg for her future mayoral run. After all, she has to do some damage control after storming out of her Living Wage Bill rally like a spoiled 2-year old child because someone ever so slightly bashed Mayor Bloomberg -- proving to us all once again the real cozy relationship she shares with him. If Mayor Bloomberg decides to sue the City Council, it's to play a similar game regardless of his stern tone that he is using against the Council. Remember he is the Master of Disguise.

LET'S ALL SIT BACK AND FOLLOW THE GAME!

Lisa

What's the sense pass law for raise your cost of Living goes up that's capitalism just check the menus PS it also increases the state and local budgets.

Luigi

I sent this email back in April when The Call featured a discussion of the minimum wage.
Since we're still having this discussion, here it is again:

Back in the sixties, the minimum wage in New York was $1.25 an hour, and you
could rent an apartment for under $100 a month. Since then, the minimum wage
has increased barely six fold, yet rents have increased well in excess of ten fold,
with the result that most families headed by a minimum wage earner are living
below the poverty line.

Opponents to minimum and living wages complain that such costs are unsustainable
for small and medium-sized businesses, but weren't these arguments used against
the abolition of slavery and the outlawing of the draconian working conditions that
gave rise to our nation's enlightened labor laws?

The answer to massive mounting unemployment is the creation of secure, fulfilling,
upwardly-mobile jobs, not a peonage of low-skilled, underpaid, and largely minority
or foreign-born drones, eking out a subsistence living under substandard working
and living conditions reminiscent of a Jacob Riis photo essay.

The bad economy has, for all to many of us, been a rude awakening from what was
once the American Dream. If wages don't keep pace with spiraling living costs, that
dream will become an American Nightmare.

ANDY
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn

All city taxes go up yet wages do not. Its not fare for the working class. Something needs to be done asap. Meanwhile, Wallstreet keeps on making money.

From Oak in Sunset Park

The city has become so expensive to live in , minimum wage and prevailing wage should be the same. That's a win win situation for all.... More money for the employee ... More taxes for the city. And businesses wi get used to it.

Lyla
Park slope

There is no way you can live in NY with $7.25/hour nor with $8.50!! The mayor should really swap places with a person that earns that and let us know how he's doing after a couple of months. Prices for our rents are getting higher, so are prices for products and services but hourly rates are at a constant for years and years.

I finished college over 10 years ago and although I work in an industry where freelance is common (publishing/art direction/graphic design), some companies have our hourly rates the same since 2001! I can't even imagine living on a $7.25!

Daniela, Jackson Heights

The 7.25 an hour wage is not enough it's hard to survive on that. the starting wage should be at least 10.00an hour. with that 7.25 wage there should be some kind of help as far as food stamps,free medical , and help with rent. I now understand why some people refuse to find work but stay on welfare.

Maxine

NO one can live on minimum wage anymore, especially in NYC. No one can live on prevailing wage either. you can't live on unemployment or social security. people used to be able to go to other places if they couldn't find a job and know that they could find work that could pay their bills, things like construction or being a waitress. you could take a bus with a duffel bag and 50 bucks and know that you could survive. This country is headed for a crisis of unparalleled proportions, as the rich get richer and the middle class disappears. People who vote republican are voting against their own economic interests. Bloomberg is going to waste taxpayer dollars fighting that bill in court.

Meryl from Manhattan

I worked for a fast food restaurant and at the end of my week 7.25 did not make me happy, plus all the taxes they take out. I'm working for free full time!!!!

Sammy, Hollis..

I retired a few years ago from a middle management position and fortunately am old enough to still be eligible for a pension. I thought about possibly working part time for some extra income, but when I considered that I probably would only be able to qualify for low paying positions it feels like it is not even worth getting out of bed and dressed up for what I would earn as a part timer. People talk about working 2 and 3 jobs just to get by. But last year I read that top corporate executives had a 20% average salary increase. Do you hear all those same voices howling that this is terrible, people will get laid off, they'll leave the state - not a peep - something is clearly rotten in our system.

Donna from Manhattan

Even $8.50 is not enough to live nyc, should be higher than 8.50.

Tibebu
Upper Manhatten

Raise minimum wage to $1000, it doesn't matter. The price of goods will increase to pay the workers and we willl have the same number of poor people in a couple of years. If you want to alleviate poverty, tax the rich at a higher rate and write checks to the poor - minimum wage laws are a political gimmick to score points, but does nothing for poor people in the long run.

Michael QUEENS!

$7.25 is never enough. Anything less than $15 dollars an hour is not livable. It's insane how multi-million dollars companies (like fast food restaurants) pay workers these low wages!!

Ken, brooklyn ny

NYC is rapidly becoming a tale of 2 cities -- struggling wage earners and their billionaire overlords, who are not even willing to throw crumbs at the workforce who are constantly maligned. People are struggling to make ends meet at "minimal wage" and can barely afford to pay their escalating rents plus other bills. Today the local news was all about the $52 million 30-room apt. on Park Ave. -- as if that's the way most of the 8 million New Yorkers live. It's the Gilded Age to the power.

Gretchen
UWS

I think that $8.50 isn't enough. At the end of the week not even your electric bill can be paid off.

Stephanie, Fresh Meadows

YES $7.25 IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO LIVE IN NYC JUST AS LONG AS YOUR ABLE TO GET FOOD STAMPS. ,MEDICAID AND SECTION 8. YOU'LL LIVE LIKE A KING AND $7.25 WOULD BE SPENDING MONEY.GET REAL BLOOMBERG.

PEDRO
BRONX

The Irony is it's Minimun Wage..But Maximun Taxes and Little To No Benefits! No Health Insurance, No Pensions and In The end.... The Minimun wage is worth maybe Five Dollars. A wise man once said "President Hoover Gave The Money to The Wealthy Hoping it would "trikle-down"....President Roosevelt Gave Money to the poor hoping it would "trickle-Up"...The Greed of The Republican Party is starting to show!...Shameful!

DMD in Wash. Hgts.

If course $7.25 is not enough, neither is $12 I employ 50 workers and the fact is that no one works for minimum wage who is worth more. John, will you work for minimum wage? Do you know anyone who works for minimum wage?

Ed

Raising minimum wage is political hogwash. If the shop keeper pays his employees more, the prices of what he sells must rise. In the end, we either pay more for the stuff we buy or the people become unemployed, because it's cheaper to import from China. Minimum wage is a political magic trick for children to believe.

Frank, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Is 7.25 enough for the politicians? I say let's give them what they give us!

Ms. J
New Rochelle

Dignity = $10 per/hour.

Jeremy
Forest Hills

The minimum wage needs to be raised. No one can make a living making that wage per hour. My rent is $906 monthly. That wage would put me in the category of the homeless. This country is for the rich, not minimum wage workers...

John M from East Williamsburg...

I think the wage should be any where more than 7.25 I have friends who work 2 jobs on 7.25 and still not making enough to get by.

Tommy