Koppell’s living wage bill gets City Hall hearing

Hundreds of supporters from the Bronx showed up to a May 12 City Council hearing to rally for passage of Councilman Oliver Koppell’s living wage bill.

The Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act — originally introduced last year by Mr. Koppell and Councilwoman Annabel Palma and reintroduced by them again in January — would require developers that receive taxpayer subsidies of more than $100,000 to pay workers $10 per hour with benefits, or $11.50 without. 

Riverdalian Gene Binder, a retired schoolteacher and member of Northwest Bronx for Change, decided to make the trip downtown to show his support for the bill.

“There was a time when the U.S. could pride itself on rags to riches stories. Now, Horatio Alger is on life support,” he said.

Judging by the volume of response when the name of each of the boroughs was shouted to the crowd, the Bronx was the best represented. 

Union members, Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders, retail workers and other activists gathered across the street from 250 Broadway to chant and sing in support of the legislation. Members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Living Wage NYC, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and the Jewish Labor Committee joined together to support the bill.

As it stands, 31 of 51 council members have said they would vote for the legislation, but it is up to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to bring the bill to a vote. Ms. Quinn has not said where she stands on the issue. 

Mr. Koppell said he would consider circumventing the usual process with a motion to discharge, which requires a majority vote and would bring the legislation to the floor, if Ms. Quinn does not do so on her own. 

After speaking at the rally along with other council members, clergy and City Comptroller John Liu, Mr. Koppell said Ms. Quinn would be “foolish not to get on board” if she ever wants to run for citywide office.