THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS

250 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NY 10007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2011 CONTACT: Mary Tek, Coordinator 212-345-9509 / nyccprogresscaucus@gmail.com PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS RESPONDS TO CENSUS POVERTY DATA Calls for Fair Wages for New Yorkers NEW YORK, NY -- We are alarmed by the new poverty data for New York City released yesterday by the Census Bureau. It shows that more New Yorkers across the city are struggling to survive. And it raises an important question: why? A big part of the answer is that city government has not done nearly enough to create the kinds of jobs that will lift New Yorkers out of poverty. Much of the job growth the administration has recently pursued and touted is in the lowest-wage sectors of the economy. The new poverty data shows that the administrations job growth strategy is not acceptable. We need to prioritize higher-wage job creation, especially in sectors that are heavily subsidized by taxpayer money. Thats why the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act is an urgent priority for the Progressive Caucus. It is absolutely vital legislation that would ensure taxpayer investments in economic development are also investments in higher-wage jobs for New Yorkers across the city. We are proud to be working with our colleagues in the City Council to move this legislation forward as quickly as possible.