Common Council – Support of the Living Wage as the Minimum Wage across Tompkins County – Resolution
By Alderperson Mohlenhoff:Â Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne
WHEREAS, it is one of our most cherished values that there is dignity in work; and
WHEREAS, raising incomes is critical to providing economic mobility and opportunity for working families; and
WHEREAS, the growth in income inequality in recent years has created serious divisions within our society and community; and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County is becoming increasingly two counties with a portion of the population thriving while many more face low wages, growing inequality, erosion of middle-class jobs, staggering housing costs, and the institutionalization of a low-wage service economy; and
WHEREAS, a full-time minimum wage worker in New York State earns $18,200 at the current minimum wage of $8.75/hour, an income significantly below the current living wage in Tompkins County of $29,827; and
WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage across Tompkins County would likely increase spending on locally produced goods and services by workers benefiting from such increased wages, which, in turn would likely produce greater demand and help stimulate the local economy; and
WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage would likely reduce the cost of providing social services in the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County; and
WHEREAS, our community has a proud tradition of advocating for worker rights and promoting economic justice; and
WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Workers Center, which certifies local living-wage employers, lists currently more than 100 Living Wage entities across the county, a list that includes the City of Ithaca and four other municipalities, encompasses more than 90 employers with workforces less than 50 employees, and represents over 3,000 workers making, at least, a Living Wage; and
WHEREAS, we as a community and we as a country can no longer accept wages that leave some without hope of rising up and unable to support themselves nor their families; and
WHEREAS, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by 2021; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca requests that the Tompkins County Legislature pass a local minimum-wage law establishing the Tompkins County Living Wage (currently $14.34/hour) as the minimum wage, and indexing it to the New York State median wage; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca supports Tompkins County further passing a home-rule request to New York State seeking the authority to implement such a local minimum wage; and, be it further
RESOLVED,
Common Council – Support of the Living Wage as the Minimum Wage across Tompkins County – Resolution
By Alderperson Mohlenhoff:Â Seconded by Alderperson Clairborne
WHEREAS, it is one of our most cherished values that there is dignity in work; and
WHEREAS, raising incomes is critical to providing economic mobility and opportunity for working families; and
WHEREAS, the growth in income inequality in recent years has created serious divisions within our society and community; and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County is becoming increasingly two counties with a portion of the population thriving while many more face low wages, growing inequality, erosion of middle-class jobs, staggering housing costs, and the institutionalization of a low-wage service economy; and
WHEREAS, a full-time minimum wage worker in New York State earns $18,200 at the current minimum wage of $8.75/hour, an income significantly below the current living wage in Tompkins County of $29,827; and
WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage across Tompkins County would likely increase spending on locally produced goods and services by workers benefiting from such increased wages, which, in turn would likely produce greater demand and help stimulate the local economy; and
WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage would likely reduce the cost of providing social services in the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County; and
WHEREAS, our community has a proud tradition of advocating for worker rights and promoting economic justice; and
WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Workers Center, which certifies local living-wage employers, lists currently more than 100 Living Wage entities across the county, a list that includes the City of Ithaca and four other municipalities, encompasses more than 90 employers with workforces less than 50 employees, and represents over 3,000 workers making, at least, a Living Wage; and
WHEREAS, we as a community and we as a country can no longer accept wages that leave some without hope of rising up and unable to support themselves nor their families; and
WHEREAS, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by 2021; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca requests that the Tompkins County Legislature pass a local minimum-wage law establishing the Tompkins County Living Wage (currently $14.34/hour) as the minimum wage, and indexing it to the New York State median wage; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca supports Tompkins County further passing a home-rule request to New York State seeking the authority to implement such a local minimum wage; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca calls on the New York State Legislature to pass promptly said home-rule request; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Tompkins County Legislature, the Tompkins County Council of Governments, New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, New York State Senator Thomas O’Mara, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Carried Unanimously
That the City of Ithaca calls on the New York State Legislature to pass promptly said home-rule request; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Tompkins County Legislature, the Tompkins County Council of Governments, New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, New York State Senator Thomas O’Mara, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Carried Unanimously