I am writing to provide you with an update regarding New York State’s minimum wage.
The 2013-14 state budget increases the state’s minimum wage to $9.00 per hour by 2016. The wage will gradually increase over the next three years from $7.25 to $8.00 per hour on December 31, 2013; to $8.75 on December 31, 2014; and then to $9.00 per hour on December 31, 2015. An increase in the minimum wage has the support of more than 80% of New Yorkers because it is the right thing to do morally, and it will help jumpstart consumer spending and spur the economy.
This increase will directly benefit 925,000 New Yorkers currently earning below $9.00 an hour, which is over 10 percent of the state’s employed population. Raising the minimum wage helps level the playing field and I am proud to support this change.
Currently, the neighboring states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont have higher minimum wages than New York State, as do 16 other states and the District of Columbia.
I was pleased to have voted for a budget which included raising the minimum wage.
