Rivera, Chin Advocate for Equal Pay for EMS Workers
Council Members Margaret Chin (D-Battery Park City, Chinatown) and Carlina Rivera (D-East Village, Gramercy Park), co-chairs of the Women’s Caucus, released a joint statement yesterday calling for pay parity for emergency medical service (EMS) workers.
Chin and Rivera pointed out the large disparity between the pay for EMS workers and that of other FDNY workers.
“FDNY EMS workers are predominantly people of color, and a quarter are women, unlike firefighters and fire officers,” reads the statement. “They receive $8,000 less in starting salary than other FDNY workers and tens of thousands of dollars less after five years of service. This disparity is alarming and insulting to the workers putting themselves on the line to guarantee the safety of 8 million New Yorkers.”
Espaillat Hails Passage of Bill Mandating Body Cameras for ICE
Yesterday, Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) applauded the passage of the Homeland Security Improvement Act in the House.
The bill includes provisions to equip border patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with body-worn cameras. It requires agencies to submit a plan for mandating the use of body-worn cameras when engaged in immigration enforcement.
Espaillat presided over the chambers’ consideration of and vote on the bill this afternoon. The House approved it by a vote of 230-194.
Brewer to Unveil Winning Murals for Flood Barriers
Today, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer (D) will unveil the winning murals of a contest to beautify the flood barriers along South Street.
These murals will “wrap” over a length of the “HESCO” barriers, which restrain flood waters in the event of a rising East River.
The reveal will take place today at 8 a.m. near the South Street barriers, between Wall St. and Pine St.
Powers, Ulrich Propose Change to City’s Special Elections
Council Members Keith Powers (D-Upper East Side, Carnegie Hill) and Eric Ulrich (D-Belle Harbor, Breezy Point) introduced legislation to reform special elections in NYC.
Intro. 1734 would allow the Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and Council Members elected by special election to serve the remainder of their predecessor’s term. Under current law, those elected by special election are required to go through that calendar year’s primary and general elections.
“This legislation will help bring some simplicity to the election process, as well as save taxpayer dollars,” said Powers. “Streamlining elections allows newly elected officials to focus on what matters: getting to work for New Yorkers.”
