$30 and a dream: Why pols, unions think a massive NYC minimum wage boost is ‘fair share’ solution to inflation

By Barbara Russo-Lennon

Posted on March 10, 2026

The minimum wage in NYC increased to $17 an hour in January, but local politicians and workers said Tuesday it’s not nearly enough to combat inflation and the high cost of living in the Big Apple.

Several progressive NYC Council Members, labor leaders, and community activists gathered outside City Hall on Tuesday, demanding an unprecedented wage increase to $30 per hour by 2030 — something the lawmakers said is achievable through legislation.