Economic News: Page 15 of 117: City Limits

Economy

At Overdue Hearing, Advocates Push NYC to Fulfill Promise of Housing Court Help for Low-Income Tenants

Annie Iezzi and Frank Festa | March 1, 2023

The city’s landmark Right to Counsel law was the country’s first to guarantee legal representation in housing court to low-income tenants most at risk for eviction. But advocates and providers say it’s been undermined in recent months as the courts schedule eviction cases faster than there are available housing attorneys to take them. “When the law was first passed, it worked,” Ruth Riddick, a Flatbush tenant, testified Friday at a city hearing on the initiative.

Economy

NYC Still Falling Short in Effort to Diversify Contracting, Report Says

Daniel Parra | February 28, 2023

According to the latest Comptroller’s report, Black and Latino‐owned businesses each received under 2 percent of city contract dollars in fiscal year 2022, and only 5 percent of all new city contracts and purchase orders registered during that same period went to city‐certified minority or women‐owned business enterprises.

Economy

The Long Road to Justice for NYC Wage Theft Victims

Daniel Parra | February 23, 2023

More than three years after 15 laundry workers first lodged their complaint with New York Attorney General Letitia James, the employees—all Latina immigrant women—finally received the first checks for their owed salaries. The case is emblematic of what can be a long road to justice for victims of wage theft, which lawmakers estimate impacts some 2.1 million New Yorkers each year.

Economy

What Hochul & Adams’ Budgets Include for Immigrant Communities—& What’s Left Out

Daniel Parra | February 15, 2023

Advocates are sounding the alarm over both Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams’ spending proposals, which failed to include several flagship programs they’ve fought for in recent years as well as reductions to programs that provide English language, literacy and citizenship classes that immigrant New Yorkers rely on.

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

Opinion: Mayor’s Budget Slashes Vital Funding in the Face of Humanitarian Crisis

Manon Vergerio and Jessica Valencia | February 8, 2023

“Cutting corners by slashing social service programs will only force New Yorkers to stay homeless longer, reduce their chances of finding permanent housing, and ultimately cost the city more taxpayer dollars to warehouse people in inhumane shelters.”

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

Opinion: Equity for New York’s Restaurant Workers This Black History Month

Sekou Siby | February 7, 2023

“We must recognize that restaurant workers, many of whom have been doing their jobs for at least a decade, are the same as those in other industries who deserve equitable pay, paid time off, health care, and other job protections to ensure quality of life for themselves and their families.”

Economy

Data Drop: How NY Disbursed Aid for Undocumented Hurricane Ida Victims

Daniel Parra | February 6, 2023

As of last month, the state had doled out just over $2 million of the $27 million set aside for the relief fund, according to recent data shared with City Limits. In total, 405 of the 554 New Yorkers who applied have been approved, and 352 have actually received the aid.

CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS

Opinion: If NYC Hosts the Democratic Convention, It Must Do Better Than ’04—At Protecting Free Speech

Jarrett Murphy | February 2, 2023

“In 2004, the Republican National Convention came to New York City. Outside, the NYPD perpetrated some of the worst offenses against civil liberties in the city’s history. Cops rounded up 1,800 protesters in a single day, most of whom were demonstrating peacefully.”

Economy

Con SWEAT, defensores de trabajadores renuevan presión en favor de una legislación contra el robo de salarios

Daniel Parra | January 27, 2023

Siete organizaciones de trabajadores han compilado una base de datos sobre el robo de salarios durante la pandemia por un total de 130.5 millones de dólares adeudados a los trabajadores. Los datos preliminares de sólo siete grupos empequeñecen los casi 3 millones de dólares que la gobernadora Kathy Hochul se jactó de que el estado había recuperado para los trabajadores el año pasado. Una versión preliminar de estos datos ha sido compartida con City Limits.