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June 21, 2011

Activists oppose Queens Center's property tax subsidies

By  Adam Fusfeld / The Real Deal


Queens Center Mall Community activists [including members of Make the Road New York] rallied outside the Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst today to oppose the use of taxpayer money to fund projects that don't provide jobs beyond part-time, minimum wage ones. The mall was a chief target of the protesters, as it has received $48 million of property tax subsidies in return for jobs that primarily pay around $7.25 per hour, the federal minimum wage.

The action was coordinated as part of a statewide campaign called "Getting Our Money's Worth," which took inspiration from a recently-published report that called on state leaders to improve upon the jobs created by much of the recent economic development.

Activists complained that Queens Center encourages poverty in the community by using tax dollars without helping employees better themselves.

A spokesperson for Macerich, which owns Queens Center, said that it "cannot impose a 'living wage' requirement on tenants as a property owner," but that it pays living wages to its own employees in Queens Center. Moreover, Macerich said it honors its role in the community "by actively facilitating community-focused services and events."


For the original article, please click here.


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Historic Paid Sick Days Victory in NYC!

New York City just became the largest city in the U.S.to win paid sick days! On May 8, 2013, the City Council passed legislation to require paid sick days for one million New Yorkers. Without this critical legal protection, workers risk losing their jobs for taking a sick day. When workers go in to work sick, they put the public and their co-workers at risk of disease.

Starting April 2014, all workers will be protected from being fired if they must take a sick day to care for themselves or a sick family member, and workers at larger employers will receive 5 paid days of sick leave each year.

This major workplace justice and public health victory is the product of a four-year campaign led by courageous workers and small businesses who stood up for what’s right. We thank our partners at the Working Families Party, the NYS Paid Family Leave Coalition, SEIU 32BJ, the Progressive Caucus, Speaker Quinn and Council Members Brewer and Ferreras, for standing with us for NYC’s workers.


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