Editorial comment

Stop blocking a living wage

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A growing number of people occupying Wall Street are raising awareness about the inherent unfairness of corporate welfare.

How can we bail out banks and give tax breaks to oil companies without also helping regular Americans who are suffering?

That question has been the subject of a struggle that began in the Bronx long before encampments popped up in Zuccotti Park. Now, it is once again coming to a head at City Hall.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the same man who recently lamented having to pay city workers overtime to manage signs of populist discontent on Wall Street, has lashed out against supporters of living wage legislation that would force developers receiving heavy government subsidies to pay a minimum of $10 an hour with benefits and $11.50 without.

The bill, sponsored by Riverdale/Kingsbridge Councilman Oliver Koppell, emerged from a battle over how best to develop the Kingsbridge Armory, which stands vacant right in our backyard.

Related Companies was set to receive millions of dollars in subsidies for developing the iconic property and by some accounts was willing to agree to a living wage mandate.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. pushed hard for the mandate, but Mr. Bloomberg pushed back, effectively killing the deal and characterizing proponents of a living wage as anti-capitalist.

He and multiple editorial pages went on to blame Mr. Diaz for turning jobs away from a borough desperately hurting for them.

But as the borough president’s spokesman John DeSio put it: “Since when was capitalism about putting your hand out and making everything you can for yourself?”

That’s the same question being asked by people, including those from the Northwest Bronx, occupying Wall Street. And City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is expected to run for mayor in 2013, can probably hear their demonstrations from her City Hall office. Yet she refuses to even bring Mr. Koppell’s bill to the floor for a vote.

Wall Street, Zuccotti Park, City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, living wage, Councilman Oliver Koppell, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., spokesman John DeSio, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York City Economic Development Corporation.
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