New York News

Business Leaders Praise Cuomo's Minimum Wage Increase

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published March 16, 2015 at 9:49 PM EDT

More than 40 business owners and chamber of commerce executives from New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley announced their support Monday for Governor Andrew Cuomo's push to raise the state minimum wage to $10.50.

The current $8.75-an-hour minimum wage will go to $9 at year's end. The Democratic governor wants to raise it to $10.50 statewide and $11.50 in New York City.

Other Democrats including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio want a bigger increase. Republicans oppose another hike, and business groups like the Business Council of New York State say it would drive up labor costs.

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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