Cuomo was against raising the minimum wage before he was for it

Politico

7 days ago

MINIMUM RAGE: Mayoral front-runner Andrew Cuomo rallied with several unions today to announce his plan to push for a $20 minimum wage by 2027 — citing his success as governor in raising the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2016.
But the former political director of one of the city's largest unions remembers it differently — it was Cuomo who remained the biggest obstacle to boosting the minimum wage in the state, until the push for a $15 minimum went national in 2015 and pressured him to act.
'He only got to $15 after massive national campaign pressure and a commitment from SEIU to basically run a multi-million-dollar ad campaign' said Alison Hirsch, who was the political director and vice president for building service workers union 32BJ SEIU at the time.
Hirsh recalled staunch opposition from Cuomo and his administration before they finally got on board with the increase, adding: 'It had nothing to do with actually giving a shit about workers, he just wanted to be able to say, as he had contemplated a national profile, that he was the first in the country to do it, because the winds changed.'
Hirsch is no neutral observer — she now manages the mayoral campaign for Democratic rival Brad Lander. But her accounts were substantiated by two others familiar with the talks around the minimum wage at the time.
Cuomo's plan, first reported today by The New York Times, will need approval from Gov. Kathy Hochul. She has already passed legislation to raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation. She is up for reelection next year, and will have to weigh liberal pushes like this one against fiscal concerns that may be raised in response from business leaders.
The state minimum wage now stands at $16.50 per hour in New York City, Westchester and Long Island, with the upstate minimum wage at $15.50 per hour.
As governor in early 2014, Cuomo blocked former Mayor Bill de Blasio's push to raise the minimum wage in New York City, opposing local control over an issue he felt should be dealt with statewide.
With his latest proposal, he's attempting the same thing as the mayor he spent years feuding with.
In initially rejecting de Blasio's 2014 proposal, Cuomo argued that allowing local governments to set their own wage and tax rules could create a 'chaotic situation' and that the issue should be left to the state. In early 2015, when de Blasio suggested a $13 minimum wage for the city, a Cuomo spokesperson called it a 'non-starter' with state lawmakers.
Cuomo was pressured by the Working Families Party in 2014 to back a minimum wage hike as he faced a left-flank challenge from Zephyr Teachout, who was campaigning on the issue. The then-governor recorded a video for the WFP's state convention endorsing an increase along with linking it to inflation. But lefty skepticism that Cuomo truly wanted a hike continued, despite the WFP ultimately supporting his re-election.
After sustained pressure from unions and other advocates, Cuomo finally came around. He announced his support for a $15 minimum wage later in 2015 and signed legislation to that effect the following year. He also faced substantial opposition from the Senate, which was then led by a coalition of Republicans and breakaway Democrats.
Cuomo claimed today his proposal to boost the minimum wage to $20 matches what the city's minimum wage would be today, if the $15 wage had been indexed to inflation in 2016.
'That is the fair way, and that's what we want, and that's what we're going to get passed,' Cuomo said at the rally.
At the time, the Cuomo administration was decidedly against indexing the minimum wage to inflation.
'If he hadn't resisted the efforts at the time in 2016 to have the minimum wage indexed, it would be $20 an hour already,' said James Parrott, senior advisor and fellow at the New School's Center for New York City Affairs. 'In a way he's proposing a solution to a problem he created.'
Hirsch recalls calls with Cuomo and his staff, including top Cuomo advisors Melissa DeRosa, Neal Kwatra and Bill Mulrow, where they team berated her as she pushed for Cuomo to raise the minimum wage.
'Andrew Cuomo would yell and scream, or he'd have Melissa or Neal scream, or Bill Mulrow would be very nice about it and block it, but he blocked every attempt at wage increases,' she said.
The Cuomo campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — Jason Beeferman, Janaki Chadha and Nick Reisman
From the Capitol
SENATE TAKES ON PLASTICS: The Senate is expected to pass a sweeping measure to reduce plastics and packaging waste later today. The measure, which would also eventually ban certain toxic chemicals from packaging, faces intense opposition from the chemicals and packaged foods industry.
Opponents say the bill will raise consumer costs and make some convenient packaged foods unavailable on store shelves in New York. Those concerns are gaining traction with some Assembly Democrats, who worry about affordability, POLITICO Pro reported last week.
The Senate passed the packaging bill last year, but it did not get to a vote in the Assembly, where it faces a tougher path.
Assemblymember Deborah Glick, who sponsors the bill, last week said she remained 'guardedly optimistic' it would pass this session. She said the study circulated by business groups showing higher consumer costs included products that aren't covered in the bill.
'We understand we're up against big money but I think that we either have to do something to protect the public in a very minor way or just fold up the tent and let the industry do whatever it wants,' Glick said.
Business groups have pushed an alternative bill that would give companies more control over reduction efforts and doesn't ban any chemicals from packaging.
'The problem with some of their packaging is that it's got toxic substances that are going to leach into our food,' Glick said. — Marie J. French
From City Hall
CRYPTO BRO: Mayor Eric Adams pledged to create a cryptocurrency bond in New York City today at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas. Speaking from the stage, he also urged state lawmakers to nix a license needed to transact in virtual currency and repeatedly compared Bitcoin investors to Betsy Ross, the 19th century seamstress credited with sewing the second American flag.
'She was not some philosophical, intellectual person who wanted to decide what was going to be the foundation of our country. She was an ordinary person like you and I — hardworking, blue-collar people,' Adams said. 'But that flag still stands today.'
Adams encouraged Bitcoin investors and practitioners to come to the Big Apple, where he plans to create a 'Bit bond' that could be invested in with cryptocurrency. And he urged attendees to return to their local governments and start advocating for more lenient digital currency policies.
Adams spoke directly after Vice President JD Vance, and reflected upon a portion of the GOP standard-bearer's speech.
'Vice President Vance said something you should all listen to: We must be part of the political strength in our country,' Adams said before employing a golf metaphor and adding: 'Local politics will determine what will happen to this industry.' — Joe Anuta
IN OTHER NEWS
— MESSENGER IN THE MAYOR'S RACE: Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has a thin legislative record but is a forceful voice in Albany. (The New York Times)
— PAROLE DIVIDES: Racial disparities in parole decisions continue to worsen across New York state under Hochul, with new data showing a widening gap from a year ago. (Gothamist)
— RACE FOR SUPPORT: Several major Jewish community endorsements are still up for grabs in the mayoral race. (THE CITY)
Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.