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Feb. 5, 2016 By Jackie Strawbridge
The City Council voted overwhelmingly to give themselves a 32 percent pay raise on Friday, bringing their salaries from $112,500 to $148,500.
Council Members voted 40 to 7 in approval of the pay raises. Western Queens Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer, Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm and Julissa Ferreas-Copeland voted in approval, according to a tally from the Council Speaker’s office.
This pay raise marks the Council’s first since 2006.
The approved salary hike is about $10,000 higher than that recommended late last year by the Quadrennial Advisory Commission, whose task is to evaluate City elected officials’ compensation. In a December report, the Commission recommended a salary of $138,315.
Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito has asserted that the salary approved Friday is warranted because it comes alongside financial reforms, including prohibiting outside income for Council Members.
Under the new pay grades, the Council Speaker’s salary will jump to $164,500.
City Council also approved higher salaries for the Mayor ($258,750), Public Advocate ($184,800), Borough Presidents ($179,200), Comptroller ($209,050) and District Attorneys ($212,800 or the salary of a supreme court justice in their district, whichever is higher.)
These pay grades are in line with the Quadrennial Advisory Commission’s December recommendations. Following the Commission’s report, Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement saying he will not accept a raise this term.
The raises will be retroactive to Jan. 1.
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12 Comments
I vote to give myself a raise!
Another commenter made my point for me.
Another commenter made my point for me. Councilmenmber Ydanis Rodriguez can’t live on $112,000 a year he said. Many New Yorkers don’t make that much and still try to live in this expensive city.
Migroschrott made my point for me. I guess we are not a real Democracy after all. Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez can’t live on 112k a year but everyone who makes less can. Rents are too high along with everything else in NYC,
Migroschrott made my point for me, we are not a real Democracy after all. When I hear Council member Ydanis Rodriguez say he can;t live on 112 k annually something is wrong. Much of the people does and doesn’t represent struggle to put food for their families everyday. Rents are too high along with everything else in NYC,
Migroschrott made my point for me. I guess we are really not a Democracy after all. I would like to think we are, when I hear City Councilman Tdanis Rodriguez say he can’t live on 112k a year in NY. He must not realize many people don’t make that much in NYC. Many struggle to put food on the table everyday for their families. Rents are too high along with most other things in NYC.
Don’t these imbeciles get enough in bribes and graft to make life in NYC affordable? What’s wrong with them. Step it up!
Why can’t we vote on this? Is this a democracy?
And so is the city council, what’s your point?
The point is that we do NOT have a real democracy. We may vote for people (if you actually have to time to screen their personal and political history) but once they are in office, it’s completely out of our hands on what idiocy they decide on. That’s NOT democracy.
Look at Switzerland for a better example. Basically any measure that gets voted on by politicians can be called for a public referendum if 100’000 signatures are gathered. – Mind you, there are drawbacks to that as well, when people are voting on things they have no understanding of but in this case, a public vote would surely be beneficial.
We’re going to pay these stupid idiots $150k? Why?
These guys should be getting pay cuts. The increase should be put to a public referendum.