Labor activists,
restaurant advocates
‘SWEAT’ it out over
wage theft bill
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
A group of supporters of state legislation
to combat wage theft across New York state
slammed one of the city’s biggest boosters of
the restaurant industry for opposing the bill.
The SWEAT Coalition, in an open letter
to the New York City Hospitality Alliance
on June 1, claimed the organization seemed
more interested in protecting the bottom line
of businesses rather than employees in standing
against A.766, a bill that Manhattan Assemblywoman
Linda Rosenthal sponsored to
stop unscrupulous employers from depriving
their workers of a proper wage.
The alliance, however, charged that the
current legislation is a road to hell paved with
good intentions — as it contains provisions
that could fi nancially paralyze businesses
and even their managers over the most basic
claims of wage theft.
Known as the SWEAT Bill (Securing
Wages Earned Against Theft), the legislation
would enable employees wrongfully deprived
of their pay to fi le liens against their current
or former employer — much like any other
business creditor would. Liens would essentially
freeze the business’ assets and/or limit
their borrowing power until the debt of the
lien holder is satisfi ed.
More workers across New York have reported
instances of wage theft in recent years,
the SWEAT Coalition noted, stressing the necessity
for the legislation. State lawmakers
passed the bill during the 2020 session in Albany,
but Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed it
when it arrived at his desk
Giving workers the power to issue a lien
against their employer, the coalition argued,
would help level the playing fi eld and discourage
businesses from depriving their employees
of their proper earnings.
In its open letter to the New York City Hospitality
Alliance, the coalition suggested that
the group was doing a disservice to workers
in the restaurant and hospitality industry —
and protecting unscrupulous business owners
— in standing against the SWEAT bill.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance, however,
believes the SWEAT bill contains severe
fl aws that would do more harm to businesses
than good for the employees the legislation
seeks to protect. The organization claims the
legislation, as it is currently written, would
enable disgruntled employees to fi le liens
based on mere allegations rather than proven
wrongdoing.
Caribbean Life, June 4-10, 2021 11
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City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo and other supporters of Borough President Eric Adams’ mayoral campaign at a
rally ahead of his participation in the June 2 debate on ABC. Photo by Harry Parker
Adams fl exes political support
before big mayoral debate
BY HARRY PARKER
In the run-up to the June 2
Mayoral debate on ABC, front
runner Eric Adams joined a diverse
group of supporters for a
rally in front of Brooklyn Borough
Hall.
City Council Majority Leader
Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn)
and U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi
(D-Queens, LI) led the supporting
cheers with Cumbo quickly
defending Adams from what she
said were unfair attacks from
his rivals.
“Ain’t going to let nobody
turn us around,” she said with a
jazzed-up cadence. “Eric Adams
is telling it how it is. Others are
saying how it might be.”
Cumbo then introduced
Suozzi, who said Adams was the
candidate of New Yorkers who
have struggled.
“Only one candidate who
can say I will help people who
are struggling,” he said, pointing
out that Adams is leading a
diverse coalition to bring New
Yorkers together.
“Now is when we need everyone
to come together. There
is only one person who brings
people together. Look at the diversity
in this group,” Suozzi
added.
Cadman Plaza behind Borough
Hall echoed with chants of
“the champ is here,” as supporters
guided Adams to the lectern
and presented him with a bike
helmet and gloves, anticipating
a tough debate.
“Lotta love here today. I’m
glad to have that love,” Adams
said of his supporters. “Because
there won’t be a lot of love tonight.”
Adams echoed other supporters
who had touted his connection
with struggling New Yorkers.
He shared stories of himself
eating ice cream to calm his
stomach as he feared retribution
for his past comments on racism
within the New York Police Department
(NYPD).
Adams said his past criticism
while serving as a police offi cer
distinguishes him from his rivals,
as he defends himself from
accusations of supporting stopand
frisk policies that targeted
minority youth.
“This is the issue I have put
on the forefront. Not when I was
outside the police department,
but when I was inside the police
department.”
He went on to say that voters
should avoid researching candidates
on social media, and that
his record is of helping the marginalized.
“Don’t look at what people say,
look at what I did” Adams said.
Wednesday’s much-anticipated
debate was the fi rst that
featured the candidates addressing
each other in person and not
on Zoom.
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