14 THE COURIER SUN • JULY 4, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com WORKERS NOW ENTITLED TO PAID SICK LEAVE BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] A long fi ght over workers’ rights has come to an end. In a 47-4 vote, the City Council enacted the New York City Earned Sick Time Act on Thursday, June 27, overriding Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto of the legislation. The bill will eventually give approximately one million New York employees who do not have paid sick leave time off when they or their family members are ill, and will protect them from being fi red for taking a day off. “I was fi red earlier this year when I got the fl u and I took one sick day off. I have four children and it was very diffi cult to be out of work and have no way to support my family,” Emilio Palaguachi, a member of the nonprofi t advocacy group Make the Road New York and an Elmhurst resident said in a statement. “I’m so happy to know that, once this law goes into effect, what happened to me will not happen to any other worker in New York City.” Beginning next April, businesses with 20 or more employees will be required to give at least fi ve paid sick days per worker. Starting in October 2015, businesses with 15 or more workers will need to do the same. After initially opposing the bill, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn brought the legislation to a vote and the Council passed the Earned Sick Time Act 45-3 on May 8. “This will greatly enhance the quality of life for the hundreds of immigrants and hard-working single mothers living and working in my district and throughout the city,” said Councilmember Julissa Ferreras. New York joins several other cities across the country in adopting sick time policy, including Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, according PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMITTEE The current Jamaica Learning Center, built in 1896, has become a city landmark. JAMAICA HIGH SCHOOL NOW A LANDMARK BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] When the fi rst Jamaica High School was built, residents and community leaders wanted the building to “express refi nement, public spirit and taste of that community.” Now, centuries later, the site has been deemed a landmark. to Make the Road New York. STAIR LIFTS TK WITAKER $2,695 Starting At NEW and INSTALLED • Stair Lifts • Wheel Chair Lifts • Ramps • Straight, Curved, Narrow Staircases • Folds up against wall • Factory Direct Pricing • Installed within 48 Hours • New, Reconditioned and Rentals • Sales • 24 Hour Service • Over 20 Years Serving the New York Area • Licensed & Insured 1-855-WITAKER 631-327-3339 (cell) www.tkwitaker.com The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) named the 19th century, Dutch Revival building a landmark on Tuesday, June 25. The commission said the building went up in 1896, when borough residents began to both realize the importance of higher education and enforce education laws. FREE ESTIMATES
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