Statement From Patrick Purcell, Executive Director Greater New York LECET On Court Hearing Regarding Local Law 44

NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was released today, by Patrick Purcell, executive director of Greater New York LECET, regarding today's court hearing on the implementation of Local Law 44:

Today, once again, Mayor de Blasio had the opportunity to come to the defense, and support, of the working men and women of New York City.  And once again Mayor de Blasio has abandoned those same New Yorkers, in favor of his political allies, some of the worst developers and contractors in the City.   NYSAFAH, the New York State Association for Affordable Housing, which is leading the charge to gut Local Law 44, represents organizations that have violated state and federal wage laws, opposed legislation that would improve safety standards on job sites and has refused to agree to various community benefit agreements.

As expected, NYSAFAH has come out in strong opposition to Local Law 44's wage reporting requirements.   However, for a Mayor who supposedly prides himself on government transparency and addressing the issues of income inequality and wage theft, it is the height of hypocrisy for him to side with NYSAFAH against the people of this City.  The wage reporting requirement of Local Law 44 is the key component to bringing some level of transparency and accountability to the affordable housing industry.  Honest, law abiding contractors and developers should have no problem providing wage information on publicly funded projects.  It is only those that have something to hide that would oppose this basic requirement.  The questions that need to be answered are:  Why does the Mayor support keeping this information from the public?  Who is he protecting, NYASFAH or the people of New York City who elected him? 

Greater New York LECET is a jointly trusteed labor-management fund representing the 17,000 members of the affiliated unions of the Mason Tenders District Council, LiUNA and its more than 1400 signatory contractors.  GNYLECET's mission is to promote and increase market-share for the organized sector of the construction industry, resulting in the creation of business opportunities for its signatory contractors and good jobs for its union members.  

SOURCE Greater New York LECET