File #: Res 1849-2009    Version: * Name: Increase the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit of $405 to be compatible with the greater benefits provided by twenty-four other states.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Civil Service and Labor
On agenda: 3/11/2009
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to increase the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit of $405 to be compatible with the greater benefits provided by twenty-four other states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, and to pass A.4921/S.2245, an act to amend the labor law, in relation to the unemployment insurance law and increasing the maximum benefit rate for unemployment insurance.
Sponsors: Helen D. Foster, Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Inez E. Dickens, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, Darlene Mealy, Annabel Palma, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jr., Albert Vann, David I. Weprin, Alan J. Gerson, Tony Avella, Thomas White, Jr., Vincent J. Gentile
Council Member Sponsors: 17

Res. No. 1849

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to increase the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit of $405 to be compatible with the greater benefits provided by twenty-four other states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, and to pass A.4921/S.2245, an act to amend the labor law, in relation to the unemployment insurance law and increasing the maximum benefit rate for unemployment insurance.

 

By Council Members Foster, Brewer, Comrie, Dickens, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Mealy, Palma, Rivera, Sanders Jr., Vann, Weprin, Gerson, Avella, White Jr. and Gentile

 

                     Whereas, The New York State Legislature is considering A. 4921/S.2245, an act to amend the labor law, in relation to the unemployment insurance law and increasing the maximum benefit rate for unemployment insurance; and

                     Whereas, A. 4921/S.2245 would allow for an increase in unemployment benefits to be implemented gradually over the next four years; and

                     Whereas, These increases would result in a weekly benefit of $475 as of July 2009, $525 as of July 2010, $575 as of July 2011, and $625 as of July 2012; and  

                                          Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Labor, as of December 2008 the unemployment rate for the State was 7.0 % and 7.5% for New York City; and

                     Whereas, The New York Unemployment Insurance Coalition has pointed out that, between May and October 2008, the unemployment rates have surged in low-income areas and for minority groups, in particular, with Hispanic workers at double (6.6%) and black workers at triple (9.2%) the unemployment rates of white workers (3.0%) for the period; and

                     Whereas, In addition, during the same time period the poorest boroughs, Brooklyn and the Bronx, face unemployment rates of one (6.2%) and three (7.7%) points respectively, which was higher than the other three boroughs, whose rates fall between 5.0% - 5.1%; and

                     Whereas, New York’s maximum weekly unemployment benefit has remained at $405 per week for the past decade with the average weekly benefit rate at $305; and

                     Whereas, At least twenty-four other states, including neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut, offer a higher maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit than that of New York state; and

                     Whereas, Unemployment benefits often help to prevent poverty by enabling families to keep food on the table, pay their rent or mortgage, and preserve hard-earned savings during periods of joblessness; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to increase the maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit of $405 to be compatible with the greater benefits provided by twenty-four other states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, and to pass A. 4921/S.2245, an act to amend the labor law, in relation to the unemployment insurance law and increasing the maximum benefit rate for unemployment insurance.

 

 

 

LS# 7132

S.O.

3/5/09

5:49pm