It’s long past time for a minimum-wage increase

Seven years ago, the collapse of Lehman Brothers marked the beginning of a devastating recession that hurt New York families more than most. On paper, Long Island’s economy seems to have bounced back from the Great Recession. It now boasts its lowest unemployment rate since 2007. But not all residents are benefiting — and many are struggling, despite working hard.

There has been an influx of low-paying jobs on Long Island and across the state over the past decade, causing wages on the Island to actually decline steadily since 2013. Roughly 137,000 New Yorkers now work minimum-wage jobs, or 3.5 percent of the working population. Meanwhile, Long Island remains one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and price inflation is rising.

With annual salaries of less than $20,000, these workers are often forced to work several jobs in order to cover their expenses. They are the working poor. Most wouldn’t ask for a raise, but they need it. For the good of their families and our region, it’s long past time we gave it to them.

The issue has prompted movements across the country and here in New York to raise the minimum wage significantly. And last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo voiced his support, announcing that he would push New York to adopt a statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour.

But Long Island doesn’t have to wait for the state. We can, and should, raise the minimum wage in Nassau and Suffolk counties to $15 right now. If we don’t, we will not only drive working families into poverty, but also risk depressing our overall economy. As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats.

My colleagues and I in the State Assembly tried to address the issue in May, when we approved a minimum wage increase above the state increase for New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. Unfortunately, our bill was not put into law.

The Wage Board established by Cuomo to offer recommendations on a wage increase for fast-food workers recommended in July that the minimum be raised to $15 an hour, confirming what many of us know: The current minimum wage, $8.75, is woefully inadequate for the tens of thousands who rely on it.