“No man can be a good citizen unless he has a wage more than sufficient to cover the bare cost of living.”

— Teddy Roosevelt, August 31, 1910

Recognizing that New York's minimum wage is unlivable and that 19 other states have higher minimum wages than New York, the 2013-14 enacted budget raises the minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $9.00/hour over three years, beginning with $8.00 by the end of 2013, $8.75 by the end of 2014, and $9.00 by the end of 2015. A reasonable minimum wage increases the standard of living for workers, reduces poverty, incentivizes fair and more efficient business practices, and ensures that the most vulnerable members of the workforce can contribute to the economy.