For Immediate Release: April 30, 2025
Media Contact: Lisa Thomas, lisa@alignny.org, (347) 415-6431
ALIGN Statement on Columbia Anti-Poverty Report:
The Data Doesn’t Lie — NYC Workers Need a Major Raise
New York, NY – Today, Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy released a report revealing that 65% of New York City workers earning wages between $16-$25 experienced material hardship in 2023, meaning that on this income, they sometimes or often ran out of money or food between paychecks, fell behind on utility bills or rent, or could not see a doctor because of cost. The report found that material hardship only began to taper off for workers earning above $25, and that hardship was just as common among $20/hour earners as those making $16/hour.
In response, ALIGN released the following statement:
“Our affordability crisis may be the issue du jour, but it is no passing trend. These numbers reveal just how far New York City has fallen behind under Mayor Adams, and that Governor Hochul’s 2026 minimum wage increase will still be leagues behind the cost of survival. This is an existential crisis that can’t be solved with tax credits and refund checks. Wages have stagnated for far too long, and NYC workers can’t afford to stay in a City that costs more than their labor. Yes, raising NYC’s minimum wage higher than $25 would be a big jump from $17. It’s also the only math that adds up,” said Tal Frieden, ALIGN Campaign Manager for the Raise Up NY coalition.
About ALIGN
ALIGN (The Alliance for a Greater New York) brings together labor, climate, and community organizations for a more just, sustainable New York. Working at the intersection of economic and climate justice, ALIGN builds coalitions with those most impacted and uplifts worker and community voices to fight for dignity in the workplace and a just path to a renewable energy economy for all. Read more about ALIGN’s 2025 Agenda for a Green, Affordable NY.