I think the idea of allowing New York City to set its own minimum wage, higher than that of the rest of the state, is a good idea. Moreover, I believe a minimum wage should reflect the cost of the living in a particular area. There is no reason Washington state should have a higher minimum wage than New York!!!! That's just irrational... and plain unfair.

How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York City? At a conference today, policy advisors, academics, and community organizers discussed working in the five boroughs, and ways to ease the financial burden on low-income and middle-income New Yorkers. The discussion came a day after President Obama proposed raising the federal minimum wage during his State of the Union address.

President Obama called upon Congress to boost the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2015, up from the current $7.25. Touring a manufacturing plant in North Carolina today, Obama said America should "reward effort and determination with wages that allow working families to raise their kids and get ahead." He added, "If you work full-time you shouldn’t be in poverty." Here in New York, Governor Cuomo also has proposed raising the minimum wage to $8.75. Critics of raising the minimum wage worry about its effect on small businesses and costs being passed on to consumers. What do you say?

Should those who earn minimum wage be making more than $14,500 a year? Do you agree with President Obama's proposal to raise the hourly wage to $9.00? What is a livable wage in New York City? What ideas do you have to ease the financial burdens of many New Yorkers?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Just how do I answer this trick question? Wow this is quite a huge decision on Cuomo's part to make or any other J/A politician that's been hanging around to long just to collect their enormous paychecks along with all the other amenities that go with it.

When do they realize that the cost of living in this city is a chain reaction and the type of money needed to survive does not and will not hack it with a starting wage of $7.25 an hour. Starting at the bottom and that's if one even has a job to begin with. Off course the small business' are the ones to feel it and thus they have to let people go to make up the difference.

If noticed as I did that this BIG raise will not even take effect until 2015. By that time we will all be homeless and I believe that this is the goal of all of these politicians have in store for us in New York.

*JUST A LITTLE NOTE:

[BLOOMBERG HAS NO RIGHT TO BE BUYING ANY VOTES IN OTHER STATES SUCH AS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA'] [HE HAS DONATED 1MILL] [HOW ABOUT THAT] [IT'S AS THOUGH WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS HERE IN NYC] [ONCE AGAIN = HURRAH FOR HIS 3RD TERM] [HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT]

THAT'S MORE THAN NERVE = TO ME THAT'S GAUL.

maxxiee
mp

The minimum wage is and can rightly be only what the employer offers. You can attempt to convince the employer to give you a raise, but you have no right to use the power of government to coerce the employer to pay a minimum or a maximum wage. Nine dollars an hour would be enough to live in NYC if government was reduced to Constitutional size, for example by repealing all regulations that restrict and violate individual rights. And, of course, repealing the 16th Amendment.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

A minimum wage in NYC should be between $9 and $10 an hour. On a 40 hour work week that's between $360 and $400 gross. Take away Federal, City, State taxes, Social Security & Medicare deduction, etc. and you're not left with even enough to do grocery shopping for a family of 4, let alone pay rent and electric, gas and telephone.

To ease the financial burdens of New Yorkers - more affordable rental units, lower utility payments, better paying jobs.

Jessica Arden Heights

$9 an hour is not a livable wage. So the fact that there is even a debate on raising it is ludicrous. It should be raised to $15 an hour.

Elena
Bayside

Any business that can only stay in business by paying an unlivable wage shouldn't be in business in the first place. It's laughable listening to cynical Republicans link a raise in the minimum wage to a slowdown in job creation. Corporate American is already swimming in unseemly profits so maybe they can do with just a little less to improve the welfare of the people who help create their wealth. Unfortunately, greed has no limits in America.

Mitchell

$9.00 an hour ??? are you serious??? shame on you President Obama !!! try paying rent and eating meat once at least a week on that !!! hello Campbell's soup 3 times a day

Carmen, Bay Ridge

Any business that can only stay in business by paying an unlivable wage shouldn't be in business in the first place. It's laughable listening to cynical Republicans link a raise in the minimum wage to a slowdown in job creation. Corporate American is already swimming in unseemly profits so maybe they can do with just a little less to improve the welfare of the people who help create their wealth. Unfortunately, greed has no limits in America.

Mitchell
Upper West Side

I seriously do think workers should make more than $14,500 a year. It is expensive to live in New York, prices can't continue to go up and workers salaries remain the same. It is unfair, and inhumane. I don't see the Republicans turning down their raises, God forbid their salaries stayed the same for over 10 years, and they don't even work for their pay.

Theresa
Upperwestside

I work for a major hospital, and make more than the minimum wage, but I do work two jobs to make ends meet for the past eleven years.

Not only do I work two jobs, but six out of ten co-workers in my immediate group of fellow employees also work two jobs.

I find it amusing the President stated that anyone who works hard should not be a victim of poverty.

All we do is work hard and really do not get any incentives or rewards for working so hard.

We pay for medical, college loans for our children and nothing is left over at the end.

Jennifer
Riverdale New York

Raising the minimum wage is a fallacy because it will not help anybody if all employers must raise their wages then they will be more likely to raise the price of their products and in turn inflation only increases on everything, essentially making those "raises" obsolete. Instead of raising wages why doesn't the government ever proposing significantly lowering taxes!!

Gabe

I think it's good to go up on minimum wage. Rent go up every 2 years so why not.

Anthony

I think Republicans would like to see America run as a Feudal System.

Frances

In the New York area, no one can live on $9 an hour unless they pay almost no rent, don't have health insurance, and live on the cheapest diet possible. Although I make more than that, I am a freelancer who has a lot of part time jobs, some well paying, but often work is part time. No one is really going after where the cost of living really hurts--health insurance. I have seen premiums for myself and my husband double in two years. Last year, over one third of my income went to health insurance, which I almost never use but have for a potential serious medical condition. Taxes for people making over $22,000 a year and who are self-employed, like I am, take a huge chunk. I don't buy new clothes or shoes or glasses. How is a person making even $30,000 a year afford such "extras" as glasses and clothing? I urge President Obama to push for minimum wage that people can living on, and that should vary state to state. In addition, taxes for underemployed, freelance, part timers should be lower.

I know a lot of people who stay on unemployment insurance because they will make more money and save on taxes. Incentives for the working poor and middle class simply have to be realistic--$9 in New York is too low. Find incentives for the small business owners that are more fair than keeping their workers in poverty. Thank you for listening.

Sheila in Manhattan

YOU NEED ABOUT $150,000 AFTER TAXES TO EVEN ENJOY LIVING IN NYC

PEDRO
BRONX

THE RATE SHOULD BE $9/HOUR. THIS WOULD MEAN THE ANNUAL PAY WILL BE $18,720. THE POVERTY LEVEL IS WITHIN GUIDELINES AND MUCH LOWER. THERE SHOULD BE AN INCENTIVE FOR EMPLOYERS WHO CAN GET A PAYROLL TAX DEDUCTIBLE CREDIT FOR PAYING MINIMUM WAGE.

DUE DILIGENCE IS MANDATORY SO AS TO ATTRACT THE QUALITY WORKERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND READY TO WORK.

THE COST COULD BE OFFSET BY THE REDUCTION IN TRADE TO COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT SUPPORT THE US AGENDA FOR TAKING IN THEIR COUNTRYMEN AND ALLOWING THEM TO WORK HERE IN OUR COUNTRY. FOR THE NATION CAN SIDE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND HELP ASSIST IN BRINGING UP OUR ECONOMY BEFORE WE OFFER THESE COUNTRIES ASSISTANCE IN RAISING THEIR ECONOMIC LEVELS. TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST, EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

THE FUNDS FOR IMPROVING OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE DEFICIT THAT IS HOLDING OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY BY THE THROAT. THIS HAS TO STOP.

CARMELITA...........................................HARLEM

$9.... Maybe a family could now afford a durable cardboard box.... A name brand one!

Lee, gravesend brooklyn

I absolutely agree that the minimum wage needs to increase. But that is only one piece of the puzzle. We need to address the bigger issue which is that we don't have enough services and resources for those within the low income bracket. There isn't enough affordable housing, low income medical services, or affordable transit options.

Danita from the East Village

minimum wage is for inspiring the youth to work, not for the lazy to expect money for nothing.

who in the real world expects more than a certain amount for minimum wage?? it's called a minimum wage because it's the minimum
wage for the work you're willing to do!

your wage rises with the effort you put forth, and if you don't like the minimum wage.,.. work harder,..and tell the president to stop aiding lazy nations.

complaining about the minimum wage post age 18..,really?

lets get to work and stop complaining about what the government is not giving away.

signed - get to work

What needs to happen is that everyone gets a raise. We need to cut all legislative salaries. This will save us money and make health plan that works.

Ray

We should raise the minimum wage but it will also mean more illegal immigrants can send more money "back home".

Deb

The people that are making minimum wage, are being subsidized by us. The businesses that are benefiting from their labor should be paying.

If a business is making money, it should not be allowed to have slave labor. Businesses will never think it's a good idea to pay more even it it is 10 cents. Whenever the subject of minimum wage comes up (even in a booming economy) they threaten to fire people if they are required to pay them. We have to do what's right. They use small businesses as an excuse for not giving people a fair wage. Most mom & pop shops are close to their workers and a paying way more than minimum wage voluntarily. It's the rich that want to get richer by not paying a fair wage.

How about another survey, how many of the people that have commented are making (or would be willing to work for) minimum wage?! We've got city workers who make a decent salary and get benefits saying that $7.25 is enough!

$7.25 for a 35hour week is $253 (before taxes). That's only $1,000 a month (before taxes). That won't cover rent let alone food, carefare, clothing and childcare.

Renee / Clinton Hill