Speaker Quinn says she won't allow a vote on this bill because of the struggling economy. (wink, wink) Speaker Quinn also said she supported overturning term limits because of the economy. (wink, wink) So in sum, Quinn ignored the will of the people because she thought she was the best person to fix our finances. And now she's ignoring the needs of the people because she can't.

More than a dozen female elected officials gathered on the steps of City Hall today calling for a vote on the paid sick days bill. Supporters of the legislation say they've been waiting more than 1,000 days for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to allow lawmakers to vote.

The bill would force businesses with more than five employees to provide five paid sick days every year. Those at the rally said women are "overwhelmingly" affected by not having the days off, since many hold positions in daycare, retail, and restaurants.

Opponents charge Speaker Quinn with ignoring the working class in favor of business owners. Today, Quinn said paid sick leave is "a worthy and admirable goal." But she won't bring it to the floor of the Council with "so many businesses struggling to stay alive." What do you say?

Should Speaker Quinn let lawmakers vote on the paid sick leave bill? Should this bill be forced on small business owners who may be struggling to stay afloat? How would you vote?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Hello John,

However much small businesses may be struggling to stay afloat, rest assured that their employees are struggling much, much more. Five paid sick days off a year isn't going to break anyone. Most of us would not take a job with only 5 paid sick days a year. It will be inconvenient to these businesses, yes, but it will make a world of difference to those working people in salons, restaurants and other small mom & pop establishments that simply don't allow a single paid sick day at all. Can you imagine that? What gives business owners' health more importance than their workers? Once again we are only talking about 5 paid days a year.

Let's not forget, Quinn is the reason Bloomberg in still in office, allowing him this 3rd term.

Marie
Bay Ridge

Of course Speaker Quinn would not allow this vote, she is following orders from her pal and confidant mayor Bloomberg and his rich buddies who will give Quinn a big endorsement followed with lots of money.

Felix
Bay Ridge

Why won't she bring it to the floor for a vote? because she knows it would pass and make her look bad. Yeesh. Her blatant political maneuvering, at the expense of working class New Yorkers, is part of why I am voting for de Blasio.

Anni
Manhattan

PEOPLE, WOMEN SHOULD HAVE 12 DAYS A YEAR PAID SICK TIME FOR MONTHLY BODY FUNCTIONS. NO EXCEPTIONS! IN THE EVENT OF PREGNANCY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET A REFUND OF A COUPLE OF THOSE DAYS, OR WHAT? YOU GUYS CANNOT TOLERATE THE NOTION OF NOT BEING EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THIS FUNCTION OF PREGNANCY AND ALL THAT THIS ISSUE WILL BRING TO BEAR THE METHOD OF HOW WOMEN WILL VIEW THEIR PARTNERS AS A PREGNANT GUY IS ANOTHER QUESTION?

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

John,

No one should, under force of law, be required to pay for another's illness or loss of work. This has to be negotiated with the employer. Government:
Keep Out!

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

John,

There are many obstacles confronting the business owners in my neighborhood that I know about and I'm sure that this speaker also knows them all very well. For instance not only are they banning the bottle of soda to sell with pizza but they also were told not to show even a picture of the soda. Now behind the scenes the business owners are being hassled about minute complaints that is leading to them having to post in place of there letters in the window [ which are usually an "A"][ a pending notice][I guess the silverware was not in it's proper place] and they have to wait to be reevaluated once again. So now this speaker and her cronies are using all of these behind the scenes strong arm tactics to harass the business owners . So we have the minimum wage, the sick leave, the sodas, the smoking and it's like this that and the other thing.
What gives here?

They are having problems trying to stay afloat because of the different demands on their businesses.

Thank you John,
maxxiee
mp

Thank you Gale Brewer for pushing on this!!

Beth
Upper West Side

It is absolutely disgusting that, yet again, Christine Quinn is blocking/slowing down bills that would help scores of New Yorkers. First it was the minimum wage, then the prevailing wage bill, now this. Do we have to wait for a Clinton economy to get this bill done? NO. I certainly hope that Bill de Blasio and Bill Thompson are getting their press conferences ready. They need to hammer her over waffling on so many progressive priorities.

Nick
Harlem

A healthy worker is a happy worker! 5 days is reasonable.

Lee, gravesend.

I THINK 5 PAID SICK DAYS IS TOO MUCH MAYBE 3 DAYS 1 DAY PAID AND 2 UNPAID MIGHT BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES

PEDRO
BRONX

John

Don’t expect compassion from the hand-picked successor of Michael Bloomberg. This is appalling. How many sick days does Quinn get a year? This is not a woman’s issue – it is a human issue. Men are affected by it too. This is just another reason why Quinn is unfit to be mayor.

Ben
Brooklyn

What's the purpose of having a CITY COUNCIL when one member can prevent a bill from being voted for or against by the entire council ???????

We don't need a city council; Let quinn make all the decisions !!!!!

LEE-- HARLEM

shape of things to come. Quinn is Bloomberg lite. if she becomes mayor she will flaunt the will of the people and democracy just like he did and be a dictator just like him. pro business and real estate developers, anti ordinary people - especially women. shame on her - again. I'd love a woman mayor, but not that woman.

meryl from manhattan

john,

quinn is getting money from coca cola so everyone will have their big gulps back. people are so stupid that they will vote for her.

kate
midtown east

I work for a very large corporation who has a union. I am a mother of three and this means there is always a stomach virus, flu, cold, etc at home. I was out sick two days on March 2012 and I happened to get very sick and had to be out 4 days January 2013. All these days I had to take off were documented by my doctor plus I also saw my job's doctor as they requested when I was out in January. The company writes me up for being sick on these days. I went to the union and they said not to take it personally since this is a business. If I get sick another time until January 2014 I loose my raise and if I am out two times I loose my job.

Lisa from Queens

I disagree with mark in hells kitchen ! Fact is the business owner is financially better off than the worker. I don't think the business owner would not be able to pay a bill because they had to pay an employee what they would pay them anyway. But a worker out with a flu for at least a week who lives paycheck to paycheck may not be able to pay their rent that month.

Lis from Gravesend

the issue is not whether this is a good bill or not. the issue is democracy. one person is holding the city council hostage. let them vote, either it was pass or it won't. Quinn is a dictator just like her mentor king Bloomberg.

meryl from manhattan