While all of our callers didn't agree on the exact amount the minimum wage should be raised, the consensus seemed to be that it should be raised. $9 an hour might be too much to swallow for some small business owners, but there has to be some sort of increase to reflect the standard of living in New York City.

After four hours of debate, the State Assembly voted last night to raise the State's minimum wage to $9 an hour, with automatic increases tied to inflation. Governor Cuomo had proposed raising the current $7.25 hourly wage to $8.75.

The bill now goes to the State Senate where it faces opposition from some Republicans. Opponents of raising the minimum wage argue it will add to the financial burden of small business owners. Others worry the costs of a higher payroll will be passed on to consumers. What do you say?

Is raising the State's minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 a good thing for New Yorkers? Would you like to see it raised even higher? Would you be willing to shell out a little more at your local businesses if it meant higher salaries for employees? Is Governor Cuomo handling this issue appropriately?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

I think it is about time that the minimum hourly wage is increased. The current $7.25 wage is probably equivalent to North Korea's wages for their people. No matter what is increased, we, the tax payers, are going to pay for it. What else is new? It is a disgrace that they are only increasing it to $9.00. The Cost of Living is increasing at a bullet speed and the middle class wages are at a stand still. But as Americans, we have no say as usual. Even if the State Assembly increases the minimum wage, it will still not make a difference because of the cost of living today.

God Bless America !!!

Ralph
Bay Ridge

This has been discussed many times before and as long as people are getting their amenities they do not consider that their demanded benefits falls on someone else's shoulders every time. We must start to alert people that the business owners have to suffer the consequences financially in order to pass on an increase in wages. This becomes a chain reaction.

Once again this Shelly Silver being a big sport with someone else's money.
I don't think he should still have his job at all.
He stands up there with all the bobble heads behind him to tell us about someone else's needs.

All they are doing is robbing Peter to pay Paul and they in Albany as in New York City never ever have to prove just exactly how much money comes in and how much they spend.

God forbid if we ask a question.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

With people having to pay 12,000 monthly to live in the basement (from last nights program) $9.00 an hour is the humane thing to do. The price of everything else continues to go up except salaries for the middle class and working poor. I'd be willing to shell out a little more.

Joyce
Springfield Gardens

Because the cost of living in NYC is so ridiculously high, the raise should be at least $10.00. The fare increase alone this week is enough to break people's budgets; I know I am having a hard time since the increase service has been atrocious.

I would love to move from NYC but there is no extra money to do that.

We are all struggling to keep our heads above water - the cost of living here is out of control and I am working and I am making a lot more than $10.00 an hour- so I cannot even begin to imagine the stress involved trying to make ends meet on less than $10.00 an hour. I would hope that you would qualify for some kind of food stamp program.

Where does it end and when will they stop bleeding the working middle and lower middle class of this city in order to fuel the wealthy?

Marie
Bay Ridge

Where in the Constitution is government authorized to coerce employers to pay employees any more than the employer chooses? This is pure fascism.

Joe
Port Richmond

All I know is I haven't had a contract (DOE) in YEARS! Sooooooooooooooo...if they raise the min wage, I'd BETTER GET A SALARY INCREASE!

Jeanette
Bronx

The homeless population is growing, so this means that there is an influx of people that are going to the job centers to apply for public assistance. At the current time there is one center that deals with the homeless population. Everyone who is in the shelter goes to that one center. Not only should DHS prepare for the influx of residents but the center that deals with these residents HAS to be equipped to deal with this population. There has to be programs in place to help assist residents in preparing themselves to become self sufficient.

Anastasia
Brooklyn

It's a start but it needs to be higher. How much of that $9 an hour is left after taxes are deducted? It is not a living wage for people who work hard to make that kind of money. I definitely would be willing to shell out a little more to give the employees a little more in their wallets. Gov. Cuomo has made a start, more has to be done.

Jessica
Arden Heights

The problem with minimum wage laws is that they're harm the very people they're designed to help - low skilled workers. If a job is worth $5/hour and the law requires employers to pay $9, then you are asking employers to give $4 of charity to employees. As employers are in the profit business and not the charity business, minimum wage results in unemployment of the lowest skilled workers who cannot justify the increased wage. And since unskilled laborers are disproportionately minorities, minimum wage laws are also among the most racist laws on the books. They should be abolished entirely.

Mike
Upper West Side

The wage should definatly be take higher than 9.00 an hour. Yes there is people who will do it for 7.50 and hour like Carlos, Astoria says but that is for illegal immigrants and It's not fair for Americans. It's hard to like week by week on the wages we have now. 9.00 is a start but it should be raised higher or more people will become homeless and stay In Shelters

Natalie

Thinking about all the goods and services which have increased in price over the last nine years. An increase to the minimum wage is long overdue. Just for example what was the transit fare nine years ago? What was the average price for gallon of gas back then?

John
Oakwood

I am surprised the Republicans in NY have never suggested to raise the minmum wage to 15 or 20 dollars in exchange for dismantling safety nets programs that bloat government.
Wouldn't raising it to 15/20 dollars allow for the ownership society(free-market) to take hold?

Antonio
Bayside

It's amazing how many minority business owners take advantage of minority workers. The Korean market on First Avenue pays their employees $300 per week; the employees work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. It would make me happy to know that the employees working at the small businesses I shop at are making a decent living.

The caller who said some jobs are only worth 5.00 an hour is despicable. Minimum wage should be raised to at least 11.00 hour.

Kate
Midtown East

Why don't people believe small business owners when they say that an increase in the MW will hurt their business? I don't get it. Businesses may be looking to do many things with their payrolls such as make investments or increase health care insurance for employees. I largely trust the small business owner.

Frazier

Everyone is holding back spending or trying to make ends meet, so I believe the minimum wage should go to 10.00 dollars, but MTA fares and tolls, plus gas should go down. This will stimulate consumers to travel and spend more for merchandise, food and services.

Sal
Upper West Side

Who are these people who claim they know BEST what a business owner should pay their employees? They are not the owners. They are people, politicians and redistributionists, playing fast and loose with other people's money. Why should we listen to them?

Why not tell those small business owners how much to charge for their products or services?

Jenny
Murray Hill

All business makes money but their owners or head always cry cause they don't want to pay workers more, they enjoy working them for nothing. It's hard for an ordinary person to service on such small salary, at least pay 16.00 per he. People cannot maintain themselves, it's sad.

Ruthann

You want to know what's gone down over the last few years? amount of things you can buy with income that has remained stagnant, amount of money money you can save. This year my rent went up 4%, health insurance premiums 12%, metro card 10%, salary zero. what's gone down? hope of a good life is fast disappearing, and the American dream is gone.

Meryl
Manhattan

New York City is the capital of cheap labor. Period. All of us residents asking for higher wages are innocent or want to be innocent to this fact.

Maritza
Washington Heights