A reform package is up for a vote this week in unique York City Council. It seeks to raise council members' salaries while restricting external income and eliminating all stipends.
It's also raising eyebrows because it's paired with the contentious horse carriage bill,which the Mayor is eager to push through.
Here to address it: City Councilmember Brad Lander from Brooklyn, who chairs the Committee on Rules, and Privileges and Elections and is a founding co-chair of the Council’s Progressive Caucus."This is easy to get cynical approximately," said Councilmember Lander, referencing the salary boost. But he pointed out there hasn't been a salary increase in city council for 10 years, and a commission was brought together to recommend a base increase for salaries.
The bill includes a provision that was not recommended by the commission: a requirement to prohibit external-income for unique York City Council Members,effectively making council positions full-time.
Source: wnyc.org