Dear Friends,
As a parent, there is nothing more important than being there for your kid. Unfortunately, for more than a million New Yorkers taking a day off to take care of your sick child means losing a day's pay -- and potentially your job. It's a choice that no parent should have to make.
By passing a Paid Sick Leave bill in New York City, we can immediately help ease the day-to-day stress facing working parents across the five boroughs -- while also contributing to a stronger, more productive workforce. That's the focus of an Op-Ed that my partner, Chirlane McCray, and I wrote for the El Diario newspaper and Huffington Post.
> Read our Op-Ed in Huffington Post
We need more parents to speak up and demand immediate passage of this critical legislation. According to a new Quinnipiac University poll , an overwhelming majority of New Yorker's support paid sick leave. The Paid Sick Leave bill also has the support of at least 36 City Council Members -- a veto-proof majority -- but has not been brought to the floor for vote. It's time for the democratic process to move forward.
Particularly in today's economy, parents need all the help they can get. And while government can't help parents with everything, passing Paid Sick Leave is the kind of local action that will directly benefit parents here and now.
Thank you for all you do to make our city better,
Bill de Blasio
NYC Public Advocate