May 6, 2008. A report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University shows that the Bush administration bypassed Congress to issue a directive that will cut children's health insurance funding in New York - at a time when residents and taxpayers can ill afford it. Report co-released by FPI, New York Children's Action Network and Medicaid Matters New York. Press release >>
April 15, 2008. FPI examines the business tax treatment of "carried interest" earned by private equity fund and hedge fund managers, and finds that closing the carried interest loophole could raise $160-$225 million in new revenue for New York City - while leveling the playing field for New York businesses. Press release, full report.
April 9, 2008. New York has the dubious distinction of having the widest income gap between the rich and the poor of all 50 states, according to this report released by FPI in conjunction with a national study of income trends in the 50 states by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. The report also shows that inequality in New York City is even more extreme than in the state as a whole. Also see Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis [...]
March 31, 2008. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated forty years ago while in Memphis supporting the unionization of African American sanitation workers. To commemorate Dr. King's commitment to unionization, FPI and the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) are releasing new data about unionization among blacks in the nation and in New York State. Press release and data tables (unionization rates and union membership by race, 50 states). Also see CEPR's Unions and Upward Mobility for African-American Workers.
February 20, 2008. FPI's release showing the detailed impact of President Bush's $1.7 billion cut to New York for 2008-2009.
December 5, 2007. In this report FPI finds that construction of affordable housing in NYC is tainted by sub-standard jobs. There is a huge underground economy with rampant employment abuse and tax non-compliance. Workers, taxpayers and honest employers pay the price - $489 million in 2005 and are likely to reach $557 million in 2008 - as construction employment practices deteriorate in New York City. And 50,000 construction workers (one in four) are employed off the books or as so-called independent contractors - at substantial [...]
September 1, 2007. Upstate regions gain jobs, led by the Buffalo metro area. Four years into an economic expansion, New Yorkers finally got a slight raise last year, according to this year's edition of The State of Working New York. In particular, the troubled upstate economy has experienced encouraging payroll growth, with Buffalo leading the way. But overall, these modest gains stand out against a backdrop of worrisome long-term trends. For example: workers aren't seeing wage increases commensurate with their productivity; New Yorkers living in [...]
August 28, 2007. Worrisome trends: New York continues to have the highest poverty rate of all of the northeastern and northern industrial states. The poverty rates in New York's major upstate cities are incredibly high. Median household income is flat. Press release with statement >>
July 17, 2007. Today FPI released a new report and joined more than 30 children's, hunger, religious, social service and other advocacy organizations in calling on Congress to stand with New York families. The groups urged the state's representatives to resist pressure from the administration to cut funding for education, child care, worker training and similar programs. FPI's report, an issue of Fiscal Policy Note$, takes a look at the struggle in Congress over domestic discretionary spending, and finds that the modest increases under consideration [...]
June 14, 2007. FPI joined the New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA) and New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness in calling on Governor Spitzer and the New York State Legislature to establish a commission on economic security to advise policymakers on how to help low income families get ahead. Over 100 organizations from around the state joined in the request. Group press release >>
May 10, 2007. As Congress prepares to reauthorize the Farm Bill that includes the Food Stamp program, America's first line of defense against hunger and food insecurity, walk in the shoes of the less fortunate. Try the "Food Stamp Diet" and pledge to live on the food stamp budget ($1.16 per person per meal) for a day. Pledge and background information >>
May 3, 2007. A new study from the Economic Policy Institute, Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation, was co-released in New York by FPI and Winning Beginning New York. The question asked is whether pre-K pays for itself - and the answer is remarkable. Pre-K pays for itself not once, not twice, but 12 times over! New York press release >>
April 15, 2007. This examination of the affordable housing construction industry reveals evidence of a huge underground economy in which thousands of workers are paid off the books or misclassified as independent contractors. The results include widespread employer evasion of payroll taxes and social insurance premiums, and the undercutting of wage and benefit standards. Press release Report A series of stories in the Daily News describing the human side of FPI's report, starting with Danger and ripoffs are on the rise A follow up story on Mayor Bloomberg's reaction: We'll [...]
March 6, 2007. A statement from FPI executive director Frank Mauro.
January 22, 2007. New York businesses, and workers, are thriving with the higher minimum wage. Minimum wage increases in New York have defied predictions that they would hurt the very low-wage workers they were designed to help. In fact, while benefiting many New Yorkers, they have not led to shrinking employment in low-wage businesses. Based on this evidence, New York's minimum wage should be raised again (to the point that a full time worker could keep a family of three out of poverty) and then [...]