Union-friendly bill could slow affordable housing

[Omaha Steve]

Crowley. (William Alatriste/NYC Council)


http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2015/04/8566197/union-friendly-bill-could-slow-affordable-housing

By Ryan Hutchins 5:56 a.m. | Apr. 17, 2015

Legislation introduced in the City Council on Thursday would require a prevailing wage be paid on many construction projects that receive public benefits, potentially slowing affordable housing development across the boroughs.

Passage of the measure would hand labor unions and worker-rights advocates an enormous win. Many builders across the city would be forced to hire a union workforce, or at least meet the requirements set by the city comptroller’s office for prevailing wage.

“It’s a really good bill,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, who introduced the legislation. “It’s going to go a long ways in making sure people working on construction sites make a fair wage.”

But such a law could also deliver a blow to developers of low-cost apartments and could prove troublesome to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ambitious housing plan, which aims to produce 80,000 new affordable units within a decade.

FULL story at link.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Yes,and the upside is quality built Homes done right the first time and on budget.

[2banon]

2. YES!

[dogman]

3. Rising property costs factored in.

No complaints there, just fair wages that are in question. See a Cheney on byline, coincidence? People making a good wage makes housing affordable too.

[yallerdawg]

4. Prevailing wages when using public funding should be standard policy.

The proposition that we can build cheaper housing if we use cheaper employees sounds quite logical.

Why on earth would that be a goal?