Today City Council Speaker Christine Quinn pleased some critics (and appeared to piss off Mayor Bloomberg) by announcing she would finally let bills easing fines on street vendors come to a vote. But those bills aren't the only ones the speaker is blocking—and that is starting to really bother some of her supporters. Like Gloria Steinem, who is threatening to withdraw her support if Quinn doesn't let a controversial (with business owners) paid sick deal bill come to a vote.
Steinem, who has introduced Quinn at a fundraiser once, has been pushing for Quinn to bring paid sick day legislation to a vote for a while, but is now ratcheting up the rhetoric, threatening to withdraw her support if the Speaker doesn't bring the issue to a vote. "Making life fairer for all women seems more important than breaking a barrier for one woman," Steinem said, "adding that the bill would ensure that working mothers could better take care of sick children without fear of losing their jobs." If you agree with Steinem, she has a petition you can sign right here.
Quinn isn't rushing to appease Steinem just yet, but on Wednesday her office did tell the Times saying that the sick-day measure is "a worthy and admirable goal, one I would like to make available for all." She also said she would continue to "discuss the legislation, in the context of the evolving economy."
Quinn has used the economy as her argument against paid sick day legislation repeatedly over the years. Meanwhile, this video pretty well sums up how a majority of New Yorkers feel about giving workers the right to paid sick days (especially in the midst of nasty flu season!):
