Wage-raise advocates make Albany appeal

ALBANY -- Advocates for the working poor Monday urged New York's government leaders, who are poised to raise their salaries in coming weeks, to also increase the minimum wage and replenish food banks for victims of superstorm Sandy.

The interfaith clergy used their annual Thanksgiving appeal for aid for hungry New Yorkers to also push for the wage initiative during a march and rally Monday in downtown Albany. They're also seeking better funding of food pantries for storm victims.

The Rev. Kathy Donley urged lawmakers to help health care workers who can't afford good health care, farm hands who can't afford enough food and people who clean houses who can't afford decent housing.

The Hunger Action Network said its survey found a third of the state's food pantries and soup kitchens report they don't have enough to meet demand and more than 6 in 10 reported cuts in government funding. Meanwhile, the number of people using food pantries increased 9 percent, and soup kitchen users increased 2 percent. About 3 million New Yorkers use the emergency food services dependent on donations and volunteers.

"We ask that you soften the hearts of our legislators and governor," prayed Sister Doreen Glynn of the Sisters of the Poor order. "Do the just, the moral thing . . . so growing families might not only survive but thrive."

The groups say the minimum wage must be raised to at least $8.50 an hour, from the current $7.25, with regular, automatic increases. The wage increase proposal, which is popular in public polls, was pushed during the regular session that ended in June by Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. But the Senate's Republican majority opposed the measure, saying it would eliminate jobs for the working poor as the economy slowly rebounds.

The proposal has long been expected to be part of bargaining over several issues, including boosting legislators' basic salaries of $79,500 and those of top commissioners in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration.