Agenda - Council Work Session - 07/28/2026

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HOME — FACTS — TABLES — VIDEOS — INFOGRAPHICS — AGENCIES — RESEARCH James, Letitia; Alvin Bragg; Catalina Cruz; and Joseph Geiger. (2023). "Commentary: Wage Theft Is a Serious Crime. We're Finally Treating It That Way." The Times Union. Commentary: Wage Theft Is a Serious Crime. We're Finally Treating It That Way. The Wage Theft Accountability Act is an important tool for protecting workers and holding employers accountable. The Times Union I By Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, Catalina Cruz and Joseph Geiger I September 12, 2023 What do a deli in the Bronx, a car wash in Queens and a construction site in Manhattan have in common? These are among the thousands of businesses across the state facing complaints of wage theft, a pernicious practice in which employers refuse to pay workers what they are owed. Every year, New York businesses cheat more than 2 million workers out of over $3.2 billion in wages, a third of which comes from those earning minimum wage. This is money that families rely on to put food on the table, yet wage theft — even when it amounts to tens of thousands of dollars in stolen pay — has been only a misdemeanor in New York, akin to trespassing or jumping a subway turnstile. As a result, prosecutors lack the tools to stop employers who line their pockets with money their employees worked hard to earn. If it is wrong to steal from someone's house or a bank, it is just as wrong to steal a person's wages and labor; for many people, labor is all they have. But as misdemeanors, these cases are subject to limited discovery and a short statute of limitations, which do not reflect the seriousness of the crime. For busy law enforcement offices with limited resources, wage theft's status as a misdemeanor has meant this crime goes unprosecuted far too often. It is clear we need stronger measures to hold the perpetrators of wage theft accountable. And New York took a crucial step in the right direction recently when Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Wage Theft Accountability Act into law. Sponsored by Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and Sen. Neil Breslin, this legislation has made wage theft a felony, giving our prosecutors an important tool to hold employers accountable when these calls come in. The bill, which went into effect immediately after the governor signed it on Wednesday, allows prosecutors to charge larceny for stolen wages and to aggregate stolen wage amounts, which will now provide much more effective deterrence and consequences for employers who cheat workers. The Wage Theft Accountability Act recognizes wage theft for what it is: a criminal act. By signing this bill into law, Gov. Hochul has sent a clear message to unscrupulous employers that exploiting their employees will result in serious consequences. Furthermore, it gives workers the legal backing to fight against such exploitation and brings long -overdue justice to victims. But this legislation goes beyond penalizing wrongdoing; it promotes economic fairness. Fair wages mean more consumer spending, greater job creation and stronger communities. Higher wages also lead to increased income tax revenue, providing additional resources for public services and infrastructure improvements. This legislation is not just about punishing criminals; it's about protecting the workers who are the backbone of our economy. It's about justice, equity and economic prosperity. For the people who have reached out for help to no avail, and in the name of countless others silently suffering the financial burden of wage theft, New York needed to take action once and for all. With this law, we have 23