Workers' World Today - Issue 41

BY KENNETH QUINNELL AFL-CIO

President Biden gave his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night. Here is how advocates for working families across the country responded.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler:

In tonight’s State of the Union address, President Biden delivered a bold blueprint for an economy that, at long last, puts working people first. Instead of catering to the wealthy and well-connected, the President declared that workers are

America’s backbone and good union jobs are the keystone of an economy that works for all.

In his first two years in office, President Biden made historic investments in infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing and technology that will result in transformational economic opportunities not seen in generations. To this President, “Made in America” isn’t a slogan; it’s a clarion call for us to rebuild American manufacturing and bring supply chains home.

The President made clear that his focus is reshaping the economy so that working people

New York, NY: Today, [February 14]

Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, and the Campaign for Access, Representation & Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families coalition ral-

DA Hon. Alvin Bragg

Photo courtesy: DA’s Office

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., on Fenruary 16, announced the creation of the Office’s first-ever Worker Protection Unit to investigate and prosecute wage theft and other forms of worker harassment and exploitation

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler

Photo courtesy : AFL-CIO

Supports Workers’ World Today

Recently, I was in Albany fighting and seeking support of A1261/S1947, legislation that will create a clear definition of public work and level the playing field for New York’s contractors.

District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades Union (DC9), the union for painters, prides itself on being a strong advocate for workers’ rights and safety. We are excited about this new publication, Workers’ World Today, which covers the issues of relevance and concern for all workers. We are encouraged that all workers: blue and white collar will have a voice and platform.

Congratulations on your inaugural issue. We wish much success to the leaders and team of Workers’ World Today and pledge our support.p

Davon Lomax Political Director, DC9

A Working People’s Agenda

BY HON ERIC ADAMS

Last week, in Queens — the borough I grew up in — I reported to New Yorkers on the state of our city. I outlined what we’ve accom plished in the year since I took office, and my vision for the future. We are going to build a city for working people, one that is more affordable, safer, cleaner, and more livable.

We focused on four essential pillars: jobs, safety, housing, and care.

Because without a strong working class, this city cannot survive.

Working people need good jobs and pathways to get those jobs. And those jobs need to be able to support a home for New Yorkers and their families.

That is why we are reimagining our workforce system, connecting 30,000 New Yorkers to apprenticeships through a new Apprenticeship Accelerator. It’s also why we are creating the jobs for the future, through our first of its kind biotech start up incubator that will be home to the next generation of transformative companies, and our Kips Bay life sciences hub, which will help create jobs and train New Yorkers for high demand careers in the life sciences, healthcare, and public health.

And we are ensuring that more city dollars go to minority and women-owned businesses as well as creating a new Nursing Education Initiative to support 30,000 current and aspiring nurses over the next five years.

And while we are finally seeing crime begin to decline in New York City, we must continue to make our streets safe, and it starts with getting New York City’s Most Wanted off

our streets.

We are going to get the roughly 1,700 known offenders responsible for a disproportionate amount of the city’s violent crime off the streets.

And we are going to keep our streets safe by holding reckless drivers accountable. We are going to go to Albany to get legislation passed that increases the penalties for serious crashes, running red lights, and impaired driving.

Our city cannot be livable unless it is clean and sustainable. So we are investing millions to make our city cleaner and greener.

Last year we launched the country’s largest curbside composting program in Queens in order to Get Stuff Clean, and by the end of 2024, composting will be citywide and year-round. We are electrifying our city vehicles, and we have reached a deal with Uber and Lyft to have a zero emissions fleet by 2030.

And we are going to build on the success of our Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs by creating permanent community spaces in each borough.

We must have homes for working people. We are working to add 500,000 more homes across all five boroughs—so that everyone has an affordable place to live. We are going to build in every borough and every neighborhood. And that means creating housing in areas that currently only allow manufacturing and office uses while protecting good jobs in the center of our city's economy. We are going to make Midtown Manhattan a true live-work community. And we are building more housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and near transit hubs. I recently announced plans for 6,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs around four new metro stations in the Bronx. And at Willets Point we're working to build the largest new 100 percent affordable housing development in 40 years — that’s 2,500 new, affordable homes for New Yorkers.

Building new houses is essential for our future, but we also need to address the housing crisis today. So we are going to protect tenants and help New Yorkers stay in their

Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip

Contributing Writers

Linda Nwoke

Victoria Falk

Travis Morales

Mary Campbell

Janet Howard

Chris Tobias

Erin Telesford Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq.

homes by investing over $22 million in tenant protection programs.

We must also ensure that the social safety net is there for working people, so we are expanding it; making it easier for New Yorkers to access public benefits and healthcare. This is an agenda for working people. As we pursue these programs, we want to keep New Yorkers up to date on the very latest. That’s why we’re launching a new initiative to talk directly to New Yorkers about the issues you care most about. You can sign up for this email newsletter at nyc.gov/hearfromEric to receive breaking news and updates on city initiatives — all tailored to your personal interests. Whether it’s a new park opening, or a new Open Streets in your neighborhood, you’ll be the first to know. p

Mayor Eric Adams has served the people of New York City as an NYPD officer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President, and now as the 110th Mayor of the City of New York.

Mayor Eric Adams delivers his first State of the City address at Queens Theater on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

Workers’ Matters

Workers Respond

continued from page 1 have a fair shot of getting ahead through a good union job. He understands that workers’ ability to organize is inextricably tied to a future in which we rise together. That’s why he called for the passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, so that all workers have the freedom to stand together in a union to negotiate for good pay, affordable health care and safe working conditions. And we applaud his call to ensure billionaires will no longer get a free pass to exploit loopholes that allow them to get out of paying their fair share, siphoning funds from schools, public safety and other vital social services.

The administration’s accomplishments in the last two years are just the beginning. As President Biden said tonight, it’s time to finish the job. The labor movement is organized, we are mobilized, and we are ready to ensure all workers—no matter who we are or where we’re from— have the future we and our families deserve.

When President Biden first took office, he pledged to be ‘the most pro-union president in history.’ He is living up to his promise. The American Rescue Plan brought the economy back from the brink following the shockwaves of the pandemic. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 1969. The historic bipartisan infrastructure law is adding good-paying union jobs to the economy, while the Inflation Reduction Act is actively lowering costs for working people. Biden has also fostered the most labor friendly environment we’ve seen at the federal

level in decades. As workers join together to form unions in record numbers, the NLRB is holding employers accountable and defending workers’ rights.

Pres. Biden clearly understands that a strong economy depends on a strong labor movement. But the job isn’t done. We still need to overhaul labor law in this country so workers who want to form a union can finally do so. That means passing the PRO Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act. To keep our economy moving in the right direction, Congress must pursue a clean vote to raise the

debt ceiling and continue to ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes. Finally, the federal government must continue to make critical investments in the public services our communities depend on like child care and health care.

The path ahead in a divided Congress will be tough, but to keep the state of our union strong we must press ahead and fight for common sense policies that will empower working families and finally level the playing field.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International President John Costa:

In the past two years, President Biden has created more jobs than any other president in American history. This is after entering office with the early support of the ATU when our economy was in crisis. President Biden not only led us through a pandemic, but he oversaw a historic recovery that stands to benefit workers and families for years to come.

Under President Biden, our economy has created more than twelve million jobs and

ushered in a 54-year low unemployment rate, with near record lows for Black and Hispanic workers. These jobs to a community, an individual, and a family have been life-changing.

Along with record-breaking job creation, policies implemented by the Biden Administration intended to help workers have left them more economically secure than before the pandemic. Child poverty was at a historic low in 2021, and families now have the breathing room they need to advance their lives.

In his State of the Union, President Biden also outlined the historic investment in public transit and our nation’s infrastructure his administration has made under the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, which the ATU helped get passed. In fact, his economic plan includes the most significant upgrade to our nation’s infrastructure in generations. Equally important, President Biden is also ensuring that everything from zero-emission buses to bridges to rail cars are made here in America.

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AFSCME President Lee Saunders:

ATU President John costa

Photo courtesy: ATU

keeping your promises to the American people and putting workers’ rights in the national spotlight. Now is the time, as President Biden said, to “finish the job.”

We join the president in calling for Congress to immediately pass the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to ensure every worker has the choice to organize, join a union, and collectively bargain for a fair living wage to provide for their families.

The Biden Administration has also put more money in our pockets by lowering health care costs, including prescription drug prices. This is just one of the ways President Biden is sticking up for everyday Americans, including making large corporations and billionaires finally pay their fair share in taxes.

The American people want stability and leadership, and that’s what the Biden Administration has delivered over the past two years. We must keep moving forward and continue providing meaningful change for working people and their families. Thank you to the Biden Administration for

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten:

President Biden may have been speaking from the U.S. Capitol tonight, but he could have been sitting at any of our kitchen tables, because he spoke from the heart, directly to the American people, particularly to those left behind or who feel invisible. He made that his North Star: making people’s lives better, in an economy that works for all, in communities that are safe for everyone and in a world where sustainable democracies can thrive over autocracies and war. Most of all, Biden challenged us to hope and dream, and to stay united. His record, while still unfinished, is remarkable, and it gives us a launching pad for a more perfect union: massive

job growth, the highest in a two-year period; record-low unemployment; reimagining our manufacturing base, from electric buses to bringing back chip manufacturing; rebuilding roads, bridges and tunnels that commuters rely on; gamechanging student loan forgiveness, plus critical education assistance and school safety measures that helped our students and teachers get their mojo back; and driving down drug costs and gas prices, even when it meant standing up to

big pharma and big oil. This work has made a clear difference in the lives of families, regardless of where they live and who they voted for. And whether he is middle-class Joe or working-class Joe, the president stayed true to the basic value that all Americans—not just the wealthy and powerful—should feel and benefit from our country’s success. But there is much more to do, and we appreciate that the president spoke with optimism, rooting for the American people, as he laid out a very ambitious agenda that started with safety and education, like paid family leave, child care and raises for the teachers who educate our kids.

It’s clear that this president recognizes the promise and potential of public schooling—including using career and technical education and building pathways to career and college so more students can access opportunities at an early age—and the urgent need to address mental health, both in our schools and

in our healthcare workforce, proposing important workplace and school-based programs to tackle stress and trauma, as well as stronger protections to rein in tech companies and address our kids’ privacy, health and safety online. He voiced a strong commitment to keeping our families and communities safe from violence, building on the progress already made on gun safety, and going one step further by banning assault weapons, while also making important advances in effective, accountable policing, including reissuing the call for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. And, of course, he spoke with his signature Joe Biden vision, vowing to make good on his commitment to veterans, to continue the cancer moonshot and to cure the opioid epidemic.

And while the president was optimistic and hopeful, he was clear that there is no place for holding hostage Social Secu-

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Workers Respond

AFT President Randi Weingarten Photo courtesy: AFT

Workers Respond

continued from page 5

rity, Medicare or the full faith and credit of the United States. And in a brilliant master class, he got everyone in the hall to agree not to make those cuts. Further, he vowed to continue to stand up for democracy and basic human rights, both at home and abroad. He reminded us that America is a story of progress and resilience, that having a strong democracy makes this possible, and that together we can deliver on a families-first agenda that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. In true Joe Biden form, he celebrated the efforts of working people and the power of a union, urging Congress to protect collective bargaining and pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.

That was our president’s message tonight, and we at the AFT are grateful that he is our leader and wants to finish the job.

Bricklayers (BAC):

In the two years since President Joe Biden took office, his administration has spearheaded some of the most positive developments for working people since the New Deal.

From the pension relief of the American Rescue Plan, to the strengthening of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, to the massive infrastructure investments of the 2021 infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden Administration has been committed to creating jobs and raising standards for working Americans. Last night’s State of the Union address showed that he has no plans to stop.

During the speech, President Biden put unions and American workers front and center. “For too long, workers have been getting stiffed,” he said. “Not anymore. We’re beginning to restore the dignity of work.”

“I am so sick and tried of companies breaking the law by preventing workers from organizing,” President Biden continued, urging Congress to “pass the PRO Act, because all workers have a right to form a union.”

“And let’s guarantee all workers a living wage. Let’s also make sure working parents can afford to raise a family with sick days, paid family and medical leave, and affordable childcare, that will enable millions more people to go to work,” President Biden stressed. “When we do all of

these things, we increase productivity. We increase economic growth.”

President Biden also highlighted the importance for the government to ‘Buy American.’ “Buy American has been the law of the land since 1933. But for too long, past administrations have found ways to get around it. Not anymore,” he said. “Tonight, I’m also announcing new standards to require all construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects to be made in America.”

Communications Workers of America (CWA):

In his second State of the Union address, President Biden doubled down on his commitment to push for an economic framework that is centered around meeting the needs of working families. In a political climate starved of leaders who will stand up to the wealthy and well-connected, President Biden’s message stood out loud and clear—workers come first. Despite the usual partisan gridlock, the Biden Administration has been able to achieve groundbreaking legislative victories in the last two years that will create opportunities with lasting impacts for generations of workers including CWA members. Under his leadership, we have moved from campaign promises and rhetoric to actual investments in critical infrastructure such as strengthening our supply chains by increasing U.S manufacturing and bringing highspeed internet connections to communities across the country while creating good jobs in the industry. CWA commends President Biden for his successful efforts to cap the cost of insulin for seniors on Medicare and we join him in calling on Congress to take action to expand Medicare access and bring down prescription drug costs for all Americans who need it.

President Biden made it clear that he understands a job should be more than a paycheck. It should be a source of pride and dignity. Which is why he threw his full support behind the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, so that all workers have a free and fair choice to organize or join a union, and the right to bargain collectively with their employer, without fear of intimidation, coercion, threats, and anti-union propaganda. We stand with the President in his efforts to fix our unfair tax

system and ensure billionaires pay their fair share as well as his commitment to block any attempt to cut retirement security programs such as Social Security and Medicare benefits. CWA members will continue to mobilize and help advance the President’s agenda on creating jobs through investment in our country’s infrastructure and empowering workers.

Electrical Workers (IBEW) International President Kenneth Cooper:

In his State of the Union address last night, President Biden reminded Americans that his administration’s priority remains working people and building shared prosperity from the bottom up.

The last two years have seen historic, bipartisan action to invest in infrastructure, domestic manufacturing and modernizing our energy economy, resulting in good, union jobs that are rebuilding middle-class communities across the United States.

President Biden also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that every worker enjoys the right to organize and bargain collectively for better pay, benefits and fairness on the job. Under his watch, he has restored the Labor Department and the National Labor Relations Board to their proper roles as protectors of workers’ rights. He also doubled down on his call for the passage of the PRO Act, so all workers can join a union.

As the president said, members of the IBEW are proud to be part of rebuilding America’s manufacturing economy and a new low-carbon energy infrastructure—from installing a national network of EV

President Biden signed legislation like the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act into law: saving hundreds of thousands of union pensions, providing the most significant investments into our country’s infrastructure and semiconductor production in generations, and making the largest American investment in clean energy ever. These investments have already put thousands of SMART sheet metal members to work, and they will drastically improve the health and working conditions of our Transportation Division members across sectors.

charging stations to building new semiconductor plants that are reviving the rust belt. And we look forward to continuing to work with President Biden and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in creating a pro-worker economy that works for all.

Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly: There is no stronger advocate for fire fighters and emergency medical professionals than President Biden, whose administration has enabled the legislative progress our profession has needed for generations. He understands the dangers of our job—including the urgent need to fight cancer.

That's why last night's State of the Union reiterated the importance of the Cancer Moonshot—an initiative we should all get behind—to bring America's research system into the 21st century and provide support for those facing cancer. Cancer has impacted nearly every family, especially our own. As President Biden said last night, let's "finish the job" and end cancer as we know it.

International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART):

On the campaign trail and during his first State of the Union speech last year, President Biden made big promises: substantial infrastructure investment for the first time in decades, the return of manufacturing to America, and an economy that works from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down. Now, two years after the president’s inauguration, we can say that the Biden administration is delivering on those promises.

Since President Biden took office, more than 200 companies have announced private investment in manufacturing, utilities and energy to the tune of $700 billion, across all 50 states. Our members are already working these jobs, from solar panel production facilities in New York to data centers in Arizona.

And after two years of President Biden’s agenda, the American economy has created more than 12 million jobs, with an unemployment rate of 3.4%, a 54-year low.

But, as the president made clear in this year’s State of the Union, there is more work to do. We look forward to working with Congress and this administration to end the anti-worker corporate scheme that is Precision Scheduled Railroading. And we call on Congress to pass a billionaire minimum tax, which will finally see the one percent pay their fair share and ease the damaging impact of inflation for working families; expand the Child Tax Credit, which will lift more children and families out of poverty; extend the Inflation Reduction Act’s price cap on insulin to all Americans; and pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which will make it easier for workers to form a union.

International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) President Ray Curry:

President Biden promised to be the most pro-union President in our country’s history. Two years into his first term, he has made good on his promise time and time again. Under his leadership, Congress passed landmark laws like the Inflation Reduction

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Workers Respond

continued from page 6

Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Altogether they will create good paying jobs throughout the country, rebuild aged and crumbling infrastructure, and put our country in a position to win the jobs of the future.

Investments made by the President in American workers and manufacturers will strengthen our economy while improving our national security. Our country’s stronger when we are less dependent on foreign nations for vital products and materials.

President Biden also fought for passage of the PACT Act which significantly expanded benefits and services for veterans exposed to toxins. He put the interests of working people over Big Pharma by reigning in skyrocketing prescription drug prices and made our tax code fairer by cracking down on wealthy tax cheats and having the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share. President Biden nominated, and the Senate confirmed, dozens of

judges from diverse backgrounds who understand the struggles of working people. Under his leadership, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court. His groundbreaking student debt relief plan, if allowed to go forward by the courts, would significantly improve the quality of life and overall financial wellbeing for sixteen million Americans, including tens of thousands of UAW members and their families.

Remarkably, despite the worst pandemic in a hundred years, record high inflation throughout the globe, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and many

other historic challenges, President Biden has managed to create millions of new jobs. Unemployment is now at the lowest rate since 1969 and gas prices are down sharply. Yet as the President acknowledged, more work needs to be done. Congress should heed his call by passing the bipartisan Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The PRO Act removes barriers that make it very difficult for workers to form a union and collectively bargain for better wages, improve working conditions, greater retirement security, and other benefits. Congress must also work with the President to ensure that future jobs and investments in electric ve-

hicles, batteries and semiconductors are good middle-class union jobs. Finally, we urge the Senate to expeditiously confirm more judges who support workers’ rights, defend civil rights, and protect access to health care.

We firmly agree with President Biden that the debt ceiling needs to be increased without conditions like it was three times under President Trump. We urge the House Majority to not play Russian roulette with our future and economy. Congress must not make it harder for working people to afford lifesaving medicine and retire with dignity. The most vulnerable in our society should not be made to suffer because of misplaced priorities.

UAW stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to build on the record of the last two years to ensure a brighter future for all.

While focusing on his bipartisan accomplishments, Biden acknowledged sometimes Democrats have had to go it alone. The American Rescue Plan, which every Republican in Congress voted against, in-

cluded long-needed pension relief. Ironworkers from Local 751 in Anchorage, Alaska, won that pension assistance lastiated benefits that NALC members depend on.

We are committed to continuing working with the Administration and all members of Congress on policies that will improve the work and lives of our members and all working people.

Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) General President James Williams Jr.:

Tonight, like many others, I watched the State of the Union address by President Biden. What I heard was a President who is committed to an agenda that lifts up workers, unions, and our communities. With the lowest unemployment rate and highest number of manufacturing jobs in a generation, the president has delivered on his ch of the White House Task s across the nation. We have a lot of work to do in 2023.p

This is an excerpt. Read the full response at www.workersworldtoday.com

Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) General PresidentJames Williams Jr.

Photo courtesy: IUPAT

Workers’ Rights

across Manhattan’s many industries. Building on the success of the Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force, which will be part of the Worker Protection Unit, the Unit will pursue criminal charges against individuals and corporations that jeopardize their workers’ safety and steal their wages.

D.A. Bragg also announced the creation of a first-ever Stolen Wage Fund for Manhattan victims of wage theft, funded through the D.A.’s Criminal Justice Investment Initiative and operated in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor.

Finally, in an effort to allow the Unit to bring appropriately strong charges against individuals and companies that cheat their workers, D.A. Bragg joined Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and State Senator Neil Breslin to support their bill that would enable prosecutors to charge wage theft as larceny.

“At the Manhattan D.A.’s office, we’re holding accountable companies and executives that exploit their workers, whether by jeopardizing their safety or stealing their wages,” said District Attorney Bragg. “The creation of the Office’s first-ever Worker Protection Unit is our latest move to stand up for hard-working New Yorkers. Again and again, we see companies taking advantage of our most vulnerable populations, including low-income and undocumented New Yorkers, and abusing power imbalances to line their pockets. Together with our partners in law enforcement, the legislature, the community, and beyond, we will make sure workers are treated fairly, and bad faith employers who violate the laws are held accountable for their crimes.”

“District Attorney Bragg’s new Worker Protection Unit and Stolen Wage Fund are welcomed tools in the Department of Labor’s continued efforts to protect all working New Yorkers,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “We are proud to be working side by side with this new unit to assure unscrupulous employers are held accountable and workers recover their stolen wages. I thank D.A. Bragg for continuing to be a strong partner in our joint pursuit of justice.”

“The New York City Dis-

trict Council of Carpenters’ fights every day for fair wages, good benefits, and safe job sites, and on behalf of our 20,000 members, we applaud Manhattan District Attorney Bragg’s creation of a Worker Protection Unit and Stolen Wages Fund. I’ve seen firsthand the abuse contractors commit, and New Yorkers deserve better,” said David Caraballoso, Vice President of the New York City District Council of Carpenters. “We must continue to advocate for stronger worker protections and legislation to criminalize wage theft. I commend D.A. Bragg for standing up for hardworking New Yorkers and helping put an end to wage theft once and for all.”

“Too many workers are subjected to wage theft every week, to the tune of $20 million to be exact – it’s a crime, and should be treated like one under law, plain and simple, and employers need to be held accountable. Today’s announcement takes a major leap towards addressing the wage theft crisis at a time when workers are struggling to keep up with growing inflation. District Attorney Bragg is setting in motion major reforms that will go a long way, not just in recovering stolen wages, but most importantly by protecting workers, regardless of their immigration status, from experiencing future abuses by aggressively prosecuting these bad actors. We look forward to working with the DA’s new Worker Protection Unit to ensure workers who have been targeted by unscrupulous employers utilize every means available for fighting back to recover their wages quickly and making their workplaces safer,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)

“New York’s construction industry is polluted with crooked contractors whose very business model is based on exploiting and stealing from the city’s most vulnerable workers—immigrants, people of color, and the formerly incarcerated. I hope the word gets out to unscrupulous employers everywhere–continue to cheat workers and prepare to find yourself either in jail or out of business,” said Michael E. Hellstrom, Vice President

and Eastern Regional Manager Laborers’ International Union of North America. “I also hope the word gets out to the thousands of workers who face exploitation and hardship on the job. No longer do you have to work in fear in unsafe and unfair conditions. D.A. Bragg’s Workers Protection Unit is committed to helping you and has the resources to back it up. The 17,000-member Mason Tenders District Council is committed to helping D.A. Bragg and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office by supporting workers and identifying wage theft and worker exploration whenever and wherever it happens.”

“Workers in low wage industries regularly deal with health and safety violations, wage and hour issues, and exploitation on the job. Where our government puts its resources is ultimately where its priorities are – and this investment in a new Worker Protection Unit is essential,” said Charlene Obernauer, Executive Director of NYCOSH “We thank D.A. Bragg for his leadership and partnership supporting workers.”

“Far too often, irresponsible and unscrupulous contractors on construction sites abuse their workers by withholding wages, overtime, and benefits, and by mobilizing more extensive wage protection measures, Manhattan has stepped up to protect New York City’s tradesmen and tradeswomen from further exploitation,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “Honest work should always result in honest pay and accountability on the job is fundamental. We applaud DA Bragg for being an advocate for hardworking New Yorkers, and their families, and look forward to working with his office to ensure construction workers are being protected and compensated properly for their contributions to driving forward key infrastructure projects in our

ous work conditions by calling or messaging the Worker Protection Unit at (646) 712-0298. The Office is a safe place to report crime, whether or not you are documented.

The Manhattan D.A.’s Stolen

Wage Fund

city.”

The Manhattan D.A.’s Worker Protection Unit

Wage theft in New York accounts for nearly $1 billion in lost wages each year and affects tens of thousands of workers, according to Cornell University’s Worker Institute. The Manhattan D.A.’s Office has long led the way in prosecuting wage theft, primarily in the construction and real estate development industries. With this new unit, the Office will significantly expand its focus to include other industries with high rates of worker exploitation and wage theft, such as home healthcare agencies, fast food and restaurants, hotels, and more. The Unit will also enforce workplace safety labor laws, building on the work of the Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force, and pursue charges ranging from reckless endangerment to manslaughter when an employer creates dangerous or deadly work environments.

The Unit will not only prosecute individuals and corporations that steal wages, but will also work to recoup stolen wages and debar companies from city contracts. The Unit will work alongside the D.A.’s Community Partnerships, Immigrant Affairs, and Witness Aid Services Units, as well as community-based organizations and consulates, to encourage vulnerable and under-served populations to report wage theft.

Assistant D.A. and Senior Investigative Counsel Rachana Pathak is the Chief of the Worker Protection Unit; she also continues as the Supervising Attorney of the Construction Fraud Task Force.

Assistant D.A. Meredith McGowan is the Unit’s Supervising Attorney for Wage Theft. The Unit also includes a dedicated coordinator, paralegal, and two part-time investigators. The Office is currently posting for an additional Assistant D.A. and another analyst for the Unit.

Report wage theft or danger-

Recognizing that victims of wage theft are not always made whole through criminal prosecutions, the Manhattan D.A.’s Office is investing $100,000 to create a pilot Stolen Wage Fund for Manhattan victims of wage theft. In partnership with the Department of Labor, the Fund will help victims of wage theft who come forward after a criminal case has concluded and case-related restitution has already been distributed. The Fund will also assist victims of companies that declare bankruptcy or otherwise cannot repay stolen wages. After evaluating the pilot, the Office may invest up to $500,000 in the Fund.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed last week, the Department of Labor will vet claims and calculate stolen wages, which the D.A.’s Office will then distribute to claimants. Claims must be for work performed in Manhattan, reported within one year of a criminal conviction for theft, and filed under penalty of perjury. The Office will assess the success of this pilot fund after one year and will commit to additional funding as appropriate.

Strengthening New York’s Wage Theft Laws

Currently, New York State law does not consider wage theft to be property theft, meaning prosecutors cannot charge larceny for stolen wages. Accordingly, individuals and companies that steal workers’ wages typically face charges of Scheme to Defraud, which is the lowest level felony under New York State law.

Under a bill introduced by Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and State Senator Neil Breslin, New York’s Grand Larceny statutes would be amended to include wage theft, enabling prosecutors to charge much more serious felonies, depending on the number of workers affected and the amount stolen. D.A. Bragg is joining Assemblymember Cruz, Senator Breslin, union leaders and worker advocates to call on the legislature to pass this crucial bill during the current legislative session.p

Worker Protection Unit/ continued from page 1

Photo courtesy : AFI-CIO

Considering a Spring Home Sale? Learn How to Appraise Your Selling Chances Like a Pro

The springtime is known to be one of the best times to put your home up for sale. However, if you're not necessarily planning on engaging a real estate agent, it's important to be prepared for all of the hard work involved in putting your home up for sale. Whether you're new to the market or you've never sold a home on your own before, here are some questions to ask yourself so you're prepared for selling in the coming season.

Do You Know the Market?

The neighborhood you live in and the buying market you're dealing with are important factors in how your home is going to sell, so you'll need to know a little about both when determining your ideal price. By looking through the listings in the area and seeing what homes like yours have sold for,

you may be able to give yourself a range for the offers you can expect.

How Will You Sell It?

One of the added benefits of social media is that you can use sites like Facebook and Twitter to announce your home sale and even highlight its best features. While this may make selling seem much easier, you'll still need to make sure you have good photography that captures your home and a website where home-

buyers can learn more details. Be aware that while these items may seem easy enough, it can take a lot of time to manage these details on your own.

Are You Prepared to Negotiate?

It's a good feeling to get an offer on your home, but in all likelihood it will be less than what you're expecting and this means engaging in the art of negotiation. According to the National Association of Realtors, those who sell their home

generally get 10-20% less than those who utilize an agent, so it's important to be comfortable negotiating before you dive in. If you're confident in your acumen, you may want to go it alone, but if you have doubts, it can be a better financial decision to engage the help of an agent.

Guidance

Before you decide to sell your home on your own, it's worth appraising your skills to determine if it will be worth the time and effort you'll have to put in. If you've come to the conclusion that you'd like to utilize an agent after all, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more information. Our real estate team is happy to assist. Call Equity Smart Realty Inc at 888-670-6791. We would be happy to share our guidance.p

Minorities continue to be the target of the predatory practices by real estate and mortgage brokers and the man who comes knocking on your door with a bag of cash. To save your home, call us now for a consultation at 855-768-8845.

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

Amid a Severe Shortage of Home Health Aides, Immigrants Help Care for Our Seniors

BY KAREN AHO

The United States will need to fill nearly threequarters of a million open jobs for home health and personal care aides every year through 2031. Currently, immigrant workers fill these jobs in outsized numbers. Without more workers joining the workforce, the drastic shortage of aides could leave millions of Americans without the ability to remain in their homes when they’re in need of long-term care.

Soaring Need for Aides

An analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data by the American Immigration Council shows that the home health and personal care aides occupation is one of the fastest growing jobs. It’s estimated that an average of 711,700 jobs will open up every year from 2021 to 2031.

This is largely driven by the

unprecedented growth of the senior population in this country. About 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, and 7 in 10 will need long-term care in their lifetime. The number of Americans over the age of 85 is expected to more than double from 2019 to 2040, from 6.6 million to 14.4 million.

As a result, the number of home health and personal care aide jobs is expected to jump 25.4% in a decade, from 3.6 million in 2021 to 4.6 million in 2031. This occupation will experience the largest increase in new jobs of any occupation in that period and will become the largest occupation in the country by 2031.

Critical Shortage of Caregivers

Despite the growing demand for the workforce, the country’s pool of available workers will barely grow. It is estimated that the number of prime working-age Ameri-

cans, those between the ages of 25 and 64, will increase by a meager 0.3% a year through 2035— and only because of arriving immigrants and their children.

From 2021 to 2031, a projected 332,300 home health and personal care aides will drop out of the workforce each year for retirement or other reasons.

In addition, 287,000 home health and personal care aides a year can be expected to abandon the occupation in search of

other work. This demanding job has turnover rates that exceed nearly every other occupation.

A Council analysis of jobs postings aggregated by Lightcast finds that although the position does not require an academic degree or licensure, it demands a broad range of physical, psychological, and emotional skills, including being able to safely transfer people and dealing with Alzheimer’s patients.

Aides suffer from higher-thanaverage injury rates and cite high stress and low pay. Home health and personal care aides earn less than just about every other healthcare support occupation, BLS data shows. In 2021, the median annual wage for home health and personal care aides was $29,430, or $14.7 per hour for full-time work.

Helping Immigrants Help Us

Most seniors and disabled people would prefer to stay at home—an option that also costs the nation less than housing people in nursing homes. But as more Americans age, many will not be able to stay in their home unless we can attract more workers to serve as home health aides.

During the pandemic, home health aides were in particularly short supply, painting a grim picture of what could lie ahead for Americans.

Bayada Home Health Care,

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

lied on the State Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase to call on Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to support the Access to Representation Act (ARA). This first-in-the-nation bill would establish a right to counsel in immigration court proceedings.

People at the rally shared stories about how they have been forced to navigate an overburdened and under-resourced court system without any legal resources. By passing the ARA, Governor Hochul and the legislature can help thousands of New Yorkers keep their families intact and allow them to continue contributing to their communities and our economy. Having a lawyer makes a massive impact: immigrants in detention are 3.5 times more likely to win release from detention and more than 10 times more likely to prove their right to remain in the United States.

New York State currently has a backlog of more than 190,000 deportation cases in immigration courts. Across the state, 93 percent of New Yorkers—in-

cluding 86 percent of upstate residents—said that they believe it is somewhat or very important that all people, including those in immigration court, have access to legal representation. Investing in humane immigration policies that enable more community members to remain safely at home, on the job, and with their families makes our state safer and benefits our economy. Passage of the ARA would continue to position New York State as a model for other jurisdictions where immigrants face similar challenges while delivering on behalf of New Yorkers.

"Having a lawyer in an immigration hearing can be the difference between life and death. Non-detained people in immi-

gration hearings are over three times more likely to achieve a successful outcome if they have representation. Our Access to Representation Act will help immigrants get the legal representation they need. I am grateful to Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, the New York Immigration Coalition, the Vera Institute of Justice, and Immigrant-ARC, for their advocacy in support of this critical bill," said State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

"Every day thousands of immigrants statewide face the possibility of deportation without due process of law and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. They are our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones. Our nation was and is built on

their backs, and they have built their lives on the promises of our nation. However, if they cannot afford a lawyer, they are left to fight a complex immigration system on their own. While immigration law is civil in nature, the consequences of violating the law are the same as those faced by criminal defendants- loss of liberty, forced separation from family, or worse- death when forced to return to a country that persecutes their very existence. As the migrant crisis intensifies, the need for legal services skyrockets. The Access to Representation Act seeks to right this wrong by ensuring that effective legal services are provided to everyone, not simply those who are able to afford them," said State Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz.

“DC 37 represents thousands of new immigrants in many titles, including those providing critical healthcare and community services. New York’s history proves that today's new immigrants are tomorrow’s hardest working citizens. Immigrants come to the city to work and support their families, and are in turn invaluable

contributors to our economic growth and recovery. Expanding the right to counsel to help our members and their families remain working here rather than in jail awaiting deportation is a moral imperative and sound economic policy,” said Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME.

“Access to a lawyer when facing an immigration hearing can be the difference between a years-long battle of attrition in the US court system and a fair resolution,” said 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich. “The Access to Representation Act ensures that our immigrant community no longer faces our nation’s byzantine court system alone. 32BJ is proud to support this vital legislation and we thank Senator Hoylman and Assemblymember Cruz for introducing this bill and immigrant advocates for their fierce advocacy.”

“Breaking up families who contribute to our communities doesn’t just hurt households, it also hurts the local economies that thrive because of their immigrant neighbors. Without

Unions Demand / continued from page 1

New York City, NY USA August 26, 2022. Assembly member Catalina Cruz at City Hall press conference for migrant asylum seekers arriving in NYC. Editorial credit: Steve Sanchez Photos / Shutterstock.com

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights

Unions Demand / continued from page 11 legal representation, there is a real financial and human cost for immigrants and communities across New York. Access to legal representation allows families to pursue their asylum cases, change legal status, and it ensures that no immigrant child or adult is left to fend for themselves navigating our complex immigration court system. Governor Hochul has the opportunity to demonstrate how much New York values our immigrant workers, business owners, friends, and community members by fully investing in legal services funding and passing the Access to Representation Act to keep families together and New York’s economy thriving,” said Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.

"This is a moment for bold action. Every New Yorker deserves representation in immigration court. Increasing funding for these essential services and passing the Access to Representation Act will ensure that our immigrant

neighbors have a fighting chance in a system that is heavily stacked against them. Without legal representation, immigrants are far more likely to be separated from their families and loved ones or sent to countries where their lives are in danger. Our state has been a national leader in this fight, and we can continue to pave the way by offering immigrant New Yorkers the right to legal help and a chance to seek safety, security, and family unity when faced with the terrifying prospect of detention and deportation,” said Shayna Kessler, state advocacy manager with the Vera Institute of Justice.

“Including the Access to Representation Act in this year’s

budget is the single most important action New York State can take to protect immigrant communities right now - be they long-established or recently arrived in search of safety and a new home,” said Camille Mackler, the executive director of Immigrant ARC.

“The crisis of representation in immigration processes has gone on for too long, and many continue to try to navigate an opaque system designed to make them fail without access to basic legal orientation, much less a representative on their case. At the same time legal service providers, who are unable to meet the crushing needs for their services, cannot expand capacity without more resources that are guaranteed year over year. We thank Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and Senator Brad Hoylman for their continued leadership on this issue and urge the New York State Legislature and Governor to include the ARA in this year’s budget so that New York can continue to be a beacon of hope and solidarity for the rest of the country.” p

which provides services in 350 locations in 22 states, told Home Health Care News that they had to decline nearly twothirds of new home-care requests due to the shortage of available aides.

Efforts are already underway in some states to mandate higher wages, such as the Fair Pay for Home Care campaign in New York and the Caregiver Stabilization Act in Minnesota. And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in 2022 that states would have until 2025 to access $12.7 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act to strengthen home and community healthcare services for Medicaid recipients to, in part, “reduce unnecessary reliance on institutional care.”

Such policies are particularly

important for immigrant workers, who are already playing an outsized role in providing care for our senior and disabled population.

In 2019, 36.5% of all home health aides in the United States were immigrants, a rate that was twice their share of the U.S. workforce overall (17.1%). This includes undocumented workers, who made up an estimated 6.9% of home health aides and 4.4% of personal care aides.

We need immigration policies that can attract and provide support for more foreign-born health aides. This will prove to be critical in securing the much-needed care of our aging population in the years to come.p

Read more stories like this at www.askthelawyer.us

Apply Now for the Joseph S. Murphy Scholarship for Diversity in Labor!

Immigrants Help/continued from page 10

AFM Local 802 On Strike Against DCINY

DCINY orchestra voted overwhelmingly to authorize the strike in a secret-ballot vote.

Musicians are fighting for a fair contract. "We'd rather be playing music for the public than walking a picket line," said DCINY percussionist Andy Blanco and violinist Tallie Brunfelt in a joint statement. "As long as DCINY continues to reject the fundamental aspects of a union contract, we have no choice but to strike."

112th Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Commemoration

The New York City musicians' union, AFM Local 802 has announced a strike against Distinguished Concerts International New York, a for-profit company that produces concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and that boasts a roster of 257 musicians. Members in the

The orchestra's journey towards a union contract began in 2019, when they won the first step of union recognition. The company eventually retaliated by replacing the full orchestra with just a handful of musicians, including an unpaid amateur high school ensemble. Musicians fought back with a high-profile musical protest at Carnegie Hall that brought massive visibility to their campaign. To date, DCINY management still refuses to sign an agreement that offers meaningful job security and hiring provisions, professional wages, pension and health contributions, recording payments, and more.

A rally with striking musicians and elected officials will take place in front of Carnegie Hall on Monday, Feb. 20 at 6pm. Follow the union on Twitter and Instagram!p

Orientation is February 27, 2023

Please join us for the commemoration of the 112th anniversary of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, one of the pivotal events in US history and a turning point in labor’s struggle to achieve fair wages, dignity at work and safe working conditions. Outrage at the deaths of 146 mostly young, female immigrants inspired the union movement and helped to insti-

tute worker protections and fire safety laws.

We will once again be holding the ceremony in person at Washington Place and Greene Street to remember the dead and honor those involved in today’s labor struggles. The ceremony will be at the site of the future Triangle Fire Memorial, which is currently being built and will be unveiled later this year.p

NEW YORK CITY - MARCH 25 2015: the 104th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire which killed 146 workers in 1911 was observed by the factory's former site. Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

TWU Local 100 Members Gather at Grand Central to Fight MTA Service Cuts

Members of TWU Local 100 and the Riders Alliance gathered Wednesday outside Grand Central to make the case against service cuts and in support of six minute service and better transit funding. The MTA unfairly plans to reduce subway service on Mondays and Fridays because its wealthier suburban commuters are not coming into their Manhattan offices on those days. This will create longer waits and more crowding for millions of regular New Yorkers.

“We think the Monday to Friday cuts are horrible. It doesn’t do any justice for the riding public and our members who will who will have to explain to the customers why the trains aren’t coming and they

have to wait longer,” said TWU Local 100 President Richard Davis.

Many of those who will be negatively impacted didn’t have the luxury of working from home during the pandemic and still don’t have the

Bronx Frontline Doctors Overwhelmingly Vote to Re-Establish Union

luxury today: blue-collar, front-line and essential workers, lower-income immigrants and people of color living in outer borough neighborhoods where ridership is still strong.p

Resident physicians at Montefiore Medical Center, one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City, celebrated yesterday after learning that they had successfully won union representation with a supermajority of 82% voting in favor of joining the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU). With over 1200 doctors included, the victory will re-establish a union presence at Montefiore more than four decades after their original union, one of the first nationwide, was removed.

"Residents and fellows at Montefiore just won our union with over 80% voting yes," the union wrote on Twitter. "After

weeks of captive audience meetings, 1-1’s and more emails than we can count, we showed Montefiore that our solidarity is stronger than the fear and intimidation they used to try and divide us." p

Photo courtesy : AFI-CIO

TWU Local 100 members gather at Grand Central. Photo courtesy AFI-CIO

Apple Cider Vinegar: Is Drinking This Popular Home Remedy Bad for Your Teeth? A Dentist Explains

BY JOSEFINE HIRSCHFELD THE CONVERSATION

Apple cider vinegar has become a popular home remedy in recent years and has been used for centuries in cooking and medicine. It’s thought to help with a wide range of health issues, including high cholesterol, blood sugar levels, obesity and high blood pressure. It’s also said to help with eczema and stomach acid reflux, but this has not been scientifically proven.

Because apple cider vinegar is a good source of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C, it’s believed to be good for your body as a whole. Apple cider vinegar is usually consumed with foods as an additive to sauces, salad dressings and marinades.

Some people also drink apple cider vinegar, diluted in hot or cold water. Pills, tablets, powders and gummies also exist. Diluted apple cider vinegar can also be used externally in baths, wet wraps or hair rinses. But because of the lack of research about apple cider vinegar, there are no official dosage suggestions to date.

Research has shown that apple cider vinegar has both antimicrobial and antioxidant effects – including anti-oral biofilm effects. Oral biofilms, also known as dental plaque, consists of a sticky layer of bacteria on tooth surfaces. This means that in theory, it may be able to reduce plaque levels on our teeth, but there have been no clinical studies to test this.

Apart from a lack of evidence, there is another important reason why apple cider vinegar is probably not the best

option to reduce plaque: like other kinds of vinegar, it’s high in acid, and studies indicate that it may cause erosion to our bodily tissues if not diluted. This includes the soft tissues in our mouth as well as our teeth and tooth enamel.

Teeth and acids

Enamel is the mineralised material that coats our teeth and

is the hardest tissue in the human body. Enamel covers the crown which is the part of the tooth that is visible in the mouth. However, the main portion of the tooth is dentin, which is located underneath our enamel. Dentin is also a hard tissue, similar to bone, and has a direct connection to the dental pulp in the centre of our teeth, containing nerves

and blood vessels.

The enamel helps protect our teeth from chewing, biting, hot and cold temperatures, and potentially damaging chemicals. Some chemicals though, like acids, can still damage the enamel over time, if they get in contact with our teeth for longer periods. Acids are able to dissolve and soften the minerals in our enamel, potentially making it thinner over time. This is especially the case if we brush our teeth or chew hard foods directly after an acid attack, which can accelerate enamel loss.

When enamel erodes due to vinegar acids, our teeth may become more sensitive. This means they react more to hot or cold foods, drinks, and sweets since the dentin layer underneath the enamel is much more sensitive due to a

continued on page 17

Apple cider vinegar is said to help with weight loss, heart health, managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Apple Cider/

continued from page 16

direct connection to the nerves inside our teeth. In some more advanced cases, when the enamel has been completely eroded by acids, the dentin is exposed and unprotected, and at this stage, the teeth will erode, and wear and tear a lot faster.

What to do

Dentists can recognise this issue by looking at the shape and colour of the teeth, by asking about sensitive teeth and by taking a diet history of patients to identify foods and drinks containing acids. Though when it comes to false teeth, some dentists have actually been recommending soaking acrylic dentures in diluted vinegar due to its antifungal properties and its ability to dissolve calcified plaque deposits (tartar).

That said, a thin layer of proteins and slime from our saliva will form a layer on our enamel, which can help to protect it from acids. Also, our saliva has many minerals,

which are able to re-mineralise the outer layers of damaged enamel, but this takes timeusually several hours. Fluorides in toothpaste and mouthwashes will also strengthen the outer enamel layers.

So if you do regularly drink apple cider vinegar and want to avoid tooth erosion, it’s best to follow a few rules. Always water down apple cider vinegar and consider drinking it through a straw to protect your teeth. It also helps to consume apple cider vinegar together with your main meals, to reduce the number of acid attacks per day.

Avoid apple cider vinegar

NYSNA's Fight for Pay and Health Equity in Public Hospitals

products that require lots of chewing (like acidic gummies). And do not brush your teeth directly before or after drinking apple cider vinegar. Instead, wait for about half an hour. When you brush, be gentle (not too abrasive), use fluoridated toothpaste, and do not use a hard toothbrush. To find out whether it’s safe for your teeth to use apple cider vinegar, you can also speak to your dentist about your risk of developing tooth erosion. p

Josefine Hirschfeld is an Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, University of Birmingham

H+H/ Mayoral members’ contract expires on March 2. Nurses are ready to negotiate for pay equity, safe and enforceable staffing, and the respect public sector nurses and patients deserve.

“If you don’t have pay parity between the private sections and the public section, we’ll never be able to attract nurses to work at H+H,” said NYSNA

President Nancy Hagans. “After our recent contract victories, the gap is about $19,000 a year,” Hagans said. “And the nurses are trained the same way, the nurses are taking care of the patients, same care, the nurses are working very hard, same education—so these nurses, we’re afraid, will leave and go into the private sector.”p

Never clean your teeth directly after drinking apple cider vinegar, always wait half an hour.

Should You Be My Valentine? Research Helps Identify Good and Bad Romantic Relationships

BY GARY W. LEWANDOWSKI JR. THE CONVERSATION

People all across the country say those words, “Will you be my Valentine?” in the run-up to February 14 and the Valentine’s Day holiday. Whether you’re asking a brand new paramour or a long-term partner, the question can evoke feelings both of romantic uncertainty and possibility. But for the well-being of ourselves and our relationships, “Will you be my Valentine?” is the wrong question. Instead, the more important question to ask yourself is “Should you be my Valentine?”

Relationships can be one of the most important sources of happiness in your life, with social connections serving as a key provider of happiness and meaningfulness. Not surpris-

ingly, human beings have a very powerful drive to form and maintain relationships. After all, the future of humankind depends on people coupling up to conceive and raise the next generation. Because forming relationships is such a powerful motivator, being in any relationship can seem better than being alone. A variety of factors can lull us into relationship complacency – compatibility, friendship, shared interests, inertia, fear of being single or low expectations. The drive to be paired off may lead you to settle for the relationship you have, instead of the relationship you deserve.

Figuring out whether your relationship is thriving or merely surviving is daunting. In the hunt for “the one,” how can you know for sure if your partner is the type of person

who’s best for you and your long-term happiness? Thankfully, scientists who study relationships know a lot about factors to consider when weighing whether your partner should be your Valentine, this year and beyond.

The problem of greener grass No one wants to settle. We all

want to be with the best possible partner. In your relationship, how often do you find yourself wondering if you could do better? Are there preferable partners out there whom you’d find more interesting, enjoyable, smarter or funnier? Does your current partner pale in comparison with what else might be out

there?

Researchers call these perceptions of other possible partners your quality of alternatives. Psychologists measure your perceived quality of alternatives by assessing responses to statements such as “If I weren’t dating my partner, I would do fine – I would find another appealing person to date.”

Agreeing with this kind of statement and believing you have high-quality alternatives may sound desirable because you have confidence in yourself and your ability to attract a good partner. However, thinking about and monitoring other partner options can undermine your present relationship’s stability. This type of decreased commitment to whom you’re currently with increases negative behaviors continued on page 19

Remove your rose-colored glasses and take a cold, hard look at your potential Valentine.

Valentine/

like cheating.

Ultimately, you should be in a relationship where you don’t even notice any other greener grass because you’re with someone whom you think is the best for you, and who thinks you’re the best for him or her.

Building a better you

Relationships provide a lot of benefits. Someone to share your Netflix account with, to talk with about your day, to take care of you when you’re not feeling well. Our social relationships positively affect our physical health, including buffering against high blood pressure and heart disease, and improving mental health by decreasing depression, anxiety and substance abuse. It all adds up to building a healthy, meaningful life together with someone.

A good relationship also provides a partner who helps you become a better person. Researchers refer to this experience as self-expansion. It’s

Is there a better Valentine prospect for you out there?

your relationship’s ability to provide you with opportunities for self-growth. Whether you learn new photography skills, develop a new perspective on politics, gain a new identity such as “organic gardener” or simply feel like a better, more capable person, self-expansion has benefits.

Relationships that include more self-expansion are more satisfying, more committed, have higher levels of passionate love, experience less boredom, and have partners who are less likely to pay attention to other potential partners and less likely to cheat.

Given the potential conse-

quences of being stuck in a rut, less passionate love and more cheating, if your partner is not helping build a better you, it is time for a better partner.

Check with your peeps

continued from page 18 855-768-8845

Who is the best judge of your relationship’s future? You, or your friends and family?

To investigate, researchers asked people in romantic relationships to predict their relationship’s future and compared their predictions to those made by their roommate and mom. The daters thought their own relationship would last two to three times longer than what their friends and

family anticipated. And people rated their own relationships as significantly better than how others saw them from the outside.

Parents, perhaps because their own longer relationship experiences gave them insight into what to look for, were most likely to identify problems. Friends made the most accurate predictions, but it was the person in the relationship who was most confident in the assessment they made about their own relationship.

Consider that for a second – it’s not a good combination. When thinking about our own relationship, this research suggests that we are highly confident in our predictions, which are often inaccurate.

Give your friends and family some credit, because this research shows that they have unique insights into your relationship. After all, they’re looking out for your best interests and have a greater ability to see the relationship clearly and objectively without getting swayed by the heady mix of feelings and attraction you

likely have for your partner. When in doubt, ask the people in your life who care about you whether your partner really should be your Valentine.

Knowing whether you are with the best possible partner for you is difficult. While many of us get driver’s education and sex education in high school, we don’t get “relationships ed.”

But learning what science has to say about what makes for a good relationship can help. Being informed ultimately helps us make better decisions about whether to stay or go. After all, not being part of a sappy couple during the chocolates-and-flowers Valentine’s hoopla is hardly the end of the world – especially if it means you’re ready to find the relationship you should have, according to science.p

Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. is a Professor of Psychology, Monmouth University

Love, Health & Travel

All Roads Led to the New York Travel and Adventure Show

BY VICTORIA FALK

Yes, travel is back! The crowd attending the New York Travel and Adventure Show at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Saturday, January 28, 2023, and Sunday, January 29, 2023, shows that travel is in high demand. The travel demand is even higher than before the global pandemic tested the travel industry.

There were many reasons to attend the 2-day event. Barbara Graham of Queens, New York, was there looking for someone to help book her next trip. Alisha Mcfarlane, President of Her Pink Passport, sought inspiration to help build her brand. While world traveler and social media influencer Goon of The Lifestyle Brothers said, he wasn't sure

what to expect since this was his first time attending the expo. However, he reportedly made some excellent connections and looked forward to being a Speaker at an upcoming Travel and Adventure Show.

Travel Advisors traveled from near and far to attend the event. Dennis Mott Jr., world traveler and CEO of DMJ

Travel and Gifts, traveled from California to participate in the travel expo. "I gained a lot of knowledge from the different vendors and places worldwide. I loved seeing all the people coming in looking for great deals. Mott said it was very important to mingle with the customer and learn so much information from vendors. Travel business owners,

Stacy Pratt Bynum and her husband,

Bynum, drove from Philadelphia to New York to attend the event with their team of travel agents. They enjoyed the perks and special treats many exhibitors had on hand to give to travel professionals. While CEO of Magic Travel Biz, Bryan Sanders, enjoyed talking to the exhibitors. "I've always wanted to go to Tahiti, and they're here giving out information," said Bryan as he smiled triumphantly. However, those travel professionals who waited too long to register for Trade Day saw it was "sold out."

Those in attendance had the opportunity to learn from travel experts during workshops and panel discussions. There was a diverse selection of exhibitors representing destinations from all over the world. More exhibitors were representing Africa at this expo than in previous expos, and tour operators wanted people to know there's more to Africa than wildlife safari. Mauly Tours & Safaris Tanzania stood out among the tour operators with tailor-made tours to suit travelers' needs.

The Caribbean was well represented. Barbados was a Supporting Sponsor for the event and had an impressive exhibitor booth. Exhibitors were also representing Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Jamaica, Martinique, Roatan, St. Lucia, Turks & Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Curacao Tourism Corp received compliments for the beauty of their booth. The artist said he was happy to know people enjoyed his artwork and expressed his pride in representing his love for his country through art. Yes,

travel lovers, the New York Travel and Adventure Show was worth the trip. What if you could take great vacations for free or highly reduced rates? What if you could write off most of your travel-related expenses on your taxes? Well, you could if you owned an online, home-based travel business. There are many perks and benefits of owning an online, home-based travel business, including being your own boss, working online from anywhere, making your own schedule, and getting paid to do what you love.

One of the wealthiest men in the world, Warren Buffet, says, "What you like to do, make that your hobby. But what the world likes to do, make that your business." Events like the New York Travel and Adventure Show remind us how much the world loves to travel. Before the global pandemic, travel was an $8.3 trillion industry. Recent industry studies show travel is a $9.6 trillion dollar industry. How much of that money do you need to be happy? If you're traveling anyway, consider learning how to turn your passion for travel into profits.

While the income-earning potential with an online, home-based travel business is incredible, many business owners didn't get into business based on the money. Many were wooed into the travel industry because of their desire to travel more and access the perks and travel benefits of the industry. For others, it's time for freedom, financial freedom, and the amazing lifestyle they can create. While many others already own businesses, they can wrap the online, home-based travel business around what they're already doing to enhance their offerings. p

Ugene

Photos by: Dennis Mott Jr and Victoria Falk

5 Common Reasons Business Start-Ups Fail

BY THE CHAMBER COALITION

When you start a business, you have so many things to do and consider. One concern in the back of your mind is whether your start-up will make it through the first few years, the most difficult for any business. The statistics are sobering. 90% of small business start-ups fail and 2 out of 10 fail in the first year they open. To avoid this fate, you must know and understand the reasons start-ups fail, so you can tilt the odds in your favor. Here are the 5 most common.

1. Running out of cash

The most important concern for any start-up is having enough money to keep the business alive. If a company runs out of cash, it will cease to exist because no investor will want to invest more money in an existing company that's already failing. While this may sound obvious, many companies fail because they fail to understand how much money they need and how fast it can run out.

A good rule of thumb is that you always need 4 months' worth of monthly expenditures available in your bank account. This allows you to pay your suppliers on time, hire new employees if needed and help with marketing expenses such as advertising or sending out free samples, etc. Maintaining a reasonable cash cushion to help you get through the startup period will increase the odds of your business making it through the first few years.

2. Hiring too fast

A common mistake made by start-ups is hiring too fast.

When you are small, it's tempting to hire for growth. But if you hire too fast and your business model is not yet tested, this can lead to lots of turnover and dead weight. Hiring requires a lot of time and effort from everyone involved.

When you hire someone, they're part of your team and their work will have a major impact on your company culture and productivity. It's hard to find the right person for a job, so do your due diligence before hiring someone new into your company! Take your time with the hiring process, especially if you're looking for someone who can help build your company culture from the ground up.

Remember, culture doesn't

happen overnight. It takes time to build rapport with new hires and show them why they should be excited about being part of your team. And if there's any doubt whether they can fit in, don't hire them!

3. Product without a market fit

One of the most common reasons for a start-up failure is that the product does not have a market fit. This means the product doesn't meet the needs of the market and therefore doesn't solve a problem.

One reason is the product is not differentiated enough from its competitors. If your product doesn't stand out from other similar products, why should consumers choose yours?

Another reason is the product is complicated or difficult to use. Ensure this doesn't happen by conducting user testing sessions and collecting feedback on how people use your product or service. You can then use

this information to make changes, so it's easier for customers to complete tasks and achieve their goals with your product.

4. Pivoting without a plan

Pivoting is a strategy to test different business models. It's used by companies like Airbnb and Uber, who continue to change the way they do business despite their initial success. They've pivoted several times to keep up with changing

customer preferences and technological advancements. This has helped them stay ahead of the competition.

Yet it isn't always possible for start-ups to pivot on a dime like some companies did. If you're not as financially secure or don't have access to investors who can fund your new business model, pivoting might not be an option for you either. It could mean having to shut down your original business altogether--and no one wants that!

If you want your new idea or product line off the ground quickly but are worried about losing money during the process (since there will be costs involved), consider hiring someone who can help steer the ship while you figure out what direction it should take next!

5. Scaling too quickly

You know that feeling where

you're so excited about your new business idea that you immediately start building it? Slow down! Stop and think about your proposed solution and whether it solves the problem you're trying to solve. If it does, make sure it works--before you scale. One reason startups fail is that people are frustrated with a product and won't buy it. They'll tell their friends and family not to buy it either.

Many entrepreneurs don't realize when they are scaling too quickly. They may be in such a rush to get their product on the market that they overlook how it will be used, how it can be improved, and whether its performance meets the needs of its users.

Conclusion

Now you know some of the most common reasons startups fail. Keep them in mind, so it doesn't happen to you. p

Been In a Car Accident? You Need to Contact a Lawyer Immediately

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

After being injured in a car accident that was caused by the carelessness and negligence of somebody else, you might ask whether it's in your best interests to retain a car accident lawyer to represent you. In most cases, the answer is yes, you should.

That's because it's inevitable that disagreements will arise with the opposing insurance company during the processing of your claim. They're likely to involve issues on liability, damages, or how much money the insurer should pay to compensate you for your injuries and damages fully. An experienced and effective car accident lawyer at the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates will know how to respond to any such disagreements while preserving and protecting your rights during the claim or litigation process.

The Opposing Insurer Will Try to Devalue Your Case

Auto Insurance companies make money by depositing premium payments made by their customers and investing that money to make even more money. Then, when liability claims are made against their customers, they search for ways to minimize the sums they'll need to pay accident victims or even not pay them anything. An accomplished car accident lawyer can help prevent such tactics while protecting their client's right to full compensation.

You're Likely to Make Mistakes When Representing Yourself

Every car insurance company has its teams of trained adjusters and defense lawyers who seem threatening and intimidating to victims who are continuing to recover from their injuries. The last thing you want to do during your

recovery is to argue with an opposing adjuster and chase around for records, bills, and reports from your healthcare providers or other entities. You might even be on prescription medication when the opposing insurer's adjuster phones you and requests more information. Your attorney can attend to any calls or chasing for you. They know when to put an end to it, too.

Don't Give a Statement of Any Kind

It's not uncommon for a car accident victim to be contacted by an insurance com-

pany's adjuster before they are even capable of consulting with an attorney. The adjuster might ask for a recorded statement from the victim for purported purposes of wrapping up the claim and getting rid of it.

Giving such a statement is often the biggest mistake an unrepresented accident victim can make. The law doesn't require the victim to do that without an attorney being present on their behalf. No matter how pressured you might feel, never give any written or recorded statement to an opposing insurance

company without an attorney being present on your behalf. That adjuster already knows what happened. They have already spoken with the person who caused your accident and even have a copy of the police accident report in front of them when phoning you.

Even the most successful car accident lawyers offer prospective new clients free consultations and case reviews. They also take cases on a contingency fee basis, so no out-ofpocket money must be paid for them to represent you. Consulting with and retaining such an attorney as soon as possible after a car accident caused by somebody else will assure that your right to compensation for the injuries and damages you suffered will be preserved, protected, and asserted. Contact the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845 or www.askthelawyer.us before the opposing insurer contacts you.p

Speeding ruins lives. Slow down.