Upstate Business Owners Signal Support for Excluded Workers Fund
Dozens of upstate business owners on Saturday urged New York officials to back the creation of a fund to aid workers affected by the pandemic who were not included in the last year's worth of federal stimulus aid.
The letter comes as some Democrats from upstate and suburban districts have balked at the creation of the fund, which would provide aid to undocumented immigrants living in New York.
Unemployment has spiked due to pandemic-related measures meant to limit the spread of COVID-19, disproportionately falling on low-income wage earners. But the fund has fallen under scrutiny by Democrats in potentially competitive seats. Lawmakers raised concerns with the proposal in a closed-door meeting on Friday.
"We are farmers, restaurant owners, contractors and businesses that form the backbone of our local economies and collectively the economy of New York State," the letter stated. "Our community members and employees who are undocumented and were recently released from incarceration or detention have gone over one year without any income assistance."
Read more: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/ny-state-of-politics/2021/04/03/upstate-business-owners-signal-support-for-excluded-workers-fund
