New York, September 25, 2002 - Green Party candidate for Governor, Stanley Aronowitz today urged New York State legislators to follow the example of the State of California and pass a parental leave law for workers that would not only provide parents time off to spend with their young children but also provide cash benefits that would make the leave meaningful.
"New York State should follow in the footsteps of California and immediately pass a parental leave law that provides sufficient cash benefit to make it possible for parents to actually spend time with their children rather than continue to work in a second job to make ends meet," said Aronowitz. "Those who genuinely espouse 'family values' should have no problem in supporting legislation enabling parents to afford spending quality time with the kids; the entire point of parental leave."
Aronowitz pointed out that current federal legislation makes no provision for cash assistance. Under his plan, parents would be entitled to six weeks pay at 55% paid for by a sliding scale of tax increases.
The proposal reflects Aronowitz' commitment to the working people of New York State and is consistent with his "tax and spend" platform as a basis for making New York a model for a social justice and equity among New Yorkers.
Stanley Aronowitz, sociology professor, labor activist, author and cultural critic, won the Green Party designation for governor with over 70% of the vote at the party's convention in Ithaca on May 25. Aronowitz and the Greens offer New York voters a broad vision of radical democracy that combines opposition to corporate power and the plutocratic corruption of politics with commitment to a sustainable environment, racial equality, feminism, gay liberation, and individual freedom. Aronowitz plans an intensive grass roots campaign that will raise the serious economic, social and ecological issues facing the people of New York State-issues that the Democrats and Republicans have consistently failed to engage.
