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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Christopher Leon Johnson, Member of the Public, on Construction Justice Act
2:21:58
ยท
134 sec
Christopher Leon Johnson, a former security worker on the East Side Access project, testifies in support of Intro 910, the Construction Justice Act. He emphasizes the need for better wages for construction workers and addresses concerns about justice-involved individuals in the workforce.
- Johnson argues that the current wage of $25/hour is insufficient, suggesting that $40/hour is necessary given the high cost of living in New York City.
- He mentions existing legislation like the Second Chance Act and Clean Slate bill that already benefit justice-involved individuals.
- Johnson urges the City Council to pass the bill and calls on Mayor Eric Adams to sign it into law.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:21:58
Hello.
2:21:58
Good afternoon, Jared De La Rosa.
2:22:00
My name is Christopher Leon Johnson.
2:22:02
I used to be a member of the 3rd BJ work on the east side access as a shop store, as a construction site, a public project.
2:22:08
I think everybody know as the Grand Central Station Long Island railroad.
2:22:13
So I'm here to show my support for intro 9 10, the construction justice act.
2:22:17
This is really needed because, like I said, I I use work on security on the construction site, and I see what these guys go through via local 731.
2:22:26
I think their sister sister Union to local 79.
2:22:29
And if anybody can correct me that, they're their sister Union to local 79, and they do the the railroads.
2:22:33
But I see what they go through.
2:22:34
I see this this stuff they had to deal with, and they get paid, like, $25 an hour, which is a which wasn't even 2018, 2019, 2017 numbers.
2:22:43
And 2020 numbers, that's not a living wage.
2:22:45
A living wage is, like, $33 an hour in New York City.
2:22:48
You have to pay the last forty bucks an hour.
2:22:50
I they they should, but we all know the issue is is that these general contractors, they don't want to pay.
2:22:55
They don't wanna pay more than what they gotta pay for.
2:22:59
So they should fight for it.
2:23:01
$40 I was needed in this city because the cost of living is getting higher, especially if these guys are working on affordable housing projects.
2:23:09
And we all know majority projects aren't really affordable.
2:23:11
Just the name of it.
2:23:12
It's affordable.
2:23:14
And relating to the other guy what the other guy said about justice related individuals, yeah, you do you do need them, but there's already bills to or benefit justice involved individuals, like the the 2nd chance act and second chance and there's another bill, like, clean slate.
2:23:30
That's a great benefit just involved individuals that really expunge records if you have a felony record.
2:23:35
So I don't know why they complain like, these people complain about justice involved individuals.
2:23:40
That's the that's the thing.
2:23:42
So These guys need it, these guys deserve this bill to be passed in the city council, and hopefully the mayor signs it, have a ceremony to sign this bill because these guys need it.
2:23:52
If he really cares about the labor, this bill is gonna go through with a certain majority, but this mayor Eric Gavs need to sign it, not just let it this pass without being assigned.
2:24:01
So I gotta go I know I'm bouncing out of here.
2:24:03
I gotta go through the it but if you're gonna ask me questions, you can, but I'm going to Raimo
Carmen N. De La Rosa
2:24:06
Thank you so much.
2:24:07
Thank you.
2:24:08
Thank you.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:24:08
You.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
2:24:09
Thank
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:24:11
Thank you, Barika.