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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ofelia Salgado, Cooperative Business Developer at Sunset Park Center for Family Life
2:47:24
ยท
128 sec
Ofelia Salgado from the Sunset Park Center for Family Life requests continued support for the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI) with an allocation of $5,100,000 for fiscal year 2026. She highlights the success of their cooperative businesses in empowering women and improving economic conditions for domestic workers.
- Since 2014, CFL has incubated 27 cooperative businesses, empowering over 600 women
- They launched Up and Go, an online platform that has generated over $3,000,000 for cooperative members
- Cooperative members now earn an average of $33 per hour, more than double the typical wage for NYC domestic workers
Ofelia Salgado
2:47:24
Yes.
2:47:25
Good afternoon, and thank you for your time, chairman and distinguished council members on the Committee for Consumer and Worker Protection.
2:47:32
My name is Ophelia Salgado.
2:47:34
I am a corporate business developer at Sunset Park's Center for Family Business.
2:47:38
We are a forty seven year old social service organization committed to helping low income Brooklyn families build sustainable futures.
2:47:45
I'm here today to respectfully request, as my colleagues have, that the city council continue its support for the worker cooperative business development initiative by allocating $5,100,000 for fiscal year twenty twenty six.
2:47:58
Since joining WCBBI in 2014, CFL has incubated 27 cooperative businesses in domestic work, empowering over 600 women to control their economic futures.
2:48:10
Each year, we train over 400 participants in business management and cooperative leadership and provide more than two fifty business consultations, ensuring stability and growth for existing cooperatives.
2:48:22
With your support, we've expanded our impact and outreach every corner of New York City.
2:48:28
Notably, we launched Up and Go, an online platform where clients book services for more current cooperatives.
2:48:34
Since 2017, Up and Go has generated over $3,000,000 directly benefiting over a hundred families, more than a hundred families.
2:48:44
Cooperative members now earn an average of $33 per hour.
2:48:48
That's more than double the typical $16 per hour that a New York City Domestic Worker might make.
2:48:56
More importantly, they have completely eliminated wage theft, which as we've heard over and over again today, it's it's it's an issue and that really helps us ensure safe and equitable working conditions.
2:49:11
These achievements are possible only with the continued support of the New York City Council.
2:49:15
Your investment in worker owned cooperatives is crucial to combating economic inequality and building resilient communities.
2:49:22
So on behalf of Center for Family Life, thank you for your commitment on equity, on economic equity, and we look forward to your continued support.
2:49:31
Thank you.