The careful dissenter in the Council majority
Sally Goldenberg
As the New York City Council prepared to vote on a controversial bill that would raise school bus drivers' wages outside the parameters of a traditional labor contract negotiation, one member of the Democratic majority voiced concerns before opposing the measure.
Dan Garodnick questioned the legality of such a move, which was spearheaded by Mayor Bill de Blasio and supported by the Council's speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito.
"Giving a grant to supplement the salaries of employees in an existing settled contract between private actors may be something we very much want to do, but to call it a public purpose is a stretch," Garodnick said before voting the measure down last Thursday. "This is a questionable proposal and it sets a bad precedent."
Garodnick, who practiced law before being elected in 2005 to represent his East Side district, added that it was "unfortunately a legally questionable proposal."
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/08/8551317/careful-dissenter-council-majority