Smith Etienne speaks on behalf of his brother Aland Etienne who was fatally shot throughout the Park Avenue capturing.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Of the 17 Eric Adams-era vetoes the Metropolis Council overturned Thursday, the Aland Etienne Security and Safety Act — which ensures 60,000 non-public safety officers citywide the pay, advantages, and protections they’ve lengthy been denied — marked a deeply private victory for Etienne’s household, who mentioned the vote was the best technique to honor his legacy.
At a press convention at 32BJ SEIU headquarters in Manhattan, Etienne’s accomplice, Rochelle Paoli, framed the laws as a tribute to his life and work after he was killed defending lives throughout a mass capturing in Midtown final July.
“We honor Aland’s legacy today by supporting all his colleagues across the city,” Paoli mentioned. “Coming together to uplift security officers makes us all safer. This is the perfect way of honoring his legacy.”
Etienne, 46, was working safety at 345 Park Ave. when a gunman opened hearth within the constructing’s foyer, killing him and off-duty NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was on a safety element. Wesley LePatner, 43, a senior managing director at Blackstone, and Julia Hyman, 27, an affiliate at Rudin Administration, have been additionally killed earlier than the shooter took his personal life.
Etienne’s brother, Smith Etienne, emphasised his brother’s immigrant background and lifelong dedication to defending others at Thursday’s occasion.
“Aland was my hero,” he mentioned. “He protected the public on the job. And although this legislation is named after my brother, I want to dedicate this rally to his children as well.”
Giving safety guards a greater wage
Smith Etienne speaks at 32BJ SEIU headquarters Thursday, joined by Council Speaker Julie Menin, DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine, and Aland Etienne’s accomplice Rochelle Paoli, as they have fun the override of the Aland Etienne Security and Safety ActPhoto by Lloyd Mitchell
The Act, which first handed the Metropolis Council in December earlier than Adams vetoed it on his final day in workplace, establishes a citywide minimal wage for private-sector safety officers, paid trip and holidays, and supplemental advantages that match the compensation of guards employed on metropolis contracts. Supporters mentioned the regulation will handle the trade’s staggering 77 p.c annual turnover fee, an issue they are saying threatens public security.
A latest report discovered that NYC safety guards earn a median earnings of $40,311, which is lower than 40% of town’s Space Median Revenue, despite the fact that 84.7% of the guards work full-time and 88.7% work year-round. In the meantime, 37.8% haven’t any employer-sponsored or family member’s employer-sponsored medical health insurance.
On common, the guards earn a median hourly wage of $20.29, however the report discovered that about half earn even much less.
Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin, who led the push to override the veto, framed Thursday’s vote as each an ethical and sensible crucial, including that “the fact that we have to be here today to do this override is disgraceful.”
“Active shooter incidents are on the rise, making the work of security guards both more dangerous and more essential than ever,” Menin mentioned. “Protecting security guards who put their lives on the line is a moral imperative, and this is the least we can do to deliver the standards and equity they’ve earned.”
Forward of the vote, Manny Pastreich, President of SEIU Native 32BJ, described the laws as transformative for safety officers citywide. “When they pass this legislation, it’s going to be one of the most important wage laws that’s happened in the city since 1964. This legislation will raise standards for security officers in the city. It’ll provide money so they can have health insurance. It will provide paid days off for the people who keep us safe and secure. It really will be life-changing.”
“There are as many as 60,000 other private security officers, many of them making minimum wage with no benefits. What this legislation will do when it gets fully implemented is raise their rates by at least seven or eight dollars an hour, which is a real step forward in respecting the important work that they do,” he added.
Metropolis Council Julie Menin comfforts Rachelle Paoli the sister of Aland Etienne as 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich addresses the gang ThursdayPhoto by Lloyd Mitchell
Safety officer Arnoul Joseph, a single father working in Brooklyn, mentioned the Act would permit him to offer for his household and eventually construct a steady future. “That is what the American Dream means to me. The same dream Aland was fighting for,” he mentioned.
The invoice, which nonetheless have to be signed into regulation by the mayor, directs the Division of Shopper and Employee Safety to determine and implement minimal wage requirements, paid sick and trip go away, advantages, and expanded coaching necessities for safety guards. It additionally creates a Safety Guard Advocate throughout the company to teach guards and employers in regards to the new mandates and deal with complaints.
Sam Levine, Commissioner of the DCWP, pledged vigorous enforcement of the brand new regulation, saying, “We will be fearless in enforcing this law on behalf of all of you, and making sure that this law and the legacy of Aland lives up to its promise.”
Thursday’s override was a part of a broader Council effort to reinstate 17 payments vetoed by former Mayor Adams, touching points from housing and road merchandising to employee protections and survivor justice.
