Crystal Lewis

New York

Bubble tea addict; shojo manga enthusiast. Reporting on labor at The Chief newspaper. Former @romper, former @Womens_eNews. Tweets are my opinions.

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Articles

City's mental health crises response program falling short

1 week ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/30/25 The city program that dispatches behavioral health teams instead of police to residents’ mental health emergencies is failing to live up to its mission, a recent audit from the city comptroller’s office found.
Dozens of retired educators raking in $300K pensions

2 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Dozens of retired educators raking in $300K pensionsBY CRYSTAL LEWISPosted 5/30/25 More than two dozen New York retired educators collected over $300,000 in pension benefits last year, according to data compiled by the Empire Center.
Human services sector growing but wages stay stagnant

2 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/23/25 Workers in the human service industry would need to earn $20,000 more a year in order to earn a living wage, according to a recent report. The number of New Yorkers working in the sector has nearly doubled in the last 25 years. The percentage of workers employed in human services across the state has grown from 7 percent to 12 percent, with nearly a million people working in the field.
NYSNA slams planned NewYork-Presbyterian staff cuts

2 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

NYSNA slams planned NewYork-Presbyterian staff cutsBY CRYSTAL LEWISPosted 5/23/25 The New York State Nurses Association slammed a decision by NewYork-Presbyterian to cut 2 percent of its workforce, layoffs that would result in about 1,000 health care workers losing their jobs. The health system, which operates 10 facilities across the state, announced the layoffs earlier this month, citing financial difficulties. This item is available in full to subscribers.
NLRB alleges bad-faith bargaining from nonprofit shelter

3 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/16/25 The National Labor Relations Board has filed a petition in a federal court alleging that the nonprofit Covenant House New York has refused to bargain in good faith with employees who unionized nearly three years ago. In July 2022, about 190 employees at Covenant House, which provides shelter for homeless and runaway youth, voted to join Service Employees International Union’s Local 1199.
As enforcement spikes, Council considers lifting cap on street vendor licenses

3 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/16/25 With the enforcement of street vendors intensifying in recent years even as the number of permits and licenses available has barely increased, some in the City Council are weighing legislation that would lift the cap on the permits for five years before permanently abolishing it. About 23,000 mobile street vendors are on a waitlist for food and general merchandise licenses.
Ex-NYCHA super gets 18 months in prison for accepting bribes

4 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Ex-NYCHA super gets 18 months in prison for accepting bribesBY CRYSTAL LEWISPosted 5/16/25 A former superintendent at the city Housing Authority has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for demanding $30,000 in bribes in exchange for granting $400,000 in contracts. Hector Colon, 47, who worked as a superintendent at several NYCHA developments across Manhattan, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman and ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution.
Gresham, longtime president of 1199, loses re-election bid

1 month ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/9/25 George Gresham, the long-serving president of the Service Employees International Union Local 1199, has been ousted. Gresham, who has led the country’s largest health-care union since 2007, was soundly defeated by challenger Yvonne Armstrong in balloting that concluded last week. More than 38,000 members of the union cast ballots.
City launches program to help municipal workers get student loan relief

1 month ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/9/25 The Adams administration on Monday announced a pilot initiative that will help city employees enroll in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, a federal program that clears outstanding balances on some student loans for employees of government or not-for-profit organizations.
Retail workers get $4 million for employers' workplace violations

1 month ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 5/9/25 More than 2,000 workers will receive $4 million in restitution from four businesses, among them Halal Guys and Petco, that violated city statutes protecting employees. The city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found that Chaac Pizza Northeast, LLC, a franchisee of Pizza Hut, failed to provide schedules at least 14 days in advance in accordance with the Fair Workweek Law.