NYC Musicians Union Local 802 AFM Endorses Carlina Rivera for New York City Council in District 2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Contact:
Christopher Carroll / Local 802, AFM
Maya Kremen / Geto & de Milly, Inc.
(212) 686-4551 / mkremen@getodemilly.com
NYC MUSICIANS UNION LOCAL 802 AFM ENDORSES CARLINA RIVERA FOR NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT 2
Rivera pledges to work with Local 802 to see that musicians are treated fairly and help ensure music festivals and venues that receive public support provide fair pay
NEW YORK, NY—Thursday, May 11, 2017—The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM today announced the endorsement of Carlina Rivera for New York City Council in District 2.
Citing Ms. Rivera’s extensive track-record as an advocate of affordable housing, as well as her pledge to support efforts to ensure that music festivals and venues that receive public support provide fair pay and treatment to musicians they employ and address the city’s affordable housing crisis and lack of artist housing, the Executive Board voted unanimously to support her candidacy in District 2.
“The East Village, Alphabet City, and Lower East Side neighborhoods are hotbeds of live music and have played a vital role in New York City’s artistic history. As a proven advocate for affordable housing and the rights of working people, Carlina Rivera is perfectly suited to represent New Yorkers and musicians in an area that is vital to New York City’s cultural heritage,” said Tino Gagliardi, President, Local 802 AFM. “Carlina has shown she understands the challenges facing musicians that are all too often exploited and who find it increasingly difficult to live, work and raise a family in New York City. The musicians of Local 802 are proud to endorse her, and look forward to working with her to fight worker misclassification and raise the wage floor for hard-working musicians who drive our local economies and play a crucial role in the health and vibrancy of our communities.”
“Local 802 represents the hardworking and talented musicians who are at the heart of our City’s cultural scene and arts economy, and I am proud to have their endorsement today,” said Carlina Rivera. “We must ensure that the working artists who make our communities and economy strong are treated fairly, and that our city is a place where artists can continue to live and work. I look forward to working with Local 802 in the City Council to prevent exploitation of musicians and to institute policies that will make the music industry a better place to work for all artists.”
Pledging to work alongside the union to advocate for policies that support musicians and grow the cultural economy, Ms. Rivera has committed to support the union’s efforts to ensure that musicians are paid fair wages and receive fair treatment at City-supported venues and festivals and to help prevent musicians working in the vibrant night-life scene from being misclassified as independent contractors or exploited. She has also committed to work to expand the amount of film scoring done in New York City by encouraging film and television productions to employ New York City musicians. Ms. Rivera understands the need to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the “gig-economy” as well as the urgency of expanding the stock of rehearsal, performance, recording and residential space for musicians and artists in New York City so that artists and musicians can remain in New York.
About the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, AFM
The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 American Federation of Musicians represents over 7,500 highly-skilled musicians who are the backbone of the New York City’s thriving cultural and tourism economy, which brings over 58 million visitors each year. Their members—who perform on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and Radio City; on Late Night shows and in other televised bands, as well as in hotels, clubs, festivals and venues across NYC—are protected by collectively bargained agreements ensuring proper classification, fair treatment and living wage.
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