NYC Musicians Union Local 802 AFM Endorses Keith Powers for New York City Council in District 4
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 KEITH POWERS FOR NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT 4
Powers pledges to work toward fair treatment of musicians in NYC; District 4 is home to Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall and other music venues

NEW YORK, NY—Thursday, May 11, 2017—The Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM, the largest local union of professional musicians in the world, today announced the endorsement of Keith Powers for New York City Council in District 4 after a unanimous vote by its Executive Board. The district is home to many of New York City’s most prominent performance spaces in New York City – including the world-famous Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall – as well as many smaller venues vital to the city’s live music ecosystem, making the district an important part of the music community and economy. Current Councilmember Daniel Garodnick is term-limited.

Mr. Powers’ considerable legislative experience working in City and State government, as well as a strong record of advocacy for safer working conditions for nightlife employees, protections for rent-stabilized tenants and strong ties to the community, provided the Local 802 Executive Board with confidence that he will promote legislation and initiatives that allow musicians to live, work and raise their families in New York City.

“Keith Powers is a proven advocate for arts workers and the right person to represent a district where live music is thriving. Anyone who attends concerts at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall or enjoys live music at the countless clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and performance spaces throughout this district knows how critical our arts scene and New York’s world class musicians are to the local economy and to the City as a whole,” said Tino Gagliardi, President, Local 802 American Federation of Musicians. “I look forward to working with Keith to protect our city’s musicians and arts workers, create enhanced opportunities for working musicians and grow the music and arts economy citywide.”

“The musicians of Local 802 are the best in the world and are crucial to ensuring that New York City continues to be a worldwide cultural capital,” said Keith Powers. “I pledge to work with them to ensure that the arts in our city remains vibrant and that musicians and arts workers throughout NYC are paid fairly, allowed workplace protections, and can continue to live and raise their families here.”

Pledging to work alongside the union to advocate for policies that support musicians and grow the cultural economy, Mr. Powers has committed to support the union’s efforts to ensure that musicians are paid fair wages and receive fair treatment at all City-supported venues and festivals, and help prevent musicians working in the vibrant night-life scene from being misclassified as independent contractors or exploited. Additionally he will work to expand the amount of film scoring work in New York City by encouraging film and television productions to employ New York City musicians. Mr. Powers understands the need to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the “gig-economy” and the urgency of combating the exploitation of musicians and supports identifying innovative ways to expand the stock of recording studio spaces in the City as well as preserve rent-stabilization and other housing policies that allow so many artists and musicians to 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. Its 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 a living wage.

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