FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MANHATTAN COLLEGE WELCOMES NEW YORK STATE SENATOR GUY J. VELELLA TO DISCUSS MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – New York State Senator Guy J. Velella will discuss the campaign to raise the state’s minimum wage at Manhattan College on Thursday, March 4 at 8:30 a.m.  The discussion, which will be held at the College’s Faculty Dining Room in Thomas Hall, also will be open to viewpoints from students, area clergy, labor leaders and elected officials on the matter.  This event is free and open to the public.  Reservations are required.

Sen. Velella (R-Bronx) plans to discuss his support for S3291, a bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage to as much as $7.25 per hour from the current hourly rate of $5.15.  The discussion, sponsored by the College’s campus ministry and social action department, will help examine poverty and its root causes and is being held as part of “Poverty Awareness Week” on campus.

Sen. Velella was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1972 as the representative of the 80th Assembly District in Bronx County.  During his Assembly tenure, Sen. Velella was responsible for the passage of many landmark pieces of legislation including the first Senior Citizen Prescription Drug bill, the Generic Drug Law, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and mandatory jail sentences for violent crimes. He is a partner in the law firm of Velella, Velella, Basso and Calandra and is currently chairman of the Labor Committee.

Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. with the program scheduled to begin at 9:10 a.m.  Please R.S.V.P. for this event by contacting Lois Harr at (718) 862-7142.  If you are a member of the press and interested in attending this event, please contact Melanie Farmer at (718) 862-7232.   Manhattan College is located at West 242nd Street near Broadway in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, one mile from the Westchester County line and accessible by MTA Subway lines 1 and 9.

Manhattan College was founded in 1853 upon the Lasallian tradition of excellence in teaching, inspired by St. John Baptist de La Salle.  Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science.  For more information about the College, visit us online at http://www.manhattan.edu.

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