These centers have taken off because we're seeing an increase in the number of workers in precarious employment situations.

This is not for social code violations. This resolution addresses problems with maintenance workers.

Often all it takes is a phone call to employers to get back pay. Because there is so little government enforcement in low-wage industries, many employers are counting on nobody to be there to stop them.

Over the past decade we've seen the biggest influx of immigrants in our nation's history and at the same time a decline in resources for wage and hour enforcement at the state and federal level. These centers have become a safety net that's tried to enforce the laws.

Because we don't have an effective immigration policy, it really is at the local level where the rubber hits the road. Local communities have to negotiate now how they are going to do this.

That is an insult to transit workers and an insult to every person in this city who depends on our bus and subway system.