Bio
Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo has been in the New York City Council representing District 17 since 2005. Her district includes the communities of Mott Haven, Port Morris, Melrose, Hunts Point, Longwood, Morrisania, Crotona Park, Claremont Village, Concourse Village, Woodstock, West Farms, East Tremont, Soundview, Clason Point, and Bronx River. Arroyo came into office after 15 years of work in health administration in the public sector, and 8 years in the private sector.
Platform Cooperativism for NYC Worker cooperatives are businesses that are owned and managed democratically by employees. We have learned that this business model tends to provide higher wages and better economic benefits than the traditional business structure. Many economic analysts believe worker cooperatives offer a viable method to address the long-term challenge of reducing the number of chronically unemployed and underemployed residents and the number of workers trapped in low-paying jobs. Increasing the number of worker cooperatives will require strong government support. At the New York City Council, we examined ways to invest in a comprehensive citywide effort that would facilitate the incubation of new worker cooperatives in a wide-range of disciplines across the City. Now in its second year, the Council’s initiative has helped to create a strong framework for the development and growth of worker owned businesses. I believe Platform Cooperativism will absolutely offer a viable option for allowing the business model to grow roots that will strengthen our communities in many ways and can put the public in greater control of the Internet, which can often feel like an abyss we are powerless over.