Justice for Jazz Artists - Resolution Hearing

On Wednesday, September 17, the NY City Council convened a hearing on a proposed resolution supporting the Justice for Jazz Artists campaign. 

The campaign aims to give Jazz artists that play in clubs around the city the ability to organize and gain access to retirement benefits.  While the jazz artists are often paid a respectable wage, they have no access to the health and retirement benefits that many New Yorkers do. These musicians are also generally paid as independent contractors, which leaves them on their own when it comes to social security payments and the payment of taxes.  If a musician in this situation should fall ill, the result is often financially devastating.