Chris Wade at The Center Square reports tens of thousands of Private Security Officers in New York City could be eligible for raises, increased benefits and paid vacations under a proposal named after a Midtown mass shooting victim. There are more than 80,000 Private Security Officers licensed in New York who make an average of about $40,000 a year. The Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act, filed by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other Democrats, would require the City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to increase pay and benefits and increased training - including active shooter drills. The Bill is named after Aland Etienne, a 46-year-old Security Guard killed in the July Midtown mass shooting, where a gunman killed four people before turning the rifle on himself. Under the proposal, a new division within the New York State Labor Department would also be created to implement the proposed rules, inform Workers and employers about their rights and obligations, develop a system to track complaints on potential violations, and coordinate with stakeholders to address issues affecting the workforce. The legislation is backed by Union Officials, who argue that pay for Security Guards working often risky details in Downtown New York City lags behind other Law Enforcement. 32BJ Service Employees Union International (SEIU) President Manny Pastreich said: "Security Officers are on the frontlines of every imaginable emergency. Unfortunately, the Security Officers who we trust to watch over our loved ones are often overlooked. But New York is a City that stands with its First Responders."

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