Bloomberg Takes a Third|Swipe at Living Wage Law

MANHATTAN (CN) - New York's outgoing mayor, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, spent the last two weeks in office trying to block the City Council's "Living Wage Law" that could mean more money for more workers.

In the final two weeks of the three-term mayor's reign, Bloomberg took his third swipe at the law, saying that it is preempted by federal and state laws, and that it stripped him of his executive powers, making it invalid. He first sued in state court in July, then again in Manhattan Federal Court.

A federal court earlier this year dismissed the case, saying Bloomberg lacked standing.

The law, passed by the City Council in April 2012, would require recipients of more than $1 million in financial aid from the city to pay at least $10 per hour to workers for those with benefits, or $11.50 to those without them.

The mayor -- whose term ends Dec. 31 -- vetoed the law the next month and "has declined to take steps to implement it because he believes it, as a matter of law, to be illegal on its face," according to the latest lawsuit filed last week in New York County Supreme Court against the New York City Council.

"This law is invalid because it is preempted by numerous state and federal laws," according to the 31-page lawsuit filed by the city's corporate counsel, Michael Cardozo. "In addition, the law is invalid because it unlawfully curtails executive powers vested in the mayor by the New York City Charter."

The mayor seeks a judgment that the law is invalid.

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