News from New York State Department of Labor

For more information contact: Leo Rosales, 518-457-5519

MEDIA ADVISORY

LABOR DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING AN EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR 200,000 NEW YORKERS

ALBANY, NY (07/14/2008; 0600)(readMedia)-- Recently, a 13 week extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits was signed into law. Approximately 200,000 New Yorkers, including more than 89,000 in New York City, would have exhausted their UI benefits had this extension not been signed. This extension will infuse more than $850 million into New York State's local communities, including $400 million in the New York City economy alone. State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith will be holding a press conference with workers impacted by this federal UI extension.

WHO: State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith and Andrew Stettner, Deputy Director, National Employment Law Project.

***Workers impacted by this federal extension of unemployment insurance benefits will be on hand for media availability.

WHEN: Monday, July 14, 2008 - 12 p.m.

WHERE: Lower Manhattan Workforce1 Career Center, Commissioner's Press Conference Room, 75 Varick Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10013