New York, NY - Council Members Defend Their Pay Raise: Outside Jobs Isn't A Satisfactory Pay

New York, NY - Contending they work hard 24/7 and deserve more money, City Council members gave themselves a $22,500 pay raise, bringing their base salary to $112,500 a year.  "I have never seen a legislative body which works harder than the New York City Council," said Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan)
 
Of all elected officials in New York City, only City Council members may hold outside jobs, because the City Charter defines their positions as part time.   
 
About a dozen members have outside jobs, some of the jobs are fairly modest, like Councilman Simcha Felder of Brooklyn is paid just $1,000 to $5,000 a year to teach at Touro College.