This could create some additional friction between building construction unions and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio since he was a vocal critic of paying skilled trades like carpenters a prevailing wage during the dustup over the 421-a tax break back in 2015 and 2016. The 421-a rule gave developers big incentives to build housing, but it expired at the end of 2015 when developers and unions could not reach an agreement about paying prevailing wages.
At the time, the de Blasio administration said that paying prevailing wage rates would add almost $3 billion to the mayor’s affordable housing plan and would result in fewer units being built.
