In the spring of 2007 the NYS Paid Leave Coalition and A Better Balance began meeting with Speaker Christine Quinn’s staff to determine if the City Council had the authority to establish a law to require private sector employers to provide paid sick days to their employees. After the initial meetings when it became evident this was a task for the lawyers, Sherry Leiwant championed the cause for the advocates by researching all questions and knocking down every obstacle the Speaker’s lawyers put before her. The city lawyers dragged out this process for a year and a half until they reluctantly...