Michael Howard Saul in The Wall Street Journal of March 22, 2012 reports that the New York City Council intends to introduce a bill to ban employers from discriminating against unemployed job applicants, and also bans "help-wanted" ads that state that the unemployed need not apply.  Penalties for violations could include up to $250,000.  We have reported extensively in this blog about similar bills and laws around the country.

The Journal quotes City Council Speaker (and possible next Mayor) Christine Quinn as saying that "We want to make sure everyone has a fighting chance to get a job …  We want to send a clear message that it is no longer acceptable—and therefore will no longer be legal—to discriminate against unemployed people."