AFM Local 802 Expounds Challenges of NYC Musicians
By David SalazarAFM Local 802 President Dan Point delivered testimony at today’s New York City Council Oversight Hearing on Affordability in New York City’s Art and Cultural Sector.
Throughout his statement, Point, who addressed the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations, chaired by Council Member Nantasha M Williams, highlighted the economic challenges facing New York’s creative workforce. Local 802 represents nearly 6,000 musicians across the city.
Point noted that while the creative sector serves as a vital economic engine for New York City, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant damage to the industry. Live performances were among the first activities shut down and last to return, resulting in many performers pivoting to new careers. Local 802’s membership rolls significantly decreased during this period.
“To be frank, we have reached a breaking point for NYC artists. Even though creative economy workers here earn higher nominal wages than their peers elsewhere, after adjusting for the cost of living, they earn about 22.6 percent less than the national average—a gap that has widened from 15 percent a decade ago,” he noted. “Neighborhoods that have served as ‘creative hubs’ have seen a marked decline in artists: Since 2018, the artist population has fallen 5 percent in Bushwick, 17 percent in Harlem, and 18 percent in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, as median asking rents have jumped more than 30 percent. As dire as the problem has become, the solution remains relatively simple: the City must support creative arts unions as they build worker power, expand affordable housing, strengthen tenants’ rights, and continue initiatives like Mayor Mamdani’s Executive Order to take on Junk Fees.”
Point called on the City to support creative arts unions, expand affordable housing, strengthen tenants’ rights, and continue initiatives addressing fees. He urged the construction of 5,000 artist-preference housing units in NYC by 2030 and encouraged the City Council to pass the Artists Housing bill recently introduced by Council Members Powers and Bottcher.
Point was appointed President of Local 802 in December of 2025.
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