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Gov. Andrew Cuomo used a part of Wednesday's State of the State address to urge state lawmaekrs to raise the wage.
Supporters packed in to the Gloria J Parks Community Center on Main Street as State Senator Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, urged his Albany colleagues to raise the wage.
"We want to boost the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour that it is today to $8.75 an hour," Kennedy told supporters.
Kennedy also believes the minimum wage should be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), so families that are working on minimum wage can afford necessities as the cost of living continues rise.
At $7.25 an hour, a worker earns just $290 per week and less than $15,000 per year for full-time work, the Democrat said.
"That's simply not enough to put food on the table and raise a family," Kennedy said.
Kennedy has launched an online petition to gather support for raising the minimum wage. To sign the petition, visit http://kennedy.nysenate.gov After collecting signatures, Kennedy will deliver the petition to the governor and legislative leaders in Albany.
Assemblymembers Sean Ryan and Crystal Peoples-Stokes have also pledged their support to push for the higher wage.