Chamber CEO publishes op-ed on tip credit as debate intensifies

New York, NY — January 22, 2026

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce announced today that President & CEO Jessica Walker has published an op-ed in amNewYork on the policy debate over eliminating the tip credit.

In the piece, Walker calls for a data-driven approach—focused on outcomes, not slogans—including worker take-home pay, job availability, and the survival of independent restaurants facing thin margins and high operating costs.

The op-ed highlights potential unintended consequences, including more mandatory service charges, fewer shifts, and faster movement toward QR ordering and automation, and urges policymakers to weigh lessons from other cities and NYC’s unique cost structure before acting.

Read the op-ed: The ‘fair wage’ that will empty Manhattan’s restaurants (amNewYork).