`LIVING WAGE' EXTENSION HEADS TO TEST OPPONENTS TO FILE PETITION DEMANDING REFERENDUM.Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer Opponents of extending the city's ``living wage'' law to hotels near Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX are expected to file 100,000 signatures of registered voters today, more than twice the amount needed to force a citywide referendum referendum, referral of proposed laws or constitutional amendments to the electorate for final approval. This direct form of legislation, along with the initiative, was known in Greece and other early democracies. on the issue. City Councilmen Dennis Zine and Greig Smith Greig Smith is a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 12th District, which includes Granada Hills, Northridge and other parts of the Western San Fernando Valley. Smith is also a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. are scheduled to join a cross-section of industrial leaders in the announcement today. The City Council voted to extend the law imposing higher wages and other conditions on 12 hotels in the Century Corridor area after hearing complaints that salaries for about 3,500 workers at the hotels were 20 percent lower than pay for their downtown counterparts. In extending the ordinance A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation. An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been , city officials argued that the LAX-area hotels benefit from a city asset: the airport. Until now, the law has applied only to companies doing business directly with city government, such as concessionaires at LAX. Under the ordinance, the hotel workers would be paid at least $9.39 an hour with health insurance or $10.64 an hour without. The Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Area Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and several other business groups have backed opponents, seeking a referendum on the issue in the May 15 election. Business groups are concerned that extension of the ordinance could set a precedent and eventually be applied to businesses in other parts of the city. But supporters of the living wage measure -- especially labor leaders and council members Janice Hahn Janice Hahn is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 15th district. Hahn was elected in 2001 and reelected in 2005, running unopposed. The 15th District encompasses the Los Angeles communities of Watts, Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Athens on the and Bill Rosendahl Bill Rosendahl is a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing Council District 11, including the communities of Brentwood, Del Rey, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice, West Los Angeles and Westchester. -- have vowed to wage their own campaign. ``I think, considering some of the tactics we've seen in signature gathering, that we will be seeing a campaign designed to fool the voters,'' Hahn said. ``My hope is that the people who do vote will have the truth about this referendum. ``And I trust the voters of Los Angeles. They have all stayed in hotels and know how hard these people work and want to see them paid a decent wage.'' rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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