A living wage in a new city? (Valley Forum).Along with a number of cities, 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. some years ago adopted a living wage 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 , compelling companies that do business with the city to pay its employees an amount above and beyond the federal minimum wage. It is certainly one issue a new Valley city council could take up and either agree to continue or reject. So, the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Business Journal asks: Should a new Valley city adopt a living wage ordinance similar to the one already in effect in Los Angeles? Zane Averbach Partner Goldfarb, Sturman & Averbach Encino A living wage ordinance would be worthy of the consideration of a new Valley city council. The council would have to consider the effect on Averbach business to be sure that such an ordinance would not be overly oppressive. The council also might consider discussing the matter with neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. municipalities, as a unilateral unilateral /uni·lat·er·al/ (-lat´er-al) affecting only one side. u·ni·lat·er·al adj. On, having, or confined to only one side. position may encourage businesses to move to neighboring cities. The council would also be-well advised to consider exemptions from the Living Wage provisions, e. g. for students or small businesses. Larry G. Gray Vice President Spindler Engineering Corp. Van Nuys The Valley city should not adopt the living wage ordinance. This ordinance does not help business or the workers. It makes the city less competitive with neighboring cities such as Burbank, Glendale or Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, . It also makes it more difficult for entry-level workers to move into the work force, due to the higher starting salary. The living wage ordinance is one of many reasons why the Valley city will be more competitive and can provide more jobs if it is separated from the bureaucracy of the city of Los Angeles
Rosemarie Wolff President Royal Staffing Services Sherman Oaks Why would a new Valley city not want to adopt a living wage ordinance? In today's economy the minimum wage does not support an individual, much less a family. Along with this ordinance, we must assure that the schools provide the education that will prepare a work force with the oral and written skills to enable them to perform in the working world and merit more than a living wage. Wafa Kanan President Unique Image Inc. Northridge I would vote no on the living wage ordinance. Margins on city and government projects are so small that the benefit of working Kanan with the city is erased e·rase tr.v. e·rased, e·ras·ing, e·ras·es 1. a. To remove (something written, for example) by rubbing, wiping, or scraping. b. by paying higher wages. Most employees make more than minimum, so the point is relevant only in some instances. |
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