Comments on: Irvine Passes Living Wage Law

By: just...asking

just...asking — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:44:37 +0000

Many of the bloggers who complain about Irvine’s living wage are the same ones who want to build fences/walls and stop immigration. Just who do you think is working for those construction and gardening companies who make less than $10 bucks an hour? And if you say its just our kids in high school, I’d say to you why is any city subsidizing firms who exploit cheap labor, even kids?

When these firms bid for city contracts they don’t spell out that the’ll use inexperianced employees. City’s pay a premium for contracted services, taxpayers should expect and deserve quality services by reputable companies.

I’ve seen many agencies bids, and have never once seen one that says “we hire kids and possibly undocumented workers to provide your gardening services”. But who else would be working for less than $10/hr for this type of work?

By: Dan Chmielewski

Dan Chmielewski — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:59:46 +0000

Because $10 is still more than minimum wage which Republicans continue to fight no matter how much enery, housing and healthcare costs increase.

Imagine if they mandated $20 an hour; the cry from the Right would be unbelievable.

By: Dan Chmielewski

Dan Chmielewski — Tue, 29 May 2007 03:38:19 +0000

Flowerzz — the Living wage in Irvine applies to businesses seeking city contracts. There are a number of requirements a business must achieve in order to be eligible to bid the business in the first place (like they must have insurance etc. etc.). The Living Wage just says that a business must pay employees involved in city contracts a minimum of $10 an hour. Its a pretty simply concept. Why object to this and not other requirements for city contracts? And if you don’t want to pay $10 an hour, then don’t bid on city business. Freedom of choice, right?

By: Allan Bartlett

Allan Bartlett — Mon, 28 May 2007 04:39:30 +0000

If you’re not an entry level employee anymore and you’re still working for minimum wage….well….consider yourself a loser in the game of life.

By: Dan Chmielewski

Dan Chmielewski — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:54:39 +0000

Flowerz, I work just as hard for my home too. I just believe the priorities of Democrats more closely reflect where and how my tax dollars should be spent. As far as the Irvine Living wage issue goes, you commented on private sectory jobs and not jobs from city contractors. And Matt, I think I’d be happy to pay $20 a hour in order to get a city contract, but PR workfor city government isn’t my business model.

By: Dan Chmielewski

Dan Chmielewski — Sun, 27 May 2007 21:56:09 +0000

Matt –
Back to your response on the Irvine council majority playing around with other people’s money; businesses who seek city contracts have every right to pay their workers more. If they feel paying $10 an hour is too much, they can decline to bid.

Have you ever seen the hoops federal government contracts make bidders jump through?

And yet, when Republicans want to give returning soliders free tuition at state universities, colleges and community colleges or pump up the National Guard, isn’t that also playing with other people’s money?

Very curious why when its comes from the right its the right thing to do, but never in reverse.

By: Flowerszzz

Flowerszzz — Sun, 27 May 2007 18:27:38 +0000

Oh and Pedroza – truth be told – I am probably more of a libertarian then republican….but I think you and I have discussed that before.

By: Art Pedroza

Art Pedroza — Sun, 27 May 2007 06:51:47 +0000

Jubal,

Please. It is high comedy every election year in Irvine to see how the Reeps get their heads handed to them by the Democrats. You guys are going to have to beat them before you can cry about their policies – and so far it doesn’t look like your party know how to do that.

It makes me wonder if Chuck DeVore is going to be able to win reelection next time around.

By: RHackett

RHackett — Sun, 27 May 2007 03:37:18 +0000

Jubal. Given how Beth and Larry continually get re-elected by significant margins it could be argued they represent their constituents.

Surely you of all people understand that very basic tenet of our democratic process.