[Editor’s Note: Elected to the Los Angeles City Council 16 months ago, Mr. Price renamed his district “the New 9th.”]
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I am proud to report today that Los Angeles has affirmed its position as a progressive leader for the nation, approving a policy that will directly impact the quality of life of so many hardworking men and women across our city, especially those in communities like the one I represent.
Eight months ago I joined with my colleagues Councilwoman Nury Martinez and Councilman Mike Bonin to introduce the Living Wage for Hotel Workers Ordinance. Our goal was to address income inequality in one of our city's largest and most successful industries.
After much debate and dialogue, the City Council approved our motion, effective July 1, for hotels with 300 or more rooms. Hearing feedback from small hotel owners, the ordinance will be phased in by July 1, 2016, for hotels with 150 or more rooms. Additionally, a report will study potential exemptions for adaptive re-use and historic hotels and allowing exemptions for hotels facing financial hardship.
While we heard concerns from some, it is important to not govern from a place of fear, understanding that the extra dollars we put into the local economy today will be spent on Main Street – not Wall Street.
We can debate a lot of things, but some things are certain. The lives of thousands of workers will be improved by this policy. They will be making a wage that will allow them to provide for their families. They won’t have two and three jobs to make ends meet, leaving time for the important things like helping their children with homework, attending parent conferences, or even the simplest luxury of having dinner together, as a family.
While we all want to see job growth in our city, we don't want to create additional underemployment. Why not focus on creating living wage jobs so that an individual only needs one job to provide for themselves and their family. That's what I want for this city. It is right. It is fair.
The fight continues as we move towards approving a city-wide minimum wage policy that will ensure all Angelenos have a chance to succeed and afford a decent quality of life.
Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr. may be contacted at cd9@lacity.org
