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# Clergy protest Loews hotel
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/clergy-protest-loews-hotel/
- Published: 2002-08-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:35:55.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: Environment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Hotel denies clergy charges*

During an emotional demonstration in front of Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, more than a dozen area clergy leaders accused the establishment of threatening its workers.

Members of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, or CLUE, held a rally Wednesday in front of the hotel on 1700 Ocean Avenue to protest the treatment of workers who they believe have been disciplined for supporting the living wage ordinance and unionization efforts.

“Workers have been given warnings because they have publicly supported enacting a living wage ordinance and organizing a union to protect their rights,” said Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels. “Well, we are here to put the hotel’s management on warning that they cannot intimidate their workers.”

The living wage law would raise the minimum wage for low-income workers at coastal businesses that earn more than $5 million a year from $6.75 to $10.50 with health benefits or $12.25 without benefits.

Comess-Daniels wrote a letter to John Tucker, the hotel’s general manager, on August 5 requesting a meeting to discuss concerns about the workers, but the request went unanswered.

Loews representatives denied they have issued any warning to their workers for supporting causes outside the workplace.

“It’s not true,” said Sara Harper, a Loews corporate spokeswoman. “We would never target or discriminate any employee for any reason.”

Harper said the hotel’s management met with clergy members several months ago to discuss their concerns regarding the workers’ claims.

“They clearly do not want to hear our side of the story,” Harper said. “They are sort of in bed with the union, and they have the union talking in one side of their ear and whatever we say they don’t want to see any truth in it.”

“But we’re not ignoring their concerns,” she added.

A Loews housekeeper testified at the rally that she and her co-workers have been punished for making minor mistakes because they are actively supporting the living wage and the Hotel Employee & Restaurant Employee Union’s efforts to organize at the hotel.

“They are targeting all of us,” said Rodas Mayra, through an interpreter. “But I’m not afraid because I’m fighting for something that’s fair and just.”

Tempers ran high among some clergy members who delivered passionate sermons on the need to pay workers better wages and provide them with better access to health care.

“What is the character of the management of Loews, who will charge hundreds of dollars a night for a room but who will not pay their workers a pittance to clean them?” asked Reverend James Lawson. “Something is lacking in such people.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/080802-01_01.jpg)

Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels (holding guitar) and City Councilman Kevin McKeown (far left) demonstrate outside Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel Wednesday. (Photo: Andrew H. Fixmer/Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 8, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080802.pdf?ref=smdp.com)