Folk group appearance attracts large crowd
It was a campaign kick-off with a headliner act.
Peter, Paul & Mary amplified the message of the living wage movement Sunday on the front lawn of City Hall to a large crowd of more than 250 supporters.
“Our purpose today is not to entertain,” said Peter Yarrow, of the politically active folk trio. “But to give voice to economic justice.”
“Our purpose today is not to entertain. But to give voice to economic justice.” — — PETER YARROW Singer, Peter, Paul & Mary
The group, which played roughly a half dozen songs for more than 30 minutes, spoke strongly and passionately for the passage of the city’s living wage ordinance, Measure JJ, which will be decided by voters on the November ballot.
Interspersed between verses, Yarrow and fellow musician Paul Stookey chimed in supportive living wage phrases.
During a rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” and after the group sang “this land is made for you and me,” Stookey added, “And it still is if we pass JJ.”
If enacted, the living wage law would raise the minimum wage for low-income workers at coastal Santa Monica businesses that earn more than $5 million a year from $6.75 to $10.50 with health benefits or $12.25 without benefits. The wage for workers without benefits would increase to $13.00 after one year.
The measure has attracted national attention because it would be the first living wage ordinance in the country that would attempt to dictate wages and demand health insurance from private businesses with no financial ties to local government.
Supporters and opponents of the measure are expected to wage a multi-million dollar campaign over the next month and a Andrew H Fixmer/Daily Press Folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary sing in front of City Hall Sunday to show their support for the living wage ordinance. See CAMPAIGN, page 5 half to rally voters to each group’s side.
Sunday’s event illustrated just how high profile the campaign for the living wage has become. Proponents working in the music recording industry helped coor-dinate with Peter, Paul & Mary, who also donated $2,000 to pay for Sunday’s event.
“How can we lose with people like this in our corner?” said former city councilman Tony Vazquez to the crowd.
Joining the folk group on stage were state Senator Sheila Keuhl (D-Santa Monica), Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown and organizers for the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union, which has been a leading proponent of the living wage ordinance.
Keuhl told supporters the living wage is necessary so employees who work hard can have the ability to provide food and shelter to their families.
She said without the living wage ordinance there would be no way for low-wage workers to afford living in Los Angeles County, which has some of the highest home prices in the country. “(The living wage) barely gets people up to the federal poverty level,” Keuhl said. “If you work full-time, you should be able to support your family.”
“(The living wage) barely gets people up to the federal poverty level.” — — SHEILA KEUHL State senator
While the crowd was overwhelmingly supportive of the living wage, some said having Peter, Paul & Mary at the campaign event got them out of their beds Sunday morning.
Santa Monica resident Jerry Beckman said though he is “aware” of the living wage issue, he brought his two young children to see the group.
“I haven’t seen Peter, Paul & Mary since my days at Berkeley back in ’63,” he said. “The songs are the same, but man are we are all a lot older.”
Beckman said he was skeptical of the living wage ordinance.
“The question is, who can afford to live here anyway?” he asked. “But somehow we all do.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 23, 2002. Read the original PDF.