By JOHN F. MULLER Special to the Daily Press
In 2002 living wage backers lost a ballot initiative, but in 2004 they plan to install their candidates on the city council.
The 2002 plan would have instituted an $11.50 base wage for the employees of high-end hotels, restaurants and retail stores close to Santa Monica’s beaches.
The City Council has already taken steps last month to set $11.50 as minimum pay for local government workers and government contractors. Next year’s budget has $300,000 set aside to cover the extra expense of the new wage, which is expected to be passed by the council this fall, city officials said.
The 2002 initiative would have covered far more than just government workers. But exactly who would be covered was a divisive issue in the unsuccessful campaign.
“We’re still interested in getting our living wage passed,” said Vivian Rothstein, a member of the Coalition for the Living Wage. Rothstein, the director of the Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism, has been a key player in several of the living wage proposals.
Rothstein said the coalition is committed to both a living wage for city employees and the hotel workers targeted by the 2002 initiative.
She expressed frustration with the defeat of the 2002 measure, faulting business interests for misleading voters. Instead of pursuing a living wage ballot measure in 2004, the group will work to get its candidates on the council, she indicated.
Buria Finkel, a volunteer for the coalition, has been compiling a list of candidates who will be interviewed early next week. She said the group had talked to about seven candidates as of Thursday, and will continue granting interviews until 5 p.m. on Friday.
“This is an extremely important issue for all people everywhere,” she said. “If we are a society that cares about parity and fairness, it is very important that we try to equalize our efforts in making all people that work get a decent living.”
Buria said the coalition has already been approached by each of the five candidates seeking the SMRR endorsment— incumbents Richard Bloom, Michael Feinstein and Ken Genser as well as Patricia Hoffman and Maria Loya. Unlike SMRR, the coalition won’t give
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 23, 2004. Read the original PDF.