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# Will proposed ‘Living Wage’ ordinance hurt schools?
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/will-proposed-living-wage-ordinance-hurt-schools/
- Published: 2004-01-02T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:26:26.000Z
- Author: Bill Bauer
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

Another salvo in the battle for worker’s rights and unionization was fired just before Christmas when activists took to the streets for yet another pro-union demonstration.

This time, Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism, also known as SMART, and officials from St. Anne’s Church, used the traditional Christian “posada” to promote justice for workers and unionization of the Doubletree Hotel.

Today, SMART is essentially a front for the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union. Vivian Rothstein, SMART’s executive director, is a paid HERE union organizer. The organization is based at HERE’s union hall at Sixth Street and Colorado Avenue.

SMART was formed a few years ago by a coalition of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights activists, HERE union officials, pro-laborists and old time Santa Monica leftists to promote a “living” or minimum wage for Santa Monica workers. It was passed by the SMRR-controlled City Council in July, 2001.

It required businesses in the coastal zone grossing more than $5 million annually to pay workers $12.25 an hour without health benefits or $10.50 an hour with health benefits. Although written with hotels and restaurants in mind, it would have affected all large businesses.

Companies with valid union contracts were exempt. In fact, it would have been cheaper for hotels and restaurants to unionize and pay the lower union wages than remain non-union and pay the higher city-mandated minimum wage.

The ordinance was immediately challenged by the tourism industry and business community. An initiative that repealed the “living wage” qualified for the ballot and was approved by voters in the fall 2002 election. Since then, living wage advocates vowed to bring the issue back.

Rothstein has announced plans to present another living wage proposal to the City Council on Jan. 13.

Details of SMART’s latest proposal haven’t been announced, but published reports suggest it could be modeled after San Francisco’s recent living wage proposal approved by its voters this past fall that calls for an $8.50 hourly minimum wage ($1.75 over the $6.75 state set minimum wage).

SMART’s version will likely cover the entire city of Santa Monica this time. And the estimated $3 million expanded city bureaucracy necessary to administrate and enforce the previous living wage ordinance will be needed, too.

I have a couple problems with all of this. ■If Santa Monica mandates higher business costs, then everything from food to clothing will be more expensive here. It will be harder for local businesses to compete with surrounding communities. Increasing numbers of people will go outside the city to take advantage of lower prices on goods and services. Those on fixed incomes who can’t leave to shop elsewhere will suffer the financial impact more. ■The City Council was not elected to promulgate the agenda of a labor union and its sycophants, especially when that agenda takes money from every man, woman and child in the city, and most severely impacts the poor and immobile.

However, HERE contributes a considerable largess to SMRR and its candidates in the form of campaign money and workers. So, in 2004 as in the past, watch Santa Monica’s ruling political party try sell us all down the river, again. ■The city is in a financial vise. Money is tight and could get a lot tighter. There could be two proposals on the November 2004 ballot that call for substantial city support for schools — plus a host of other state, county and city revenue proposals that could lead to higher sales taxes, additional property taxes and other increased fees.

So, what’s it going to be? $3 million to administrate a minimum wage bureaucracy or support our schools? Or, will we try to do both and raise taxes, thereby hitting residents with a double whammy?

These days, City Hall seems to be more concerned with serving the needs of everyone and anyone but residents.

While claiming they don’t have enough dough to provide basic services, they can always find the bread to finance their social programs, whether it be a homeless shelter, affordable housing or a minimum wage benefiting primarily non-residents fortunate enough to be employed within the city borders. (Bill Bauer is a longtime Santa Monica resident and a freelance writer).

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 2, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010204.pdf?ref=smdp.com)