City Council Majority Leader Terrence M. Hassett, Ward 12, has asked the City Council’s Committee on Finance to take up the Living Wage ordinance, a long debated and sometimes controversial legislative measure that was postponed during the last session of the City Council, it was announced today. Hassett said that the previous council attempted to pass the ordinance in the last stretch of the council session, but instead it was referred to the Finance Committee. He said he promised then that the matter would be revived during the current council session.
“This legislation has been debated numerous times and its impact reviewed numerous times,” Hassett said. “Given the ongoing economic slide adversely impacting hard working people who are trying to make ends meet, I think that the city needs to act. The cost, which is not as deep as originally proffered, is worth the investment in the city’s workforce. The long debate has been about the cost of the measure to the city and its vendors, thus giving city leaders pause in enacting it.”
“The price of the ordinance was inflated so as to appear that it was just too costly to approve,” Hassett said. “I believe those numbers were exaggerated and the positive economic impact was not given its due consideration.”
“If multi-million dollar businesses can receive attractive tax deals, why shouldn’t people who live and work in the city be able to earn a competitive wage?” Hassett asked.
Hassett, who was originally hesitant in supporting the ordinance because of the financial impact, said that the current economy is being taken down by the high cost of fuel, utilities, food and other essential expenses.
“There are more people today who are just not able to make it or who are barely getting by,” said Hassett. “The council is hoping that this ordinance will help.”
Hassett pointed out that the ordinance requires action by the Finance Committee and then by the full City Council. The matter will be heard on [Thursday] January 17th.