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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDC Mayor Vetoes the 'Living Wage' Bill
http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2013/09/12/walmart-1-city-council-0-mayor-vetoes-the-living-wage-bill/Mayor Vincent Gray has vetoed the controversial "living wage" bill that had been passed by the D.C. City Council. The bill would have required retailers who sell more than $1 billion a year and operate in spaces over 75,000 square feet to pay their employees $12.50 instead of the city's normal minimum wage of $8.25-- AKA, Walmart.
"If we were to sign this bill into law, it would do nothing but hinder our ability to create jobs, drive away retailers, and set us back on the path to prosperity for all," Gray said.
Walmart has been planning its entry into the District with 6 stores planned to be built-- all in the eastern half of the city. Construction of three of the stores is already underway, and the other three are still in their planning phases. Walmart had said that if the District adopted the super-minimum-wage law, then the retailer would not follow through with plans to build at least 3 of the stores.
"Now that this discriminatory legislation is behind us, we will move forward on our first stores in our nation's capital," Walmart spokesman Steven Restivo said. "We look forward to finishing the work we started in the city almost three years ago."
Me? I am trying to avoid cursing too loud.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(149,534 posts)Initech
(100,043 posts)taught_me_patience
(5,477 posts)It's a real slippery slope when cities start singling out minimum wages for specific business and industries.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)The bill he vetoed targeted (so to speak ) only big-box retailers. Not only would it likely be struck down in court, it might have the unintended effect of causing an exodus of labor from local businesses to big-box stores paying 50% more.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)retention rate. Most CEOs make around 400 times more than the average worker. I think there is some room to work in a living wage.
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)keep people in poverty so that they can only afford their products. Costco is definitely a different business model. It is a better business model.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)badtoworse
(5,957 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)It's the mom 'n' pops who would have to worry about their retention rate.
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)because big box stores buy our politicians most laws favor big business rather than local business. We need politicians to support living wages and we need them to support small business so that small businesses can provide a living wage as well.
SecularMotion
(7,981 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)Mosby
(16,263 posts)that DC would lose in the end.
Walmart has more money so the people never had a chance, brought and paid for SMH
Recursion
(56,582 posts)This was just a case of not wanting to be the mayor who lost the only retail stores opening in Northeast.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)rusty fender
(3,428 posts)forever. What a POS!
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)IronLionZion
(45,380 posts)and a walmart about 2 miles away from there in PG county MD. When I was in that area it was an interstate adventure to go shopping for anything, even bread.
The east side of the city certainly needs more retail options and good jobs. It's amazing that Costco manages to pay more than most others, but more jobs are a good thing. Plus I support small business instead of the big box chains. I'm conflicted on this issue.