I was very happy to hear that Our Socialist Sniffing Councilor, The Mighty Mumpower, would go to work sniffing drugs at the Dead concert (excuse me—Ratdog). I think if he joined forces with the K-9 unit, we would have to hire private contractors to build new prisons just to hold these reefer madmen and women. He should just follow the Ratdog around the country and report back to the City Council next fall (I’m sure he could get a grant from American Enterprise Institute). During that time, we could get a few things done in Asheville—like pass a living-wage ordinance. We passed one in Santa Fe, N.M., which took effect in 2004 at $8.50 per hour. That went to $9.50 in 2006 and will go to $10.50 in 2008. The ordinance requires all businesses—including state and local government (and their subcontractors)—with 25 or more employees to pay a living wage. Smaller businesses with less employees are exempt. It’s working there, and it will work here.
The only studies done that have been negative have been put out by conservative think tanks, some disguising themselves as private nonprofits, their funding coming from foundations that support these groups.
Does anyone really have to question paying people a living wage? [A rate of] $8.50 to $10.50 is barely a wage that a person can live on, against a ridiculous federal poverty guideline of $7,500 [a year] for a single person and $14,500 for a family of three. What planet are they on? [But] the big-box corporations are given free rein on our workers’ rights, hiring at least 80 percent of their employees classified as part time, [with] no benefits and no raises from the minimum wages that always remain fixed. Good deal for the employers; bad deal for the workers.
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