Organized Labor's Council Allies Unite In Support, LB Biz Interests (Incl. LB Chamber Leadership) Council Allies Support Including Exceptions/"Incentives," Resulting In 9-0 Council Vote For Study On Impacts Of A LB Minimum Wage; Mayor Garcia Calls Process "The Long Beach Way"
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(Aug. 12, 2015) -- As seen LIVE on Aug. 11 on LBREPORT.com:
Multiple speakers from organized labor were united in support. Some prominent members of LB's business community -- including the LB Area Chamber of Commerce leadership, plus Mike Murchison speaking on behalf of a group of businesses currently unidentified publicly -- testified in support while seeking the inclusions of exceptions and "incentives."
The net result was a 9-0 Council vote to seek a report (cost: up to $65,000) from the L.A. County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) on the "feasibility of and potential benefits and risks of implementing a citywide minimum wage in Long Beach; and proposals for incentives, tax breaks, fee reductions and/or process improvements to assist businesses and non-profit organizations in complying with a higher minimum wage; and to work with the City's Economic Development Commission to take public input and review the study's findings and make recommendations to the City Council."
A few LB small business owners urged the Council not to proceed down the road to setting a minimum wage higher than what is now legally required. Council discussion lasted roughly two hours.
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Mayor Garcia opened by saying that although that L.A. City Council and L.A. Board of Supervisors had adopted minimum wages, the Long Beach approach would be "different," saying it would be open, transparent and inclusive, in what he called the "Long Beach Way."
A number of Council supporters portrayed the item as fact finding but simultaneously referred to setting some kind of a LB minimum wage as an expected conclusion. Councilwoman Suzie Price (whose district includes 2nd St. Belmont Shore small businesses) acknowledged as much but defended her support for a study on grounds that: "I think anyone who is following Council and can count would be able conclude right now that the policy would probably pass today if it was presented as a sort of legislative change for the City of Long Beach. I think that the Mayor is trying to get us all together so that we can communicate and have a conversation that allows for a balanced approach so that when the legislation impacts the City of Long Beach in a very balanced and fair way, to the best extent possible."
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Councilwoman Price, who has multiple small businesses along the 2nd St. corridor among others, said she thinks the study needs to be "objective," not predisposed to certain conclusions, but should "try to weave in some mitigation measures" that would address business concerns into any policy that might eventually be considered by the Council. Price said she hopes "the following recommendations are considered and looked at in terms of the study:...the impact of a proposed minimum wage on our businesses and specifically our small businesses and our non profit organizations...whether or not any proposed increases would be incremental in nature...what is the risk of losing business to nearby cities and what cities would those be...whether or not there are any exemptions and delayed implementation opportunities for small businesses and non-profit organizations...whether or not applying any of our state exemptions that currently exist for minimum wage, such as an exemption for a parent, child or spouse of the employer, exemptions for employees who have no previous similar or related experience below the minimum wage during a training period, exemptions that might apply to our local businesses, the size of the business, whether or not an exemption ought to apply."
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Price said she agreed with Mayor Garcia in what he called implementing a minimum wage in the "Long Beach Way" with policy changes that are unique and specific to the city of Long Beach. "There are some unique opportunities for us as a city to fashion some remedies that would mitigate some of the concerns that our business community has," she said.
An LAEDC spokesperson said such a report could be completed within 60 days from signing the contract. The Mayor's office says in a release that it expects the study is expected to take approximately three months to complete.
