DC Mayor Vetoes the 'Living Wage' Bill

[MrNJ]

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]

1. Damn bought off politicians. I hope he loses in the next primary.

[onehandle]

2. So much for progress. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. God damn him. Fucking politician. n/t

[Initech]

4. Damn him!!! Persuaded by the big club no doubt.

[taught_me_patience]

5. I'm actually pretty glad this was defeated

It's a real slippery slope when cities start singling out minimum wages for specific business and industries.

[KamaAina]

6. He stated his intention to seek an across-the-board increase in the minimum wage.

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]

8. Costco pays their employees well and there is no great exodus. In fact they have a great

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]

10. Very different business model. Costco has a more affluent customer base

[liberal_at_heart]

11. If people were paid more they could afford higher prices. The big box stores like Walmart

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]

17. where did u get that little factoid ?

[badtoworse]

20. Observations from shopping in both stores

[KamaAina]

12. I meant an exodus TO big-box stores like Costco

It's the mom 'n' pops who would have to worry about their retention rate.

[liberal_at_heart]

14. then local businesses would have to compete by paying a living wage too. Granted

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. Read the comments or leave one on the Mayor's FB page

https://www.facebook.com/MayorGray

[WillyT]

9. Fucking Idiot...

[Mosby]

13. The truth is that it would have led to costly litigation

that DC would lose in the end.

[Mr Dixon]

15. SMH

Walmart has more money so the people never had a chance, brought and paid for SMH

[Recursion]

16. No, Gray's money is from taxicab drivers

This was just a case of not wanting to be the mayor who lost the only retail stores opening in Northeast.

[Nye Bevan]

18. Good. Wal-mart's low prices will benefit many poor people in DC. (nt)

[geek tragedy]

19. Why a two-tier wage system? Probably a wise veto. nt

[rusty fender]

21. This will be a shameful stain on his heart

forever. What a POS!

[Egalitarian Thug]

22. What a shock! Another politician bought by and for the parasites. K&Rn/t

[IronLionZion]

23. There is one Costco in the lower income east side of the district

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.