Thursday, September 14, 2006
I support Mayor Daley on the Big Box Veto
There I said it. I wasn't sure where I stood until I heard Bishop Brazier say our people need jobs, starter jobs, any job. Yes the minimum wage needs to be raised, but across the board, not just in Walmart and Target stores in the city. I am a strong advocate of raising the minimum wage. But to keep the big box stores out of the city is not the answer. It's not enough. I know it is a difficult question. Do the big box stores drive out other businesses? Probably. But to be able to buy goods at lower prices is an advantage that suburbanites have that we don't. Our kids need those starter jobs so they can move on to better employment. Sojourners and all of the social advocates I know have been supporting the aldermanic ordinance that would require the big box stores to pay a higher wage, therefore causing them to stop development in the city. What do you think?
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6 comments:
I agree with you. I would like to see the pay raised, but this ordinance was honestly going to cost the city jobs.
There may be a time and place for this in the future, but maybe not now.
Get the stores built and THEN raise the wages...
I think you're right. This is another example of how complicated issues can become for the inner city under class.
Gotta throw my 'yes' into the ring as well. Do feel we need to hold big businesses accountable that come into the city, but to put constraints on them that aren't across the board is unfair & only harms ourselves. Plus, teens & the elderly would really benefit from those jobs, as well as adults who need anything to get by. A deeper issue is to make our schools beter so our adults don't have to compete w. our teens for jobs that aren't designed to support families.
Chicago is not an island. If Chicago sets up barriers, it is far too easy for big box retailers to set up shop in the inner ring suburbs. Chicago not only loses tax revenue that could be used for social services but we lose jobs as well.
Mandating a minimum wage that provides incentives for companies to locate in the suburbs does not help our community.
Should the minimum wage be higher? Certainly. Both IL and the federal minimum wage must be raised. We need to focus our energy on the state legislature and Congress.
Thanks for making a difficult public statement like that. Community development is about replenishing the resources in broken communities and economic resources are key catalysts to replenishing spiritual and social ones, as well.
While I am for the Big Box Ordinance I can see the dilemma. But I wonder where in the suburbs is left for a Walmart or a Target to build? Does this not leave the Big Box stores left with only the city for development? If Mayor Daley is so concerned with the lose in tax revenue why does he not speak out on the millions of dollars given to Walmart in subsidies or the lack of insurance that leaves employee's using tax paid medical services? At what point do we say enough is enough and demand that big business pay it's employees what they are worth? Out of the top 13 Richest People in America the Walton family holds 5 spots, and spends billions of dollars in Union busting. Why can't they spend a little more on the people that keep the business running?
So the dilemma, Is any job better than no job? Now someone working at a Big Box has 2 maybe 3 jobs and still doesn't have insurance, is spending less time with their family, and is working so much that it is beginning to take a tole on their physical and mental health.
People need to realize that they have power! We need to stop acquiescing to the presser of big business and set a precedent.
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