Re “Proposal to mandate $25 minimum wage for San Diego tourism workers moves forward” (June 25): As a business owner, I am amazed at the lack of knowledge our City Council and union leaders have regarding owning a business and creating jobs. Consider Greg Sowizdrzal’s quote regarding an entity charging $165 an hour for services for local events. He does not take into account health insurance, workers’ compensation, permits, local, state and federal taxes, unemployment, pensions, etc.
Don’t those who create jobs and invest in the community deserve to make a profit? We are, after all, a free market system, not a socialized system, based on “experimentation” as to what works best.
I agree that it is very expensive to live in California and San Diego. But the folks who advocate for this type of wage structure need to understand why it is so expensive to live here. All they need to do is look at our “leadership” in Sacramento and San Diego to figure out why.
— Jim Taylor, San Diego
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera continues to demonstrate the political leadership and moral vision that San Diego so desperately needs. While others are content to anguish or pontificate over the plight of working San Diegans, Elo-Rivera is tackling the cost of living crisis head-on with his push to pass an ordinance mandating a $25 minimum wage for San Diego’s tourism workers. This wage increase will be a boon to working families and is one of the boldest efforts at addressing the affordability crisis that has been seen in some time. This — coupled with his significant role in fighting for a budget that kept libraries and recreation centers open while raising revenue in prudent ways, and his courageous and consistent moral leadership during these vicious ICE raids — are proving once again that he is a political leader to watch and rally behind. Let’s start with supporting this urgently needed $25 minimum wage ordinance.
— Caleb Rainey, Barrio Logan