Wages for Los Angeles Contract Workers

“Rising War Over Raising Pay” (Oct. 28) laid out the issues in an evenhanded way, but we would like to clarify a couple of points about the proposed living wage ordinance.

The article said that I cited census data showing that 40% of minimum wage workers live below the poverty line. Minimum wage workers are de facto below the poverty line because they make no more than $9,500 per year; the federal poverty line is $15,600. The correct statistic is that nearly 40% of workers in Los Angeles earn less than the poverty line.

The other clarification concerns which businesses would be affected by the proposed ordinance. As presently drafted, the ordinance would apply only to companies holding city service contracts of over $25,000 with the city or to companies that receive $100,000 or more in city subsidies, no one else.

Claims by living wage opponents that an ordinance would drive jobs from the city and hurt the economy have yet to be borne out, and in fact, the two reputable studies cited in the article show the opposite to be true. And the effects will only be positive for the approximately 10,000 families who would be brought up to poverty level by such an ordinance.

MADELINE JANIS APARICIO

Coordinator, Living Wage

Campaign, Los Angeles

* I am outraged to find that our city saves money by contracting work out to a private firm that does not pay workers a living wage and does not provide health benefits. As a regular patron of our library system, and an admirer of our jewel of a downtown Central Library, it troubles me deeply that these facilities that I enjoy are so well-serviced by such poorly treated workers. I do not believe that economic chaos would result from paying these workers a living wage and treating them humanely.

How many other services that I receive are borne on the backs of underpaid and poorly treated workers?

GLORIA LASH

Los Angeles

* I find it sadly amusing that the mayor’s office is so adamant against boosting the wages of contract employees who provide services to the city. The juxtaposition of this against articles concerning the mayor’s efforts to provide huge raises to the general managers of the city (Oct. 9, Oct. 22), most of whom are already paid $100,000 or more, is ridiculous.

The statement that this ordinance would hurt those trying to start up the economic ladder is even more ridiculous. The idea that a 51-year-old janitor is just starting up the ladder says much about the priorities of those who would run our city.

LOUIS L. DOMINGUEZ

San Pedro