REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST
SANTA MONICA LIVING WAGE CHARTER AMENDMENT

Measure KK provides for a Living Wage that addresses two very simple issues:

1.  Residents of Santa Monica should have the right to vote on any change in the living wage.

2.  Voters, not politicians, should determine the Living Wage for businesses that contract with the
     city, so as to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.

The opponents are trying to mislead voters into believing Measure KK, the Living Wage Law, is a new invention by Santa Monica businesses.

The fact is Measure KK is virtually identical to the Living Wage Laws in over 30 cities and counties, including Los Angeles.

The opponents would have you believe it is selective and discriminatory to certain workers.

The fact is the Living Wage Law is neither.  It covers all companies and their employees that have contracts with the City of Santa Monica and simply allows the voters to decide how to implement the living wage in the future.

Any plan that singles out businesses in Santa Monica's coastal zone and implements a different wage than the rest of the city is discriminatory and selective.

That proposal gives workers doing the same job a higher wage on one side of the street than the other.

This proposal is unrealistic and will force Santa Monica businesses to shut down.

It will result in new businesses going to other cities, existing businesses leaving Santa Monica and many local residents losing their jobs.

Santa Monica deserves a fair Living Wage Law.

Santa Monica needs Measure KK.

Vote Yes on Measure KK

Jack Srebnik, Santa Monica Resident
Donna Dailey Alvarez, Santa Monica Resident

Impartial Analysis

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