Home Antioch Antioch City Council Decides Not To Move Forward With Minimum Wage Increase

Antioch City Council Decides Not To Move Forward With Minimum Wage Increase

by ECT

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On Tuesday night, the Antioch City Council held a discussion on potentially creating a minimum wage ordinance in the City of Antioch where in the end they decided the amount of minimum wage should be left to the State and Federal Governments.

The idea was brought up last winter by Antioch resident Mark Jordan who advocated for higher wagers. He explained this was not a Democratic or Republican issue, but its a progressive issue.

“Labor isn’t respected much anymore whether its union or non-union. The world is driven by profits and most people do not have much. The people who have the least are the people who have minimum wage. In fact, a very large percentage of them get some sort of subsidies from the government so you and I are paying for them anyway,” explained Jordan. “The question becomes should they be paid a livable wage, a reasonable wage for the service they provider or are we going to return to a situation in which a very very very few have all the money and all the possessions in the country and there is nothing left. The middle class is disappearing.”

Lori Ogorchock, realtor and city council candidate, was against Antioch setting their own minimum wage increase.

“This will hurt the efforts to attract business to Antioch and make the city less competitive compared to neighboring cities,” said Ogorchuck. “This ordinance will only make matters worse and staff is right, this issue should be left to state and federal government to decide.”

Antioch Chamber CEO Sean Wright also spoke out against the idea of creating a special minimum wage for Antioch saying there are already increases set to occur. As of July 1, California raised the minimum Wage to $9. Next year it increases to $10.

“We have had several business already raise their prices to make ends meat. One business for over 80-years, they shut their doors. If we as a City of Antioch decide to take it on to Antioch specific we will be shutting the doors on other businesses,” explained Wright. “If we add this to the reasons not to open a business in Antioch, we will not be business friendly.”

Willie Mims agreed with an increase specific to Antioch because its about decency and respect for a decent living.

“Antioch should not be afraid to be on the cutting edge of anything. If you have the heart to raise the minimum wage to give these folks before you a decent living, then you should by all means do that,” said Mims. “I would encourage you to give these folks a raise in terms of their minimum wage.”

Councilwoman Monica Wilson explained that she had too many questions on what a minimum wage increase would do to Antioch and could not support it at this time. She was concerned about the impact this would have on Antioch.

Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha would like to see an increase, but stated the State already addressed it in their increases for next year.

“I know that $10 would have been satisfactory. We are so close to March I’d be willing to wait. I will go with what we have presently,” said Rocha.

Councilman Tony Tiscareno explained how he has always fought for living wages and higher standards but stated if it will hurt Antioch he does not know.

“Is it worth exploring to see where we are at at this point? I believe so,” said Tiscareno. “I would like to see what the report and effects in Richmond and any other city comparable to our city.

Tiscareno also asked to see if we can work with neighboring cities to do something regionally—Pittsburg, Brentwood and Oakley–so there is no competitive issues.

“I am not against this but I would like to hear more about it. If its feasible I’d like to see it go through. If not, at least we did our due diligence,” said Tiscareno.

Mayor Wade Harper preferred to allow the State and Federal Governments to decide how much minimum wage should be. He preferred to focus on better policy to increase local hiring for Antioch.

“I think at this time I would like to go along with what the state is doing. There will be more increases. I am more interested in local hiring and get them to hire Antioch residents. When we have projects in our city can we have them hire a percentage of Antioch residents. I would hate to see 8 new business discouraged from coming to Antioch because we are hire than other cities. At this time I will defer to the State.”

Based on council discussion and no consensus, the issue will not move forward.

Background Per Staff Report

While no dollar figure amounts were given in the Staff Report, it did reference the City of Richmond who recently increased their minimum wage to $12.32 by the year 2017 (Source http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2856 ). Richmond was the first city in Contra Costa County who has a minimum wage higher than State and Federal minimum wage laws.

The staff report highlights how an increased minimum wage higher than Brentwood, Oakley and Pittsburg would put Antioch at a competitive disadvantage with competing businesses. Business options include absorbing the costs, cutting other employee benefits, reducing the workforce, moving the business or raising prices, if the market allows.

According to the staff report, an increase in minimum wage would also have a direct impact on the City’s workforce cost. Antioch’s Recreation Department employs part time and temporary minimum wage workers and so the cost of those positions would go up, although no formal analysis has been performed at this time.

City staff are asking the council to consider the following questions:

  1. Why?
  2. Why would a City want to pass a minimum wage when the Federal and State governments already have a minimum wage that includes Antioch?
  3. What are the local impacts on local minimum wage?

Staff Conclusion:
Staff recommends against the Council considering a local minimum wage for the City of Antioch for the following reasons: A minimum wage higher than our neighboring cities puts Antioch at a competitive disadvantage for business attraction, business retention and job creation. A minimum wage higher than the State of California increases the City’s labor costs and could, thereby, delay the elimination of Friday furloughs for many City workers or increase the projected structural deficit. Antioch is not a high cost living city and is relatively affordable relative to the Bay Area in general, so there is not a compelling reason why Antioch should have a higher minimum wage than other Bay Area cities. Finally, since California has a higher minimum wage than the Federal minimum wage, staff recommends that we either leave this issue to the State or, if anyone thinking the minimum wage should be higher, elected officials at the State level should be encouraged to champion that issue.

For the full Staff Report:  Item 5 (page 121) of the City Council Meeting
http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/agendas/CityCouncil/2014/agendas/081214/081214.pdf

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27 comments

JimSimmons42 Aug 13, 2014 - 7:46 am

Mark Jordan must hate making money because anyone who owns a business should not want to see min wage increase. Wasn’t Mark Jordan also wanting to take the hell out of landlords as well? This guy needs to stop talking.

Buy a Clue Aug 13, 2014 - 10:19 am

Let’s call that “kill the golden goose” principle.

Statistical fact that minimum wage earners spend all their income to survive. Truth be told, official studies put it at 106%.

That is money that is put right back into the local economy for those business owners. You can’t suppress people with sub living wages forever and not have negative consequences……….like increased crime.

Minimum wage impacts Fortune 500 companies more than it does Mom and Pops anyway. Because minimum wage most affects retail and service industry. Another bit of misinformation that skews the debate.

Increasing the minimum wage improves employee retention, productivity(less need to constantly train new hires) and employee loyalty.

But if you’re just a short game player focus on the belief it only costs you right now. That mentality is part of the reason America is fading as a global economic powerhouse, soon to be replaced by the long game playing Chinese.

karl dietzel Aug 13, 2014 - 5:17 pm

to me the more important issues was, that finally a antioch resident was able to put his question/ concern on the agenda, even it took 9 month.

In 'da know Aug 13, 2014 - 7:59 pm

Karl, thanks for galvanizing the very reason you should not be on the city council. You. clearly have no idea of how local government operates. Like it or not citizens do not put items on the city’s agenda. We the public are invited to participate in the meetings, but not run them. It’s no wonder you are frustrated and a bit angry, you really don’t get it. I doubt you ever will…

karl dietzel Aug 13, 2014 - 9:52 pm

i am sorry that you have given up. just keep voting the very same people into office, like you did for decades, and expect different results. did you actually see last night how your government “runs” and “operates” ? since you are the “in ‘da know” please explain why you talk about the public like it’s a third party? what happens to -we the people-?

karl dietzel Aug 13, 2014 - 9:56 pm

i wonder what happens to my reply?

Julio Aug 14, 2014 - 5:39 am

Any citizen can ask to put something on the agenda. Often it takes longer than it should but yes that is the way the system works.

EastCountyToday Aug 14, 2014 - 5:40 am

Devils advocate Julio 🙂

What if the idea requested to be placed on the agenda is “unreasonable” or the Mayor knows would not work? Why waste the time?

Julio Aug 14, 2014 - 3:24 pm

You can still do it. I recall the breakfast club getting on the agenda. The fact is anyone can ask to have something put on the agenda. If they talk you out of it or dislike you, as in Mr Jordan’s case, it
WAS put on the agenda. All of us knew they were not for it the first time he discussed it.

Karl does have a strange idea how this works. His vision is how he interprets it should work.

In 'da know Aug 14, 2014 - 7:30 am

No actually it isn’t. Items placed on the agenda must come from a council member, the Mayor or city manager (staff). The agenda is then approved. That’s the way it works.

Chuck Aug 13, 2014 - 6:15 pm

The only thing that increasing minimum wage will do is increase inflation. It is all relevant. The problem today is kids do not want to work. Minimum wage is not intended to be a career but rather a leaning experience and introduction to the work force.The beginners that excel in their minimum wage job will quickly be offered the next level and so on. Reducing welfare and entitlements would better serve society. Right now a person can live off of the government receiving much more than minimum wage.There is no incentive to enter the workforce while watching mom and/or dad sit on their butt all day waiting for that government check. Just another reason teenagers are shooting each other. No responsibility because they can get for free from uncle sam. Ever see a sign that says work for food? That’s what the government needs to do. Make the leaches of the system work. It creates self esteem, character, and responsibility. Increasing minimum wage hurts more than helps. My comment in no way is directed at the truly needy and truly handicapped. That’s what entitlements are suppose to be for.Raising minimum wage will do more damage than good. Let the free market work. That’s what the American Dream is all about. Not government regulated handouts. It’s all relevant when your minimum wage goes up and your dollar menu becomes a two dollar menu. Nothing will have changed. Create work opportunity and watch the economy flourish.

In 'da know Aug 13, 2014 - 8:02 pm

Karl meet Chuck (aka John).

You two are peas in a pod! Confused and angry because of your own shortcomings.

Damn shame.

In 'da know Aug 13, 2014 - 8:11 pm

Once again Chuck aka, “Johnny from Knightsin” your limited brain function and confused rational is apparent. You can’t seem to hep yourself. Shouldn’t you be out posting homemade NO on fire assessment signs?

Consider this advice~

“Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt”

Buy a Clue Aug 13, 2014 - 6:38 pm

John(Chuck), I see you’re still a troll.

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demographic of the average minimum wage worker in America right now is a 31 yr old single mother.

So much for your kids theory.

Your “learning experience” line only proves my point. That being that the artificially low minimum wage causes high turnover. Which is a money loser for business. That is people with business sense. You might not be qualified to quantify that.

Don’t know where you’re going with the rant on gov’t leeches. There are income requirements and lifetime limits to government welfare. You should educate yourself on what they are so you stop BSing yourself and the readers with this lifetime on the dole idea. It doesn’t exist. As wages climb, fewer people are eligible for entitlements. The costs of the programs goes down, while the payroll taxes that support them increase. It’s win-win.

Lost in your redneck analysis is the fact that while the average middle class household has experienced a flat or slight decrease in earning power and standard of living in the last 15 years, for the min wage household it’s much worse. To the tune of a 31% decrease in buying power since the 1970s.

http://www.economicrt.org/summaries/Effects_15Dollar_MinWage_LA_City.html

If you can’t stand the fact that the AFL-CIO funded that, I’ve got a ton of others.

Let’s see, a panel of advanced degree holding Economists or an alias nut from “Knightsin”. Who should we believe?

Educate yourself with a little casual reading, johnny. Ignorance is a sorry way to stumble through life.

The United States of American is no longer a “free market”. It’s capitalism run amok. It’s large corporations preying on the unsuspecting to add to their bottom lines and support their share holders. The increasingly ineffective government is the only shaky thing standing between them and the complete overrun and elimination of the middle class through outsourcing and miserable tax and trade policies.

Reginald Jamal Brown Aug 13, 2014 - 9:59 pm

@clue

Really, nobody cares about your “stats” any idiot can google info and cherry pick line by line to make themselves seem smart.

I mean no offense Clue, but really, no one cares what you have to say. I’ll bet my neighbor’s section 8 voucher that 95% of the people that read comments simply skip yours. I say that with no ego.

Brad Aug 14, 2014 - 4:21 pm

Lol. That’s an awesome statement. I’m surprised anyone with section 8 can afford internet to get on this website let alone know how to read. Ohh Ya I forgot they are getting internet paid by the money coming out of my paycheck. Silly me to forget.

Buy a Clue Aug 14, 2014 - 7:59 pm

Poor, Reggie. Yes, facts are a terrible inconvenience when your only goal here is to race bait and promote divisiveness. That pretty much describes your MO to a tee, doesn’t it?

It’s telling that you think society as a whole is more interested in reading your race baiting garbage than getting the facts and seeking solutions.

We’re talking about minimum wage. When a wall of facts are presented, you and your new found buddy johnny can’t dispute a single one of them. Instead it’s full ad hominem.

Reggie, outside of the vocabulary you’re no better than the street thugs you badmouth. They clearly aren’t offering any solutions…….and neither are you. The Section 8 blanket statements scream ignorance. But I wouldn’t expect much better from you.

Brad, I’d take a swipe, but it would be like booing at the Special Olympics. Just poor taste. You and Reggie are what we call brand killers. Let you run your racist mouths long enough in here and eastcountytoday is going to lose respect in the community. There is no excuse and there should be zero tolerance for it. Thank your lucky stars I don’t have admin duties for the blog. You would have been kicked to the curb long ago.

Raise your game, Reg. I can battle you in the gutter or I can respectfully discuss with you like a gentlemen. You get to pick the venue. But I doubt you get to pick the outcome. Not with the punk approach you put on display here.

Reginald Jamal Brown Aug 14, 2014 - 9:18 pm

Who’s the troll now? Yeah. That’s right. Hypocrite little B_tch.

Rhymes with Chuck Aug 18, 2014 - 7:54 am

Our resident racists Brad and Reggie are compensating for their small………… keyboards. Mommy must have left the computer on again.
Tsk, tsk!!

Chuck Aug 14, 2014 - 6:06 pm

Reginald is one of the few people who understands that always providing a handout with someone else’s money (his) creates the result that Antioch is experiencing. He should be on the council if not Mayor. Clue and his alter ego rock DA are just jealous because it may affect their section 8 check.

I like the Clue comment on how section 8 minimum wage people pay out 106% of what they receive. The only truth out of that stupid statement is the 6% is stolen or robbed from good citizens. What a pos DA.

Buy a Clue Aug 15, 2014 - 8:11 pm

So we have John Gonazles on record advocating the Antioch Mayor’s position for a blatant race baiter. Can I get you a bigger shovel, Sir?

Poor johnny and his dark soul.

Ever hear of a tax refund? Earned income tax credit? Child deduction? It’s how you get to that 106%. It’s not money coming out of your sorry ass pocket either. It’s those credits that lifted more than 20 million people out of poverty, john. But here you are going on record as being against the idea. Duly noted. John wants wage oppression of the poor to continue.

Providing a living wage to the work force is not a handout. The family heirs to the Walton fortune collectively hold more wealth than 40% of the entire US population. They made and continue to add to that wealth on the backs of people they keep in poverty. Not to mention the effective corporate welfare they get by forcing those people onto entitlement programs. Privatize the profits, social the costs. It’s how Corps like Walmart make their bottom line.

But it gets better. 85 people in the world control fully 50% of all the wealth on the entire planet! Think “they built that” or is it a sign of a broken system?

I know how you and your new buddy Reggie love facts, so here ya go. From those commies over at Forbes, no less:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/06/03/california-to-wal-mart-enough-no-more-taxpayer-subsidized-profits-for-you/

That’s over a million per year for one store, johnnyG.

So who’s picking your pockets again? You really think you’re solving a problem by bagging on a family getting $135/mo in food stamps?

A wise man once said, “I never want to be a rich man in a poor country”. No risk of bumping into him among this bunch of sociopaths, that’s for sure.

Because I am a glutton for punishment and the impossible task of trying to fix “stupid” here are some more numbers for you, John. Now I fully expect you will poo-poo them and go right back to making up your own facts, but that’s OK. The open minded people are the ones that matter.

On the subject of income inequality we have this. If you make $50,000/yr you pay on average, through deductions and taxes:

$247.75/yr for defense
$3.98/yr for natural disaster relief(FEMA)
$22.98/yr for unemployment insurance
$36.62/yr for SNAP(food stamps)
$6.96/yr for all other forms of welfare
$43.78/yr for retirement and disability to gov’t employees(both civilian and military)
$235.81/yr for your own Medicare benefits, which you will presumably enjoy in retirement, unless the rightwing tools like Paul Ryan manage to gut it.

and last but not least

$4,000/yr for corporate subsidies.

But keep railing on the Section 8 people as the ones picking your pockets. Ignorance comes at a high price and corps love the fact you’re more than willing to pay it.

Rhymes with Chuck Aug 18, 2014 - 1:30 am

Chuck aka “Johnny”, your stupid is showing again!! Now why are you hiding?? Didn’t you like the name your momma gave you?? Or is it that you are hiding from your reputation as a pea brained hot head?? The sheep don’t lie.

Reginald Jamal Brown Aug 18, 2014 - 11:32 am

@Blues Clues aka Rhyms with Chuck…

Can’t stick to one screen name I see. Interesting how you love to make yourself seem bigger by responding to posts you don’t agree with using multiple names.

You’re a joke and a half full dirty diaper.

Rhymes with Chuck Aug 19, 2014 - 10:59 am

@diaper headed RJB..
Interesting problem you have racist. Too much time on your angry little mind or is there too much common sense here for you to deal with?? I’m sure others notice that you never address facts, rather you digress into puny peanut gallery type remarks. It looks to me like you are intimated by others with different opinions. Poor schmuck.

ECV Aug 19, 2014 - 12:49 pm

Reginald Brown,

What does it matter? Whether it is one person or thirty as long as you have your facts straight. Ohhhhh, that’s right, you, Chuck/John are a little light on facts-always.

Don’t worry Buy A Clue, many of us out here recognize the differences between the trolls and those that are trying to put out insightful information. Chuck and Reginald are in some make-believe world of their own.

Chuck Aug 18, 2014 - 7:01 pm

RJB, Did you notice the pretty statistics that the dumbfounded rock provided. The comment I like is picking the pockets of people who have already picked my pocket. What a totally stupid DA statement. Then the fetish with John and Johnny really makes me laugh.

ECV Aug 19, 2014 - 12:53 pm

Chuck/John,

It’s a terrible thing that those pesky facts keep getting in the way of your propaganda.

Must be a tad bit easier to sell your schtick where the audience is captive and mostly makes mooing sounds. Save Knightsin!

Comments are closed.