Alliance for Economic Fairness Announces New Coalition Members Urging More Equitable Solution to L.A.’s Proposed $30 Wage Ordinance

Newly announced organizations include: Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce…

LOS ANGELES, CA- The Alliance for Economic Fairness is proud to announce the addition of new coalition members joining the fight to protect jobs and critical tax revenue for Los Angeles. The coalition urging a more equitable solution to the City of Los Angeles’ proposed $30 Wage Ordinance continues to grow, with even more community organizations speaking out about the proposal that fails to solve the city’s affordability problem.  

While the $30 Wage Ordinance targets Los Angeles’ hospitality sector, organizations representing a broad range of businesses and community interests are concerned about the measure due to the widespread harm it will cause across the region. An economic analysis from Oxford Economics projects that raising the minimum wage by up to 66 percent will lead to 14,870 fewer construction, restaurant, retail, arts and entertainment, and supply chain jobs as local businesses are hurt by visitor spending declining by $1.1 billion annually. 

Oxford Economics also estimates it will lead to $55 million in lost local tax revenue that currently supports vital programs like homelessness services. As a result, a diverse coalition across the Los Angeles region and California is forming against the ordinance. 

Newly announced organizations include:  

  • Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
  • Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
  • United Chambers of Commerce
  • West Ventura County Business Alliance
  • Apartment Owners Association of California

“Raising the minimum wage for hospitality workers by up to 66 percent will be a huge burden for small businesses still working to recover from a once-a-generation disruption from COVID-19. Los Angeles’ leaders must reject this unfair proposal and engage in a dialogue to find a fair and equitable solution,” said Julian Canete, president and chief executive officer of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

Today’s announcement adds to the coalition standing up to this special interest-led attempt to bypass the collective bargaining process to elevate a select group of workers.
 

BACKGROUND ON THE $30 WAGE ORDINANCE: 

A powerful and well-connected special interest, calling themselves Tourism Workers Rising, is pushing the Los Angeles City Council to adopt an unfair and deeply flawed proposal – the $30 Wage Ordinance – that advances their political agenda while unfairly hurting the rest of the city’s working families. 

The ordinance would require nearly all hospitality-related and airport businesses to raise employee pay to $30 an hour despite the fact the city’s travel industry has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

The proposal threatens tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue that fund key priorities like homelessness for the City of Los Angeles – just as the city is facing future deficits – while endangering well-paid union construction jobs on hospitality industry projects. 

To learn more, visit www.AllianceForEconomicFairness.org.

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Alliance for Economic Fairness, a project of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Alliance for Economic Fairness was formed by statewide and local leaders in response to our state’s skyrocketing cost of living — providing residents, local businesses, and civic organizations a platform to make their voices heard.

About the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of a broad spectrum of organizations across the private, non-profit, academic, and public sectors, including the business community, job creators, and innovators in the Los Angeles region. Our mission is to design and advance opportunities and solutions for a thriving regional economy that is inclusive and globally competitive. As the oldest and largest business association in the region, the Chamber has a long-standing history of convening business leaders, communities, and policy makers to promote a vibrant economy. The Chamber’s vision is A Thriving Region for All.