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By Bob Quick The New Mexican |
December
14, 2005
City Councilor David Pfeffer said Tuesday that a preliminary report on Santa
Fe’s minimumwage law is
“seriously flawed” because it relies on countywide data to measure impact
on the city’s economy.
Pfeffer today will try to convince fellow councilors to delay a scheduled
Jan. 1 increase in the municipal minimum wage until summer while the
Bureau of Business and Economic Research completes a more detailed
analysis.
“They’ve used Santa Fe
County
data from the New Mexico Department of Labor,” Pfeffer said of the
researchers. “I understood they were going to get their own data.”
Lee Reynis, director of the bureau at The University of New Mexico, said
countywide data on jobs and social-welfare programs were the only numbers
available. “That’s what you can get,” she said. “To the extent I had it,
I used it.”
And when it comes to jobs data, Reynis said, “the city is pretty dominant
among employers. We’ve established that in two other studies. What
happens in the city has a major impact on what the county numbers look
like.”
The data is mixed concerning how the wage ordinance has affected Santa
Fe’s economy, Reynis
said. But she said there’s no evidence the ordinance has caused any job
losses or had other harmful effects.
City councilors are scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. today at Sweeney
Convention Center
to discuss the preliminary findings by researchers commissioned to
conduct the study. Pfeffer’s proposal to delay the Jan. 1 increase in the
hourly minimum wage to $9.50 from the current $8.50 is on the agenda for
a 7 p.m.
council session.
The final version of the study is not due until May. However, the initial
analysis released Monday said job growth has continued strong since the
law took effect in 2004, average wages have increased, and there has been
less reliance by county residents on publicassistance programs.
Pfeffer called the preliminary analysis “biased,” saying it contained
anti-business comments in several places and is too much in favor of the
minimum-wage law.
The councilor, who wants the ordinance amended to require a council vote
on any future increases in the local minimum wage, said the report
provides encouragement to the Santa Fe Living Wage Network, a nonprofit
group that favors the higher wage.
“They can argue that we don’t need council approval for this wage
increase or any other increase,” Pfeffer said.
The report said the only negative impact of the ordinance so far might be
on the construction industry, which has lost jobs and experienced a
reduction in the amount of gross-receipts taxes paid.
Bill Chapman of Chapman Homes said the slowdown in the construction
industry might be due in part to a decline in the building of
mediumpriced homes, which are built faster than more expensive custom
homes and require more workers.
“There are almost no medium-end lots left that a
small builder can buy,” he said. “That would lead to lower hires.”
Surveys of business owners in Santa
Fe showed that many
employers have cut overtime while others reduced parttime workers.
In addition, many business raised prices, and a small number indicated
they have moved or would be moving out of the city and into the county,
where the minimum wage would not apply.
The survey also indicated that business owners were particularly worried
about the $9.50 wage, which might result in some of them closing their
doors.
Pfeffer also said he is concerned about the nonprofits that provide
vocational services to people with disabilities ,
including Challenge New Mexico,
which is cutting some programs, and Heritage Healthcare, which is
threatening to pull of Santa Fe
because it can’t afford to pay workers the $9.50 wage.
The study doesn’t put enough emphasis on those kind
of impacts of the wage, Pfeffer said. “If I were a professor in economics
at a university where this study was prepared,” he said, “I would give it
a C minus.”
Reynis said she “tried hard not to be biased in the way I presented the
data. Hopefully, I succeeded. Whatever we say is going to offend some
people.”
Regarding the jobs data and other information in the preliminary report,
she said: “That evidence is reasonably straightforward, but there are a
lot of areas that require further analysis. There are a lot of businesses
saying they made some substantial changes in their employee policies and
the structure of jobs. It will take awhile to get a handle on that.”
Some businesses involved in the study “have dug in their heels” to resist
the ordinance, Reynis said. “Some of them don’t like the law and never
will, and they have tried to get around it by keeping their employees in
the dark.”
Reynis said she hopes to obtain more precise information about the impact
of the ordinance on specific businesses by the time the final study is
completed in May 2006.
Businesses and business organizations have filed court challenges against
the ordinance, which calls for the minimum to rise to $10.50 an hour by
2008. But the state Court of Appeals has ruled the city didn’t exceed its
authority in adopting the law.
The state Legislature next month is expected to consider raising the
statewide minimum wage to $7.50 an hour from $5.15. Business groups are
expected to lobby for a provision that would preempt local governments
from imposing higher minimum-wage requirements.
Contact Bob Quick at 986-3011 or bobquick@sfnewmexican.com.
What: Santa Fe
City
Council discussion of minimum-wage law
When: Today, 3 p.m. study session; 7 p.m. public hearing
Where: Sweeney
Convention Center
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Comments
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By Judy Yelsky (Submitted: 12/14/2005 3:11 pm)
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the only JC ladies man I know is John
Coventry, may he rest in peace.
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By Donado "Cove" Coviello (Submitted:
12/14/2005 2:53
pm)
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J.C., for someone who admits to doing "as little as
possible" you got a lot to say.
Pfeffer is wise enough to realize the responsible part of
"Responsible Anarchist."
Neither Governent or I owe you anything J.C.
Pfeffer knows more about the economic of Santa
Fe than any quack PhD.
living belly up to the public trough in some State institution.
Anyway "J.C. 'The ladies man' Warfield I'll see you in about ten
minutes at Sweeney for "Study" time with the commie Councilors.
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By Patricia Lovato (Submitted: 12/14/2005 2:47
pm)
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Watch out with that comment Cris! I've mentioned that before, and
all your gonna get is crap from all the moms on
this forum! But I agree with your comment!
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By Gilbert Whilikers (Submitted: 12/14/2005 2:26
pm)
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Well said Cris lopez.
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By J.C. Warfield (Submitted: 12/14/2005 1:45
pm)
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Coviello writes about Pfeffer, "at least he lives in Santa
Fe and works in the
private sector." So, by this, it qualifies Pfeffer to give a C minus
to those PhDs.
Give it a break. And you deem yourself as a "Responsible
Anarchist", huh? Your greed exceeds you!
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By Cris Lopez (Submitted: 12/14/2005 1:37
pm)
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Don't most 18 yr olds still live at home? Minimum wage is not
intended for heads of households. We hope that by the time you decide to
breed you have trade skills or an education. This is what mature,
responsible adults do.
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By Greg Miller (Submitted: 12/14/2005 1:34
pm)
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You don`t have to live in Santa
fe. You have a problem
with Santa Fe?
Adios Amigo!! Go make your money somewhere else.
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By Alf Abeyta (Submitted: 12/14/2005 12:59
pm)
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The average across the country was that $15.78 an hour was
needed to rent that apartment.
One third of America
rents. How can any "living wage law" in the City have any
effect on big economic?
If both partners are earning minimum wage of $8.50/hr. then they can
afford the average apartment.
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By Donado "Cove" Coviello (Submitted:
12/14/2005 12:42
pm)
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To
hell all you commies. Pfeffer and I disagree on almost everything except
this issue. [] At least he lives in Santa
Fe and works in the
private sector.
This study is a sham. And anybody who works for government or lives
outside the City limits really has nothing to say about this fake report.
In todays print edition of the New Mexican there is a chart of the whole U.S.
with a breakdown of the estimated hourly wage needed to rent a two
bedroom apartment at 40 hours a week using 30% of your income for rent.
The average across the country was that $15.78 an hour was needed to rent
that apartment.
One third of America
rents. How can any "living wage law" in the City have any
effect on big economic?
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By J.C. Warfield (Submitted: 12/14/2005 12:37
pm)
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Pfeffer states, “If I were a professor in economics at a university
where this study was prepared, I would give it a C minus.” So, does this
mean that he, Pfeffer, has a PhD in Economics? Other then what he has
stood for the last four years regarding City politics, I don’t know much
about Mr. Pfeffer. However, I don’t think he is qualified to be grading
other PhDs in the field of Economics.
From what I do know of Mr. Pfeffer though, I would give a D minus for his
work as a City Counselor for Santa Fe- not taking into consideration of
his view on the living wage. Otherwise he would get an F! Get elected and
then immediately change party affiliation- not very professional. And he want to go to Washington
D.C.?
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By Gloria Mendoza (Submitted: 12/14/2005 11:08 am)
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David Pfeffer knows reality? PLLLLLEASE! Pfeffer is probably the
most disconnected councilor ever to serve in Santa
Fe. Boy, did he ever do
us a favor by deciding to leave. Of course, I think he knew he didn't
stand a chance to be elected again. Good-bye David Pfeffer! Yippee!
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By ms roybal (Submitted: 12/14/2005 10:53 am)
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the only way this would be fair is if the
State Gov, Non-Profits, and businesses with 20 or less employees had to
participate. Until these establishments are obligated to pay, no one
should. After all, we are talking fariness.
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By michael segura (Submitted: 12/14/2005 10:45 am)
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I agree that we need higher wages but we must be very careful not
to push to hard otherwise it will effect all of
us with higher prices therefore nullifying the increases in pay. It is a
good idea to have all the facts in place before going further. I know
David and he is a wise man who knows that reality is better than pie in
the sky thinking.
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By Anthony Aragon (Submitted: 12/14/2005 10:03 am)
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It seems that ever since he became a Republican, he is trying to
prove that he is a diehard republican. Well, I'm a republican and I find
myself disagreeing with most of his positions, including this one.
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By g apodaca (Submitted: 12/14/2005 9:39 am)
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Mr. Miller this raise is only for unskilled labor, as your right
handed buddis say. But all is not lost you still have barber college.
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By Greg Miller (Submitted: 12/14/2005 9:17 am)
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I want a raise too. I also need money. Come on! step
up now. Who wants to kick into giving me a raise.
Come on! don`t be shy or cheap. I want Mo Munny
too!!! Have you no compassion!!!!
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By Stephen Cooney (Submitted: 12/14/2005 8:43 am)
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Well Hunter, the Santa Fe
chapter of the Reality Fan Club has been rather short-handed for some
time now...
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By Hunter Christie (Submitted: 12/14/2005 8:16 am)
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Most businesses were above the $8.50 level (mine included) so there
wasn't much impact. Moving to the $9.50 level is a different story. I have
some folks that are abouve that, but some that aren't. When it gets to
the $10.50 level, there is going to be a much biger impact.
. . primarily in higher prices. Pfeffer isn't a piece of #$%$, just a
breath of reality.
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By John Sanchez (Submitted: 12/14/2005 8:09
am)
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Come on David Pfeffer, stop trying to make a name for yourself at our expense!
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By g apodaca (Submitted: 12/14/2005 7:35 am)
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If Pfeffer and his backers would spend the money they have used to
attack this great legislation on improving thier businesses, the wage
increase would be a non issue. From what Ive gathered most businesses
have been above the 9.50 for some time.
On a personal level I think Mr.Pfeffer is a piece of #$%$.
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