Oh man, where do I even start with this whole “living wage” saga? It’s one of those things that’s been around forever, like some sort of strange echo you can’t quite shake off. Anyway, the big cheeses – you know, folks like Pope Leo XIII (yeah, from way back when) and Pope Leo XIV, just gave their giant thumbs up to this whole idea. Seems like a no-brainer, right? But here we are, with people still juggling with the same old stagnant wages while everything else just keeps soaring (“L.A. Council backs $30 minimum wage for hotels, despite warnings from tourism industry,” May 14). Honestly, reading this stuff just feels like eating soup with a fork – frustrating.
Now, the folks who are not on board – they keep painting a doomsday picture. They say profits will tank and the sky will fall…or something like that. But really, asking for wages that let people, you know, live decently? Not a crazy ask. It’s like these workers are the backbone of the tourism industry and yet, somehow they don’t get the credit (or cash) they deserve. So kudos to those City Council members who are actually doing something about it. Honestly, they deserve a medal or at least a solid round of applause.
Lenore Navarro Dowling, Los Angeles
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Okay, shifting gears now. While flipping through this article by David Zahniser and Suhauna Hussain, I noticed something missing – the cost of living in Southern California. I mean, why is no one talking about the real numbers here? Like, picture a single mom trying to keep her head above water. She needs a two-bedroom apartment, a way to get around, food (obviously), and yes, clothes – it all adds up fast in L.A. County. Anything less than a fair wage, and it’s like these employers are just tossing their responsibilities over the fence, straight into that government safety net.
Can we really just let them shrug it off like that? Maybe it’s time to flip the script. If a company can’t find the cash for fair wages, maybe start at the top with cutting down on oversized salaries and work downwards. Seriously, get the business running right before it crashes.
Don Martens, Pomona
