Sham Initiative Attacks Living Wage
The deceptive, contractor-funded “Competition and Transparency in City Contracting” Initiative would ban living wages, kill local jobs, restrict access to state and federal funds, and eliminate workplace standards.
The so-called “Competition and Transparency” initiative is devised to deliberately mislead voters. It claims to be in the interests of taxpayers, but it favors the interests of city contractors above all.
Contrary to proponents’ claims, the initiative would actually reduce transparency and accountability in city contracting. It also would cost the city millions of dollars in state and federal funding and ban local hiring rules.
“This measure is transparent in name only and fails to properly disclose the fact that it would eliminate the City’s Living Wage Ordinance,” said Councilmember Donna Frye. “Contrary to its title, it’s as transparent as a brick wall.”
The six-page proposition contains a string of hidden impacts:
- Lost funding. It bans the City from using or receiving state and federal funds for public works projects — from street repair to the convention center expansion.
- Poverty wages. It bans San Diego’s Living Wage Ordinance.
- Local jobs lost. It bans requirements for local hiring.
- Unsafe, poorly-trained paramedics, electricians and other workers. It bans minimum standards for contractor qualifications and safety training.
The contractors’ lobby spent $161,000, just through March, on paid signature gatherers. Voters report being misinformed and pressured to sign, and sometimes fooled by the deceptive wording.
“I deeply wish that I could take my signature back,” said voter Stephanie Alaimo of Mission Hills. “I firmly support the need for a living wage in California. This initiative is … far from transparent!”
One Rancho Bernardo voter who didn’t want to be identified because she works for a contractor, said she was badgered into signing the petition by signature-collectors who lied about its effects. “It was very misleading. I want my signature back,” she said.
Backed by Councilmember Carl DeMaio, the ballot measure claims to implement the stalled Managed Competition program, but actually creates a new Direct Outsourcing process to force privatization of public services — with no set standards or rules, and far less accountability and transparency.