The living wage, revisited
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7/24/2005
The living wage is not at all novel to Santa Fe. Many small, tourist areas have some version of it. Look at Aspen, Santa Barbara, etc. for examples.
I am not aware of a SINGLE business that has ceased operation in Santa Fe because of it -- mostly since it applies ONLY to those who employ over 25 employees. As a percentage of Santa Fe businesses, there are VERY few who employ this many people. A few of the litigators are high volume restaurants who can hardly say they are endangered by paying reasonably... unless it means the owners get only 3-4 trips to Europe this year instead of 6! Puh-lease...
Yes, some businesses have been affected, but it seems that $8.50 an hour (the current living wage) will not go far in a city where everything costs DEARLY -- one should comparatively examine our water costs, for example, before (or in light of) the wage structure.
Already among the highest in the NATION, our rates will increase nearly 70% this fall. Rents are outrageously high, compounded by the condo-izing of most apartment complexes that were supposed to provide affordable housing when built a decade or so ago. Developers here think "affordable" means houses in the $175K range -- when the wages are LOW, LOW, LOW due to tourism, etc. Try borrowing for a $175K house when one makes $8.50/hr. Shoot, even if one makes $30K a year, it's not happening in mortgage-land!
Lots of pressures are at work economically here, but the $8.50 wage sure seems like a minimal issue in light of the extremely regressive taxation, very low property assessments, the high percentage of vacant/vacation homes, the extremely low educational spending per pupil, the lack of any meaningful middle class, the gouging at the gas pumps, the high cost of living/basic services, etc.
As a 13 year resident, I have had NO problems finding good-paying work, but then, I have a doctorate (finished at age 24), and I work HARD whether or not the job expects or demands it. Moving up has never been a problem for me, despite my gender (F), race (mostly W), age (young), or years in Santa Fe (just off the bus).
I just retired for medical reasons, but I also more than tripled my salary over a period of 11 years at ONE institution by applying for, and earning, promotions to more responsible positions. I retired making well over $60K before benefits, etc. It is possible if one works hard.
Elizabeth | Santa Fe, NM