As my profile indicates, and as anyone who knows me personally will attest to, is I am conservative. I am an active member of the Republican party and I don’t think I have ever voted for a Democrat in my life…until this last election cycle. I voted for Mayor Fischer. I voted for him because I believe he is a reasonable man and not ideological to the detriment of his community. This is becoming more and more critical as we come closer to the final vote on the minimum wage ordinance.
Businesses across the county have universally said that nothing good will come from the minimum wage increase. This is common sense. If it is more costly for a business to operate in Jefferson County, they will go across the border to Indiana or Shelby County, etc. It doesn’t mean that all will but if even a few do, the impact on jobs, revenue to the local government, and overall economic development in the city will be reversed from the recent gains we have enjoyed.
Unfortunately, common sense is not applicable when you are a politician bought and paid for by labor unions who depend on the minimum wage increase to ripple across their entire labor structure to increase their dues and fatten their wallets. Attica Scott is just the kind of politician I am referring to. She turned her back so dramatically on her constituents that she lost her primary election as an incumbent. Now that is a difficult task. Over and over she has made it clear that her allegiance is with union labor, many times in direct conflict with economic development in the West End or common sense for that matter. This is no more clear than in her staunch opposition to Walmart developing in the West End which would bring more jobs and development to her constituents.
Mayor Fischer is a much more pragmatic politician. This is clear in the thoughtful manner he has approached the minimum wage ordinance and his focus on economic development as a way to better all citizens of Louisville. This is why I voted for him (in combination with my lack of confidence in my other option) and this is why all reasonable citizens of Louisville should contact him and encourage him to vote against this ordinance if it reaches his desk.
The most recent evidence showing us that this ordinance is bad for the city is in the report released by the Mayor’s office at the request of Councilman Fleming. See the Courier-Journal summary of this report here: http://insiderlouisville.com/metro/fischer-administration-delivers-minimum-wage-ordinance-reviews-clearing-way-vote/?utm_source=Newsletter+Subscribers&utm_campaign=d0d860c667-Daily+Insider&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ccd89012b-d0d860c667-70807009
The key takeaway is that it will cost the city at least an additional $700,000 in direct labor costs which does not include any lost revenue through job’s leaving the city. Further, this does not account for the inevitable increase in unemployment for young or low-skilled workers. I mentor a Freshman at Jeffersontown High School. I was going to have a talk with him about a summer job in 2015 but if this bill passes, the likelihood of him getting that level of critical job skills at this point in his life will diminish.
The Mayor is in a very difficult spot. If he veto’s the ordinance, he will have to go against his local party. If he supports the bill, he knows that jobs will be lost, the economic gains he has made will diminish, and he will be a less successful Mayor over the next 4 years. I hope that anyone who is interested in killing this ordinance, Republican, Independent or Democrat, call the Mayor and let him know he has your support to do the right thing.
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