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"Companies that don't pay employees a living wage could take a back seat to those who do when bidding for Salt Lake City business under a proposed executive order by Mayor Rocky Anderson."
"Companies seeking government contracts with cities and counties wouldn't have to promise to pay employees more than the $5.15-an-hour minimum wage under a bill moved to the Senate floor Friday. The measure runs counter to Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson's effort to encourage companies doing work for the city to pay a living wage."
"The federal minimum wage of $7.25, adjusted for inflation, is now $2.75 lower than it was in 1968, when worker productivity was about half what it is today. While Americans have experienced a steady decline in real wages, large corporations, which run on the backs of workers earning minimum wage or near it, have enjoyed massive profits. Executive salaries, along with prices, have soared, while worker salaries stagnated or declined." - Rocky Anderson
"The Salt Lake Tribune obtained the credit card records for Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. The result? Rocky's a good tipper."
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"If Mayor Rocky Anderson goes forward with a proposal to the City Council, as Mr. Neckel says he will, there will be ample opportunity for an open public debate about the wisdom, costs, benefits and possible problems of this approach. This is as it should be."
" 'I don't like being in the position of being told we have to belong to an organization that has, through its director, undermined Salt Lake City's interests in many instances,' the mayor said. 'Why should we support (a league) that voted to strip cities and towns of their power to pass living-wage ordinances? Do you stay in an organization that works against you?' "
Rocky advocates raising the national minimum wage to at least $15—while acknowledging that $15 may not even be a living wage in some areas of the US.
“Mayor Rocky Anderson might be tight with Salt Lake City’s budget, but he’s a generous tipper who always leaves at least 20 percent, says [a waitress at Salt Lake City’s Village Inn].”
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"'The mayor's office is now acknowledging what a huge problem working poverty is in Utah,' said George Neckel, director of Utah Jobs with Justice. 'By far the major cause of poverty in Utah is low wages.' The rules, which won't take effect until March 2005, include a points system that will credit businesses based on five factors. When bids are within a certain price range of each other, the company with the most additional points will win the city contract."
"Coalition members wants Salt Lake City to pass an ordinance requiring contractors who bid on city contracts to disclose how many employees are paid less than $8.70 an hour and how many employees receive health care benefits, Neckel said. 'We are trying to raise people's awareness about the poverty line, minimum wage-and what it really costs to live,' he said. In concept, the mayor is supportive, said Josh Ewing, communications director for Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. However, the mayor's office is just beginning to look into what the proposed ordinance will do."
"We used to have rail lines running through here,' Mayor Anderson said, 'and it served as an effective barrier between the east and west sides of our city. This is now stunning open space.' The park is a beautiful amenity for this revitalized area and is adjacent to The Gateway apartment and commercial complex. The 392 Gateway apartments were home to members of the news media who covered the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, but today are an important new affordable housing resource for Salt Lake City."
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economy & budget
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“From a fiscal point of view, tremendous progress has been made in Salt Lake City, both last year and during the past seven years. Persistent fiscal responsibility has resulted in far less money being spent than budgeted, far more money being raised than budgeted, and an enormous increase in the city's reserve fund. Last year, actual expenditures by city departments were $2.8 million less than the Council authorized in the budget and actual revenues were $8.9 million more than anticipated in the budget. From fiscal year 1999 to fiscal year 2006, the fund balance has increased from $20.4 million to $31.6 million an astounding 55% increase in the city's reserves.” - Rocky Anderson 2007 Salt Lake City State of the City Address
“ ‘The rest of the corporate community in this valley should take up the challenge,’ Anderson said. ‘Without these volunteer efforts, we would have more citizens throughout the state who are hungry.’ As it is, Anderson said, one out of five Utah children misses at least one meal a day. Most of them come from families where at least one adult is working. About 454,000 people made emergency food requests at community pantries in Utah last year. ‘Food drives are critical,’ Anderson said.”
"Specifically, Anderson stated the cuts 'would force major job cuts [recommended by the City Council], reductions in city services and abandonment of tremendous opportunities to preserve more open space, provide greater pedestrian safety . . . and afford the young people of our community safe, interesting, enriching after-school and summer programs.' "
"If we have the vision, the courage, and the will, we can, together, forge a very different way -- a way that will lead to a future of fiscal responsibility and respectful regard for the economic burdens we leave for later generations." - Rocky Anderson
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"[N]ot every 'opportunity' is a genuine opportunity. While new buildings and projects have sexy appeal, they do not always reap beneficial returns. The local retail market is not infinite, and without growing the local market, new projects will inevitably have an impact on existing businesses. Therefore, a roadmap for sustainable development requires bringing in new companies and jobs, attracting customers who otherwise would not have patronized Salt Lake City businesses, and supporting projects that have beneficial long-term effects." - Rocky Anderson 2003
"Anderson has proposed cutting city expenses by 20 percent—from $625 million this fiscal year to $502 million for next. No item is sacred. He suggests the city drop its $80,000 membership in the League of Cities and Towns. And he is downsizing. It’s only 13 jobs, most of them vacant. Still, this is the first time in recent memory a mayor has suggested wiping out jobs."
"Anderson circulated a new city policy, establishing an Expense Review Committee to examine all expenses and reimbursements incurred by city employees, except those under the purview of the City Council. The committee will also review the expenses of city-appointed boards and commissions. The three-member committee will make twice yearly reports of expense reviews and post its findings on the city Web site. The committee membership will be by appointment. The mayor's office and the City Council each will appoint one member, with the third member selected by the other two. Anderson said the policy is an attempt to provide transparency and accountability."
"Both parties—Democratic and Republican—are feeding from the same trough of corrupting money." - Rocky Anderson
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"We are here today for the sake of justice — social justice, environmental justice and economic justice. The deregulation of the financial institutions that led toward this nation’s and the world’s economic disaster from which we’re all still suffering, would never have come about were it not for the corrupting influence of money in the system."
"For years now, Anderson and the council have committed to spend 9 percent of the city's $165 million general fund on capital improvement projects. The money is needed, city leaders agree, because Salt Lake City is old and its infrastructure of roads, parks, sidewalks and gutters is quickly declining with age."
"Anyone seriously advocating a “flat” tax must explain why a woman who cleans Steve Forbes’s house should pay 20% of her income in taxes, while Forbes would pay no tax whatsoever on his millions in income from trading in stocks and bonds, sale of real estate, and interest paid on investments." - Rocky Anderson
“In an email memorandum to the city council Mayor Anderson outlined nine reasons for the city to decline participation in UTOPIA. He observed that much of Salt Lake City already the services offered by UTOPIA including an abundance of fiber-optic lines available to businesses. ‘There is no reason to think this is the right time for Salt Lake City to undertake a project like UTOPIA . . . You’ve had some very talented people lose billions of dollars in the telecommunications industry the past few years, and I’m not sure taxpayer money should be put at risk,’ “ he said.
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