George:

I have long been a supporter of a living wage for all workers. As a Charlottesville city councilor, I worked to ensure that every city employee earned at least $8.00 an hour, enough to put a family of four over the poverty line. I have spoken at living wage rallies at U. Va. and at the Marriott Hotel to encourage the University and the local tourist industry to follow the city's lead. More recently, I have been working on a city ordinance to require contractors doing work for the city on city property to pay a living wage to their employees. This ordinance is scheduled to be on Monday night's council agenda. Many local Democrats have spoken before Council in support of the ordinance, which is patterned after Alexandria, Virginia's groundbreaking ordinance passed several years ago.

My reason for supporting the living wage is simple: it is the right thing to do. No one who works full time should be living in poverty. The living wage also makes people less dependent on government assistance. When a family is unable to meet its needs with its own income, it must turn to the government for help. This puts a burden on all of us.

The living wage is a winning solution for everyone: it relieves government of some of its burden to care for its citizens, and it provides workers with the pride of earning a good wage for a good day's work.

Meredith Richards (electronic mail, October 31, 2001).