As Elk Grove city council considers tax give-away scheme for wealthy real estate developer, why not include workers in the equation

City should establish living-wage provision to Brown & Reynolds development; Will Mayor Davis be true to the ideals of the Democrat Party or be a no-show?

Tonight the Elk Grove city council will consider granting a ‘tax incentive’ to Bay Area real estate developer Reynolds & Brown to build a Marriott hotel near the Elk Grove Cemetery.

Interestingly, the city has buried the item in a lengthy agenda.

Regardless, as the city council considers giving room tax receipts as an ‘incentive’ for Reynolds & Brown for up to 15 years, have they given any consideration to the future employees who will carry bags, change beds, wash linens and clean dirty toilets?

As Elk Grove has grown over the last several years, we have seen substantial growth in retail type jobs. For the most part these jobs do not provide adequate incomes for employees who work in Elk Grove to live in Elk Grove.

As the city council seems set to promote continued retail development and the low paying jobs that accompany them, why not consider the establishment of a living wage standard for employees of larger employers. Most retail and hospitality jobs would enjoy slightly higher wages and a higher standard of living.

While we expect Republican council members Patrick Hume, Mike Leary and Sophia Scherman to dismiss this out of hand and demonize it as social engineering, how can they morally defend the corporate welfare being doled out for Reynolds & Brown?

Furthermore, is this even on the radar of the council's lone committed Democrat, Mayor Gary Davis?

As the recipient of labor union donations, we would hope Davis gives equal consideration for working class people as he does for the well-heeled-Gucci-loafer-wearing real estate developers asking for hand-outs from the hard working citizens of Elk Grove.