LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Today the Las Cruces City Council will hold a work session to discuss “amendments” to the new law to improve wages to $10.10 by 2017 for 18,000 hardworking breadwinners in Las Cruces. The new minimum wage ordinance, Ordinance #2726, is the only item on the agenda. Public participation will not be allowed. This discussion between the City Council, Mayor Miyagishima, and the Administration will lead to their last act in this historic citizen’s ballot initiative signed by over 6,000 Las Cruces voters.
“Their last act of either holding true to their “yes” vote to support the new law or to water it down will be how they are remembered in this moment of history in Las Cruces, and either workers and their families will rejoice as we head into the holidays, or their hopes for a better future will be dismissed. ” explained Angelica Rubio, Campaign Organizer.
Sarah Nolan, CAFe’s Executive Director, added “Holding true to the 6,031 voters who signed the petition in good faith that they will either get to vote on it or that it would become law, we do not support any amendments to the $10.10 law. Furthermore, other ideas that have been proposed are just that - ideas. CAFe has researched the impacts of improving wages in our community for 2 years. The time for ideas is over, particularly when our $10.10 ordinance stands as law today. Finally to address the accusation of omitting to insert a “repeal clause” into the citizen’s ballot initiative, simply it made no sense to include repeal language when the June ordinance for $8.50 did not exist. In the same way we could ask why didn’t the June ordinance include language to repeal itself if the latter $10.10 ordinance were to pass? Their actions will speak for themselves on Monday, and our faith community will move forward towards our vision of bringing faith to the center of public life that invites people to be part of the solution in our community, and to participate in their lives for a better future. We expect a healthy, mindful dialogue today that keeps in mind that hardworking people in our community should be at the center of their policymaking.”
WHO: CAFe Faith Clergy and leaders, and supporters of the $10.10 law will attend
WHAT: City council work session, Minimum wage is the only item on the agenda
WHEN: Monday, October 27th, 1:00 pm
WHERE: Las Cruces City Hall, 700 N. Main Street, Council Chambers