Statement by Lorena Gonzalez on Local Jobs Ordinance

Statement by Labor Council CEO Lorena Gonzalez on San Diego City Council
Rules Committee's Support for a Local Jobs Ordinance

SAN DIEGO – (Wednesday, February 24, 2010) – San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer and CEO Lorena Gonzalez made the following statement today about the proposed Local Jobs Ordinance at the City of San Diego.

“Construction is an enormous part of the San Diego economy, which is why it is so saddening to know that local construction employment has declined more steeply than the job loss trends for construction nationally and in California.

“Like many other local and state governments, the San Diego City Council is embarking on a strategy to help boost the local economy by giving hiring preferences for local workers from San Diego and military veterans on public works and redevelopment projects.

“When government spends money on public works, they’re spending our money. San Diego’s middle class pays the bills, and we expect that San Diego’s middle class is going to do the work.

“Today’s vote by the Rules is a step forward to making an economic recovery for San Diego a reality. By making a commitment of hiring locally, the San Diego City Council can lower our unemployment and ensure that our money stays here in San Diego.

“We applaud the Council President Ben Hueso and the Rules Committee for calling for a legally sound way for the City of San Diego to put local workers and veterans back to work first.”

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The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, represents 189,000 firefighters, teachers, nurses and other workers who are making the region a better place to live and work. For more information, visit www.unionyes.org.