June 17, 2004
Jan Platt disappoints
Hillsborough County Commissioner Jan Platt voted against a living wage for the working poor last night. Her vote could have swung the outcome.
I expect hateful unimaginative moral crusaders to kick the working poor in the teeth every time they are given the chance. Thus, it was no surprise to see every Republican member of the Hillsborough County Commission vote against a living wage ordinance. But what the fuck was Jan Platt thinking? A letter to the feds? Give me a break.
Democrat Jan Platt, who joined Republicans Ken Hagan, Jim Norman and Ronda Storms in sinking the local plan, floated the idea of writing to Congress.Posted by Norwood at June 17, 2004 08:21 AMThe Rev. Sharon Streater, HOPE's lead organizer, called that a cop-out, ``to say they did something when they turned away from the poor.''
Platt said she was ``sorry they felt that way'' but thinks, ``Their efforts ought to be focused'' at the federal level to eliminate poverty.
Commission Chairman Tom Scott favored the local plan, arguing that a county handing out corporate subsidies to lure high-paying jobs also should take care of those near the bottom on the earnings ladder.
Scott brushed aside a presentation by County Administrator Pat Bean about the myriad insurance and retirement benefits county employees receive.
``At the end of the day,'' he said, ``can I afford a loaf of bread? Can I afford clothes for my children?''
