Economic Justice Vision

2019 Census Bureau Ranks San Diego ninth out of 100 cities in the wealth gap.

  • The top 1% controls 38.6% of the nation’s wealth​
  • Over 40% of working people are paid less than $15 an hour while the average one-bedroom apartment requires $21.18 an hour​ 
  • Persons without health insurance under 65 years, percent 8.8%
  • Unions are essential to rebuilding the middle class and reversing decades of income inequality. On average, a union worker earns over 13% more and is much more likely to have access to benefits and strong workplace protections​
  • Unemployment Rate is at 6.50%, compared to 6.50% last month and 15.60% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 5.83%
  • Women on average earn 80 cents on the dollar compared to men. That wage gap means women would have to work an extra three months a year to keep up. The impact is even worse for women of color – Black women make only 61 cents on the dollar, Indigenous women 58, and Latina women only 53 cents
  • 48% of San Diego County workers considered part of the services industry, which includes those that aid other businesses, and work in health care or tourism
  • Online market crushing small and local business with cheaper products and easy access purchase.

VISION AND POLICY PRIORITIES

CREATE SMALL BUSINESS INCENTIVES, ABSORB EXTRA COST TO OWNERS, AND CREATE ONLINE MARKET FOR TRAFFIC​

The capitalist system has led to a concentration of wealth in a small handful of elites while working people suffer. We must stop the exploitation of working people to create a fair and just economy. 

  • Free healthcare coverage to unionized small business employees
  • Absorb internet, energy efficiencies, and extra costs to owners through CARES ACT
  • Create a fluent online market system for local and small business to thrive
  • Create city plans that brings physical traffic to local business

CREATE A LOCAL JOBS GUARANTEE PROGRAM

While the unemployment rate is low, millions of workers who want full-time work are forced to work multiple part-time jobs. Millions more, discouraged by their job prospects, do not seek work. A local jobs guarantee, which I will introduced bold legislation to support, would provide meaningful work to anybody who wants it. The program would:

  • Lift thousands of working families out of poverty
  • Collaborate with Fortune 500 industries to a Path to Guarantee Employment for residents
  • Circulate more money into our economy
  • Give workers more bargaining power in the job market
  • Provide a workforce for much needed investments to our local infrastructure and help create a just transition to clean energy​

IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF WORKERS AND EXPAND EMPLOYER-PROVIDED BENEFITS

Real wages have remained stagnant for decades, while both productivity and the cost of living have increased. San Diegans are struggling to make ends meet with multiple jobs.

  • Enact the federal Raise the Wage Act
  • Establish a local paid family leave program and ensure every worker has access to sick days
  • Ensure fair scheduling standards across all industries
  • Strengthen equal pay laws, including through the Paycheck Fairness Act and enact stronger wage theft and recovery laws
  • Invest in worker-owned cooperatives that give employees a chance to have a stronger say in their working conditions and their future​

%d bloggers like this: