Jim Desmond Follows Through on His Campaign Promises and Continues to Fight for the Voter
Jim Desmond, a Republican on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, has been making headlines lately for his views on two important issues related to the welfare of workers in the county. On one hand, he supports the idea of paying workers a fair wage, but on the other hand, he is concerned about the long-term cost implications of new contracts and their potential impact on small contractors.
In one recent case, the Board of Supervisors approved minimum wage requirements for traffic control workers on privately funded projects on San Diego County roads. Although Desmond was one of the two supervisors who opposed the motion, he made it clear that he wanted to see workers paid a fair wage. However, he believed that the county should not dictate how other employers or utilities pay their workers.
In another recent case, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to put janitorial services at three sites, including the County Administration Center, out to competitive bid and begin negotiations with contractors to comply with a new policy passed in December. The recently established policy mandates that contracts for janitorial, landscaping, and security services must incorporate agreements promoting labor peace and collective bargaining, allocate a segment of the contractor compensation to a wage theft prevention fund, and establish a minimum wage baseline for workers with periodic evaluations every five years.
The Democrats on the board are willing to force the tax payers into contracts that will only drive up the budget, and it is clear that they do not understand the true ramifications of their actions. The board is treating tax payer dollars as a bottomless fund, and not as a valuable resource that needs to be managed carefully and responsibly.
Desmond’s vote against the new janitorial contracts is a testament to his sound mind and fiscal responsibility. He is worried about the long-term costs of these contracts and whether small contractors will be able to compete with larger ones. Desmond also wants to see workers paid a fair wage, but does not believe that the county should dictate how other employers or utilities pay them.
Desmond’s opposition to the minimum wage requirements for traffic control workers on privately funded projects on San Diego County roads is also commendable. While he appreciates the continued streamlining of project permits, he believes that it is not the time to put more cost burdens on utilities that will ultimately be passed down to housing projects.
While the Democrats on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors may have good intentions with their new policies, they are not considering the long-term implications of their actions. It is crucial that we have a voice like Jim Desmond on the board, who is committed to creating a responsible budget for the taxpayers and creating a better future for the janitors and road workers in San Diego County.
