Friends of Flagstaff’s Future update for Sept. 13

Do you support or oppose a new minimum wage law that would repeal the provisions of Proposition 414 passed in 2016? Why??
Regina Salas: I support increasing purchasing power for Flagstaff’s workforce. The disparity between state’s minimum wage and Flagstaff’s is $3.00/hr. One full-time entry-level position costs approximately an additional $7,000/yr. What about employees in higher positions? Experienced mediating labor strikes, I view wages with labor economics and macroeconomics perspectives. Over 90% of businesses are small businesses. I heard from small businessowners struggling to stay open. I listened to employees whose take home pay decreased: hours cut, tips declined, and rent increased. Some have been let go. Local nonprofits ceased or reduced services. Prop 414 is resulting to wage distortion, business downsizing and closing. Pragmatic solution is amending Prop 414 adjusting Flagstaff’s minimum wage to $0.50/hr above state level.

Alex Martinez: I do not support the Sustainable Wages Act. It places a huge burden on our already under funded school district, non-profit organizations and our local business community. What we need are quality companies like Gore that pay a living wage with benefits. Flagstaff has a large population of underemployed citizens.

Adam Shimoni: I supported Prop 414 in 2016 and am glad to see the min wage adjust to meet the cost of living. If the min wage were to grow incrementally with inflation over the last 40+ years, we would be at $15+ today. The Sustainable Wages act aims to repeal prop 414 as a result of the compounding effect of 206 & 414 passing in the 2016 election. With prop 414 now amended, I support the climb to $15 minimum wage. I find this repeal to be a step backwards and hope to see the voters turn it down on November’s ballot.

Austin Aslan: I do not support the disingenuously-named “Sustainable Wages” Act, and will vote no on Prop 418. The proposition passed in 2016 should be given a chance to prove itself worthy or not. If it turns out to be problematic, we can make adjustments, but let’s wait to judge its effectiveness until we have adequate, local data. I understand businesses feel stretched by the new laws, but I’ve observed other mountain/tourist communities around the West lose their service workers and suffer economically. We must make it possible for the foundation of Flagstaff’s economy—its workers—to live within city limits.

Dennis K Lavin:  I support Proposition 418. Small businesses cannot just pass their cost to their customers.

Paul Deasy: I oppose the Sustainable Wages Act. Flagstaff has the highest income inequality in Arizona. The people voted to increase minimum wage to $15 last election and there’s no evidence to suggest this had a detrimental impact on our economy or the people it was intended to help. In fact, unemployment has gone down by a full percentage point, 100 new business licenses were issued in 2017, and business revenue is up more than 5% from the year before. By 2022, over 2/3rds of our workforce will receive more per hour with our current local minimum wage laws in place.

What strategies or policies would you propose to address the high cost of living in Flagstaff? 
Mayor Coral Evans:  The high-cost of living here directly relates to the cost of land. Current strategies I have proposed to address this include the renewal of the transportation tax and the affordable housing bond (both are on the November 2018 ballot). If approved the transportation question will provide access to lands currently unavailable and the affordable housing bond question will provide housing assistance to those who are 80-150% AMI. Additional ideas include the establishment of a Land-Use Partnership with NAU and addressing the challenges of Mobile Home Park rehabilitation at the State Level (current state regulations make rehabilitation of older parks nearly impossible).

Regina Salas: To live and thrive in Flagstaff, growing and strengthening a more resilient economy is key to advance economic vitality. With planned, managed and sustainable growth, I support small business retention, tourism, attract new business and diversify industries; while preserving natural areas, open spaces and dark skies. The historic, cultural, ecological and outdoor adventure assets of Flagstaff can be leveraged in creative, healthy and sustainable ways as an economic driver, thereby generating revenue for the community. This can be achieved by public-private partnerships, fostering synergy, cooperation, collaboration among partners in the city’s growth — small businesses, nonprofits, NAU, Coconino County, state/federal agencies.

Alex Martinez: The one single factor that would have the largest effect on addressing the high cost of living is attracting clean environmental friendly companies that offer jobs that pay a living wage and provide benefits. What is the downside of having more quality employers like GORE?

Adam Shimoni: The cost of living in Flagstaff is higher than the national average. If elected, I would work with city, state, developers and the community to encourage affordable housing development on city and private land. Second to the cost of housing, utilities are an additional expense. Green Building is one way to decrease this monthly cost. Furthermore, high paying jobs are at a premium in Flagstaff. Many service industry jobs pay minimum wages I support prop 414 to continue raising to 15.50. Additionally, attracting new and sustainable industries is a top priority.

Austin Aslan: Flagstaff’s high cost of living threatens our long-term families, single residents, and our service industry. As a community, we are economically reliant on tourism, yet many of the employees in our hotels and restaurants and other hospitality establishments are unable to afford living here. Additionally, our families, senior citizens, teachers, and public safety officers face enormous economic challenges and are often forced out of town as a result. This is a threat to Flagstaff’s very DNA. Elsewhere in this survey I further discuss my support of this year’s ballot measures which do their part to address these issues.

Dennis K Lavin:  For many years, it has been expensive to live in our great Community. I simply offer the following: 1) change the model for compensating our City employees, 2) encourage economic growth and employer choices, and 3) continue to work with our educational partners to enhance the employable skill sets of those willing to work hard and succeed. As the Candidates will meet with the Department Leaders, I want to focus some of the questions on the current City Program which offers subsidized housing and see if by working with our State/Federal partners we can update the system to our facts.

Paul Deasy: Addressing the high cost of living is going to require a multifaceted approach, including opening new land for residential neighborhoods, public assistance, and reworking our zoning codes. There is no silver bullet. An added idea I’d like to pursue though is a program to connect young adults to our elderly community. We have many elderly with extra bedrooms that are in need of assistance at home, and we have a lot of able-bodied, hard working adults who can’t find an affordable place to live. Creating an intergenerational program alone isn’t going to solve the city’s problems, but is an additional approach we should consider.