A couple of nights ago, I watched ALL of the public comment from the 07/23 RCM at http://www.seatvonline.com/

A prominent argument used by many proponents of the "Good Jobs in SeaTac" initiative at the 07/23 public hearing: their allegaton that hospitality-industry employers who impose an 18% or 20% service charge on large groups are “pocketing” the money rather than distributing those "service charges" among the service workers who would normally earn it as “tips” paid directly by the customers.

If this alleged claim is verifiable - that SeaTac employers are deliberately, willfully withholding payment to workers of tip income derived from mandatory “service charges” - then WHY AREN’T THESE WORKERS TAKING THIS COMPLAINT UP WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRIES??

If this alleged claim is verifiable, why aren't these workers taking this complaint up with the U.S. Department of Labor?

If this alleged claim is verifiable, why aren’t the affected workers bringing this issue to the attention of state lawmakers? Why have no bills been introduced in the recent legislative session addressing this issue?

If this alleged claim is verifiable, why hasn’t this issue been submitted for investigative reporting by news media? What about this story being investigated by the KOMO/4 Problem Solvers, KING/5′s Get Jesse, KING/5 Investigators, KIRO/7, KCPQ/13, the Seattle or Tacoma newspapers or even national media such as USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc.?

If this alleged claim is verifiable, why haven't the affected workers pursued legal action in court?

Something makes me wonder whether the folks who are making these allegations against SeaTac’s hospitality employers are being completely truthful and factually honest with the public.

I have a very deep and real concern about the working poor. I’d like to hear suggestions from the public that don’t involve a massive expansion of govt bureaucracy and imposing a heavier burden on taxpayers.

Examples of possible solutions that I would put out there as real solutions to relieve poverty:

1. Congress should increase the tax-deductibility – perhaps even offering an actual tax credit – for financial contributions by individuals or businesses to community food banks – increasing the amount of food actually available to feed the hungry;

2. Congress should increase the Federal earned income credit, and in particular increase the EITC amounts available for single adults without children. I know a lot of these people – single adults without children are in a “no-man’s-land” where they earn too much for food stamps, they earn too much for low-income medical and dental clinics or Medicaid, they earn too much for low-income housing, and so forth;

3. The Legislature should work with local governments including the City of SeaTac to expand the availability of low-cost, bare-bones basic “dormitory” type housing – with shared bathrooms, shared kitchens, etc. – for adults who cannot afford to pay market-based rents for typical apartment units but who need a clean, safe, warm roof over their head.

I’m sure readers of the Highline Times can offer many more solutions than I can list in this letter. I want to be very clear, I do care a lot about helping fellow citizens live decent lives and not get trapped indefinitely in poverty. I trust many of you feel the same way.

But there’s absolutely no way in heck that SeaTac voters should be steamrollered into a draconian, over-reaching employment standards ordinance. Not only is the $15 hour minimum wage absurd, but the comprehensive list of employment standards creates horrific compliance headaches.

Thanks to Councilmember Fernald for publicly reading aloud, at the Public Hearing, most of the comments that I e-mailed to the entire City Council.

This “Good Jobs in SeaTac” initiative will destroy a lot of “good jobs”. It will harm many locally-owned hospitality and transportation-related businesses including Cedarbrook Lodge, the Jet Motel, and many of the "name brand"-affiliated businesses which are actually LOCALLY OWNED franchisees of "name brand" companies.

Those of us who oppose the "Good Jobs in SeaTac" initiative are NOT all "stooges" of big business, we are NOT all wealthy people, we are NOT all selfish, self-centered persons who have a callous indifference towards the plight of the working poor in our community.

We are very worried that jobs will be eliminated in our City - particularly entry-level jobs which are "stepping stones" for relatively less-skilled, less-experienced workers who can use that experience to obtain better jobs in the future.

The so called “Good Jobs In SeaTac” initiative WILL cause many hotels and restaurants to relocate just across the border to Tukwila, Burien, Des Moines and other neighboring communities. It will contribute to a "downward spiral" of economic activity in our city, and harm the overall quality of life in the city of SeaTac.

Please vote "NO" on this misguided initiative measure.

Ronald L. Bensley, Jr.
SeaTac