Mayor Bloomberg Says PLA's Are "Economic Downturn's Silver Lining"

What does Mayor Michael Bloomberg know that the Orange County Supervisors don't?  Bloomberg, #17 on Forbe's Billionaires list with a net worth of $16 billion, is a sharp businessman who knows how to make a deal that will benefit him.  Contrast this to the recent actions of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

On November 24, 2009, Mayor Bloomberg announced that $5.3 billion in Project Labor Agreements (PLA's) (in Laborpress) had been signed.  In exchange for the agreements, Bloomberg negotiated $300 million in savings from the labor unions in work rules and overtime.  The situation is a win-win for everyone - New York residents receive much needed public works projects, skilled workers receive solid paychecks which they can spend in the local economy.

The Orange County Supervisors don't see the benefit of using public works dollars (which come from the taxpayers) to fund local middle class jobs.  (See OC Supes Mash Middle Class and OC Supervisor's Make PLA's Illegal on County Projects.)  In November 2009, in a purely political move, the Supervisors voted to make PLA"s illegal on County funded projects.  

There is an irony to this vote by the Supervisors.  Pat Bates family makes a good living off public works projects.  Her family owns John Bates Associates, a local architecture firm which has designed the new Tustin City Hall, Buena Park City Hall, community centers in Laguna Hills and Yorba Linda, sports facilities in San Clemente and Laguna Niguel and police facilities in Anaheim, among other projects.  

Bloomberg understands what public works are about - build facilities for the public to use, using public dollars that are paid to local workers.  The employees on these projects are then able to spend the money in their communities, which starts the cycle over again as more tax revenues are generated.  Now, if the Supervisors could only understand that. 

Comments

[Carl R]

I was at the Board of Supervisors meeting. The only thing they understand is their personal agendas. It was unbelievable the convincing arguments against banning PLA's fell on tired deaf ears within the same room but Bloomberg could hear it all the way in New York.
Get active people, Orange County is not their Empire!