Living wage law has worked in San Francisco, Santa Fe

In recent years, Chicago has tackled the problem of environmentalsustainability through an ambitious campaign to promote treeplanting, bicycle use and conservation. As part of this effort, MayorDaley recently visited San Francisco to "learn and find out what wecan do differently" to continue "greening" Chicago.

Now Chicago is tackling another urban problem: working poverty.With its proposed living wage law for retail workers, it is tellingthe nation that healthy cities need not just a clean environment, butalso economic development that creates good jobs for local residents.And in an effort to continue learning from other cities, Chicagocommunity groups and aldermen invited us to visit last week and shareour communities' successful experiences using wage laws to help theworking poor.

Like Chicago, our cities have seen growing numbers of frontlineworkers who aren't earning enough to get by. But since we passed ourcity wage laws, we've started to turn the tide. More working parentsare able to quit their second jobs and spend time with their kids.Others are able to go back to school and get the education that helpsthem advance to better-paying jobs. And more are able to pay the rentand reduce their debt.

Some have asked whether our cities are different from Chicago. Butwhen we were considering our wage laws we heard the same warnings asChicago: "If you raise the minimum wage, retailers will build outsidethe city." Just like Chicago, our cities have easily accessibleshopping areas just outside the city limits. But 10 of the sameretailers that would be covered by Chicago's ordinance are todaypaying a living wage at their stores in San Francisco. And 11 more --including Wal-Mart, Target, Sam's Club and Lowe's -- are doing thesame at their stores in Santa Fe.

No large retailer has closed a store because of our wage laws, andseveral are opening new ones, including Home Depot in San Franciscoand Wal-Mart in Santa Fe. If they can pay a living wage in ourcities, why can't they do it in Chicago?

Tom Ammiano, member,

San Francisco Board of Supervisors;

David Coss, mayor, Santa Fe, N.M.