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Controversy Stirring Over Proposed Changes to S.D.'s General Plan

The first update of San Diego's General Plan in almost 30 years got an initial hearing this week. Already changes proposed by the mayor have sparked controversy among labor advocates. KPBS reporter Al

Controversy Stirring Over Proposed Changes to S.D.'s General Plan

The first update of San Diego's General Plan in almost 30 years got an initial hearing this week. Already changes proposed by the mayor have sparked controversy among labor advocates. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

The proposed changes would eliminate any reference to making land use priorities that focus on creating living wage jobs.

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Jerry Butkeiwitz, in his last month as head of the Labor Council, begged the city's Land Use Committee to keep the idea of promoting more living wage jobs as a policy priority.

Butkeiwitz:  Who is going to represent the workers in this town? We want all out jobs to be seven bucks an hour with no health care and no benefits? Don't let the mayor do that today.

Butkeiwitz and other critics said the wage gap in San Diego between rich and poor is already too big and the city needs to focus on giving businesses land use incentives to create jobs people can afford to live on.

Scott Alvey of the Chamber of Commerce says he supports pushing for good jobs. But he doesn't believe a land use document should specify wage levels.

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Alvey: I think the time has come for the city to put the welcome mat out for business again, instead of putting arbitrary standards out there in documents that it has no place in.

The four city council members on the land use committee voted to keep the reference to living wages in the General Plan. But the Update has yet to go before the full council next year.

Alison St John, KPBS News.