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Irvine scrooges Carroll and Kuo give a big F-U to our grocery heroes.
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Some cynics out there, many of whom may be reading this sentence at this moment, regularly insist that there are no differences between Republicans and Democrats. No meaningful differences between the two major Parties in America. And many feel local politics is too unimportant to spend their time and energy on it.
Well, OC friends, if you happen to share any of these opinions, I respectfully urge a contrary view.
Case in point:
At the federal level, at the time of writing, we are on track to receive: 1) $1,400 checks, 2) child tax credits, 3) extended unemployment benefits, and 4) rent relief. All these items come courtesy of Democratic votes ONLY, without the support of a single Republican vote in the House or Senate…
WHAT’S WRONG HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS? Don’t American families deserve some relief? Or is it just business as normal at the U.S. Capitol building?
So yeah, there’s kind of a major difference between the modern-day Democratic Party and the Grand Ole Anti-Humane Party.
Switching gears to recent local events, in my city of Irvine, kudos go to our City Council for being the first in Orange County to vote in a $4 per hour hazard pay increase above base pay for workers at local large-chain grocery stores and pharmacies, who have been most at-risk since the start of the pandemic 12 months ago. This so-called “hero-pay” has been pushed by UFCW as well as Democratic establishments, while being vehemently attacked by business organizations (e.g. Chamber of Commerce) and organizations funded exclusively by massive grocery store chains.
Well, SPOILER alert: 3 Democratic members of the Council voted YES, while Republican Council members Mike Carroll and Anthony Kuo told thousands of members of our community, most making $14 minimum wage at our local Ralphs and Albertsons, to SHUT UP and go back to work. The Kroger Company needs to maintain all their record-breaking profits for the corporate headquarters.
REPUBLICANS CARROLL and KUO, when presented with the ordinance sponsored by Democratic Mayor Farrah Khan to honor and respect the contributions of so many essential workers, chose to SAY NO!
Now who cares, you might be asking? Didn’t it pass 3-2 anyhow? Well, let me answer that.
If either Kuo or Carroll had cast a Yes vote, then the 4-1 City Council vote would have been enough to make the hazard pay ordinance go into immediate effect, shortly after the initial Feb 9th City Council meeting. Instead, with the 3-2 vote, our brave men and women (and non-binary) grocers had to wait an additional 45 days… until the ordinance becomes active goes into effect at the end of MARCH?!?!
Voters of Irvine elected Mike Carroll last November. Voters of Irvine elected Anthony Kuo on November 6th, 2018 and his term will expire in 2022, where Kuo would have to face re-election. Does your voice matter? Do local elections matter? Feel free to ask the friendly essential workers at your next grocery trip.
Luis Huang
Community Activist
luismhuang@gmail.com
Good for them. The Hero Bonus would drive up the cost of food.
Thanks for reading. This passed in Feb and workers should be getting additional $160/week in upcoming weeks.
So what other Heroes are in line? And what about others making less than $14 an hour?
And who told you “most” grocery store workers make $14 an hour. Let’s find out where that nonsense came from.
I find the use of the word “hero” in this commentary to be offensive.
I believe I see your point. I personally have been filled to such high emotions as I talk to and see the many men and women who have placed their lives at-risk as front-line workers. The many doctors and nurses and EMT and men and women in uniform. Some have served and died in last 12 months in service of others and everyone has been placed on constant strain for 12 months now. I applaud the men and women who help bag our groceries and provide the community food and essentials and support $4 hero-pay hazard pay.
Having said this, OC Vet, may I ask, as your name implies, are you a Veteran sir or madam? If indeed you are, I wish to applaud you and thank you for your service.
-Luis
I suspect this mean-hearted anonymous commenter is not really a veteran at all. An actual veteran would appreciate the risks that our essential workers have taken this past year, under a President who even called himself a “wartime President,” and with the mobs of anti-maskers that OC has.
Unless we hear more details from this commenter, I’m calling Stolen Valor.
Oh brother. Show one iota of proof that grocery baggers suffered any more than anybody else.
Do you think that veterans, police, and fire-fighters are the only heroes in this country?
Sorry, but when we decided that certain workers were “essential” for our society and had to work despite risks of Covid, we pretty much granted them hero status for risking their lives for the public good.
Luis Huang, thank you for writing this. There are significant differences in the Rs and Ds. Now we learn that in Georgia they are going to do everything possible to limit voting by communities of color and low income communities. These are Jim Crow 2.0!!! The only way Republicans can win is to CHEAT!!!
Which is naughty – bad Rs. But it has nothing to do with newly minted “heroes” putting fruit on display stands.
You are most welcome, thanks for reading Mr. Hartman!
Ye gods..talk about lumping all Reps.in one basket…I am Republican and not of that opinion!!
Well – good for you! You should complain to your two Republican Councilmen Kuo and Carroll, and maybe look for some more caring candidates for next year. Good luck, ma’am.