Last week, the District’s most vulnerable residents organized to win two major victories in the City Council: the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA), which would require big box stores to pay their employees a living wage, and which effectively prevented the expansion of six Walmart stores within the District; and the Driver Safety Amendment Act (DSAA), which grants the City’s 25,000 undocumented residents the ability to obtain a driver’s license without a mark indicating their undocumented status.

In the first hour of debate over the LRAA it was revealed that Walmart’s CEO Michael Duke made nearly $17,000,000 – a figure well over what his workers earn in a year. Despite this, Councilmembers bickered over whether the bill was a boon or a bust to DC’s low-income residents. The division was due, in large part, to Walmart’s recent threats to pull out of DC if the measure were to pass. At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange argued that “DC has made it” and doesn’t need to cater to large retailers by accepting low wages.  Councilmembers Alexander (Ward 7)  and Bowser (Ward 4) decried the lost jobs and retail opportunities for the residents in their wards.

Meanwhile, taxpayers are the ones ultimately funding the financial incentives to lure these retailers into the District. Just this time last year, the city approved a tax incentive to the tune of $32.5 million dollars to headquarter LivingSocial in DC.  Despite being located in one of the most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods in the District, the DC-USA shopping center in Columbia Heights received $40 million for its development (See the Fiscal Policy Institute Article It’s Time To Stop Shopping For Supermarket Tax Breaks.) What’s worse, these taxpayer-funded incentives for large development projects or corporations often come with no strings attached–no requirement to pay living wages, provide job training, or engage meaningfully with the community and their concerns.

After heated debate, the bill ultimately passed 8-5 but still awaits the Mayor’s approval. If he signs it, large retailers must pay their employees a minimum of $12.50/hour, calculated to be a living wage in the District.  This would be an increase from the current minimum of $8.50/hour.

Big box stores are not going to be the drivers of economic revitalization. In fact, Think Progress reported: “Walmart’s refusal to pay their employees a livable wage translates into a bigger burden for taxpayers. A Congressional report found that, “the workforce of a single Walmart store [can] consume roughly a million dollars in public benefits every year, relying on “safety net” programs like Medicaid, food stamps, school lunch, and housing assistance to survive.” On the other hand, mutually supportive networks of small businesses and households are known to create a more robust local economy. Low- and moderate-income people, together with small business owners, can help sustain each other, rather than expecting an ethically abysmal multinational corporation to bring in decent jobs or training.

Another important victory impacting the residents of DC is the Driver’s Safety Amendment Act (DSAA), which was passed unanimously in last week’s vote. In issuing licenses to undocumented residents, the Council (and advocates) hope to create safer driving conditions for everyone on the road by ensuring that undocumented drivers have the opportunity to pass road safety tests and acquire insurance for their vehicles. More importantly, the success of the “One City, One License” campaign marked a step forward in civil rights and equality.

Report on DSAA by Ben King for Fress Speech Radio News
[audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Ben_King_FSRN_Report-DSAA.mp3]

Advocates also say it will improve the economic prospects of many of the city’s low-income residents who couldn’t obtain licenses before.  While it was being debated at the committee level, supporters of the bill packed the hearing room to share stories about the consequences of not having a valid drivers license. Many testified that without the opportunity to get a driver’s license and vehicle, they have difficulty commuting to jobs in places where public transportation is sparse or unreliable. Others said they became accustomed to paying unofficial taxi drivers to get around, many of whom would overcharge for rides knowing their passengers had little recourse. Elderly men and women described the physical toll of walking to and waiting at bus stops, especially during inclement weather.

Jose Alvarado Describes the Economic Benefit of DSAA
[audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jose-Alvarado-Describes-Economic-Benefit-of-DSAA.mp3]

Aside from the benefits to public safety and economic security this measure provides, perhaps the bigger success of DSAA’s passage is that it does not identify the cardholder as undocumented. The Mayor’s original proposal would have created a two-tiered system marking the license carried by an undocumented resident as “not for use for federal purposes.” During yesterday’s meeting, however, Councilmember Jim Graham (Ward 1) and others fought against this “separate but equal” approach, cautioning that it would be like “Berlin 1938” all over again if the licenses were marked. Advocates agreed that the two-tiered system would effectively create a second-class citizenship in the District, leading to racial profiling and discrimination. By passing their version of the bill, which removes the social security number requirement for obtaining a license, the DC City Council aligned itself with the “One City, One License” campaign — the rallying cry of advocates and residents opposing the Mayor’s proposal.

What brings these bills together?

For one, they are a step toward sensible, humane policy for the low-income residents of DC. Historically their needs are the first to get axed when budgets are tight.  Despite the best efforts of community organizing groups like Save Our Safety Net and countless others DC’s safety net budget was pillaged from 2009-2012.  Only now that DC has a budget surplus is the Mayor more willing to spend money on crucial safety net programs like TANF, IDA, or the Housing Production Trust Fund, but that wasn’t and will not always be the case.

Second, and most importantly, these were huge victories for community organizing through coalition-based approaches. In both cases, unions, faith-based groups, families, students, community organizations, and impacted residents themselves came together to pack the hearing room, make their voices heard, and stand up for what’s right. The LRAA couldn’t have passed without the organizing efforts of groups like Respect DC, Jobs with Justice, or the many unions representing; just as the DSAA victory couldn’t have happened without the energy of the DC Immigrant Rights Coalition, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, or the “#One City, #One License” campaign.

While these measures alone cannot eradicate poverty or address its root causes, they are tangible steps toward poverty alleviation, inclusion, and respect for human rights and dignity; in other words, progress. These victories show that change is possible at the grassroots level when we work together and see the interconnectedness of our struggles across racial, economic, and geographic lines.

CALL TO ACTION: The fight isn’t over! Mayor Vincent Gray has already said that he will veto both bills come fall. Contact the Mayor and urge him to sign the Large Retailer Accountability Act and Driver’s Safety Amendment Act – two bills that would help the city’s most vulnerable residents and set an example for the nation. Remind him that election season is right around the corner. Remember, our voices can make a difference!

Call the Mayor’s Office directly at (202) 442-8150 or email him at eom@dc.gov!

Sample message: Hello Mayor Gray, my name is (____) and I’m a ward (__) resident (calling/emailing/writing) to express my support for the Large Retailer Accountability Act and the DC Driver’s Safety Amendment Act. These two bills, which were both approved by our City Council officials, will greatly help DC’s low-income and immigrant communities by ensuring workers are paid a livable wage and that they can drive safely on our roads. These issues impact all of us and I hope you will sign the LRAA and DSAA into law next Fall. Thank you for your time and consideration.