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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />January 26, 2021 <br /> <br />Re: Hazard Pay Ordinance <br /> <br />Dear Members of the Santa Ana City Council: <br /> <br />On behalf of the California Retailers Association (CRA), inclusive of our grocery and retail pharmacy <br />members, we respectfully urge the Council to refrain from passing a mandated a wage increase, especially <br />in the absence of a complete economic impact analysis on the effects such a mandate would have on <br />essential businesses, and subsequently, our local communities. <br /> <br />The California Retailers Association is the only statewide trade association representing all segments of <br />the retail industry including general merchandise, department stores, mass merchandisers, fast food <br />restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores, chain drug, and specialty retail such as <br />auto, vision, jewelry, hardware and home stores. CRA works on <br />which currently operates over 164,200 stores and employs around 2,776,000 peoplenearly one fifth of <br /> <br /> <br />A mandated pay increase beyond what retail employers can tolerate without raising prices or cutting <br />workforce hours will hurt both consumers and our hardworking employees. This is the last thing our <br />members want to do in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. A number of our <br />members are already offering substantial increases in hourly pay and employee bonuses in recognition of <br />the essential work these employees are providing. An inflexible, one-size-fits-all approach risks increasing <br />the cost of food, grocery, and retail pharmacy drugs and will disproportionately impact those in our <br />communities who are already bearing the brunt of this pandemic. All of this comes on top of the recent <br />minimum wage increase. This is why we would request an economic study before the Council mandates <br />a substantial pay increase. <br /> <br />We request that this motion be amended to include an economic study prior to any consideration of an <br />increase in pay. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Steve McCarthy <br />Vice President, Public Policy <br />California Retailers Association <br />1121 L Street, Suite 607 Sacramento, CA 95814 P: 916/443-1975 www.calretailers.com <br /> <br />