To: Tommy Wells, Council Member and mayoral candidate

Tommy Wells: Stand with workers Tuesday and beyond

I urge Tommy Wells to vote to override the Mayor's veto of the Large Retailer Accountability Act and then to work to replace the LRAA with an all-encompassing living wage bill. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We can improve wages for many right now, and then we can do it for all.

Why is this important?

Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells is running for mayor on a progressive platform, but has been taking the conservative position that Walmart shouldn't be asked to pay its DC employees a living wage - just $26,000 per year for full time workers. Council Member Wells could strike a compromise by voting for LRAA on Tuesday and then helping to pass an economy-wide minimum wage hike (as he has already proposed) that would include a repeal of the LRAA. He can regain his progressive reputation and show that it's not okay to abuse workers in the nation's capital.