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Capping a year of tumultuous debate, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to override Mayor Richard Riordan's veto of an ordinance establishing an unprecedented "living wage" and benefits package for employees of city contractors.
The council's 11-1 vote means that the so-called living wage measure will become city law by early May.
"This is . . . a very important moment," the measure's principal sponsor, Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, told a crowd of cheering supporters after the council's vote. "It is not where we want to be, but it is certainly not where we were."
Goldberg's remarks acknowledged that the ordinance, although bitterly opposed by Riordan, will ensure that only about 5,000 workers--less than 0.5% of the work force--will receive a "livable wage," defined in the measure as at least $7.25 an hour with benefits,...
