REMARKS
Council Member Restler's rebuttal and emphasis on the need for legislation
1:02:54
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84 sec
Council Member Restler responds to HPD's comments, emphasizing the potential benefits of the proposed legislation and expressing frustration with the current situation. He reiterates the problems with specific contractors and the lack of effective tools to address these issues.
- Argues that the legislation would likely ensure more union labor, leading to safer working conditions and better outcomes
- Expresses frustration with his limited ability to influence developers' choices of contractors
- Provides a detailed list of issues with a problematic contractor (Alba) operating in his district
- Contends that the proposed legislation would help prevent bad actors from operating in communities
Lincoln Restler
1:02:54
But I think that this legislation would ensure that we have are more likely to have union labor, which is more likely to deliver safe working conditions for the workers, better quality outcomes for our communities, and for the development projects.
1:03:06
This legislation would help advance those likely goals.
1:03:09
And right now, I have no way to exert any real influence other than, you know, calling and trying my best to be persuasive and charming, which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.
1:03:23
I wish it worked more.
1:03:25
Maybe Carmen can give me some tips.
1:03:26
The but I'm being persuasive.
1:03:30
The but I I am struggling to persuade the developers in my community who are hiring bad actors like Alba.
1:03:36
I can't stop them.
1:03:37
And it is dangerous, and I'm concerned I mean, I could give you a laundry list of issues from unpaid premiums of worker intimidation and fraud, general liability insurance, where they've been sued over breach of contract multiple times.
1:03:55
Millions of dollars in wage theft.
1:03:57
There's NLRB issues.
1:03:58
There's safety environmental concerns.
1:04:00
There are extensive issues with this company.
1:04:02
And basically, what you're saying to me is, well, they should go in and we should have enforcement agents.
1:04:06
Go out and look at what's happening on-site or have I mean, Well, how is that gonna help me in the current situation I've got?
1:04:12
This legislation would ensure that we're less likely to have bad actors like Alba operating in our communities than we are today.
