Q&A
Discussion on construction workers' use of SafetyNet programs
2:07:57
·
53 sec
Council Member De La Rosa inquires about the number of construction workers using SafetyNet programs to make ends meet. Alvaro Gonzalez Duran provides statistics on the issue.
- 41% of construction workers' families are enrolled in safety net programs
- This costs $2 billion a year in subsidies
- Highlights the dangerous nature of the construction industry
Carmen N. De La Rosa
2:07:57
I have I do have two questions for Alvaro, and this is something we've heard throughout the day, right, about workers, needing to apply for Medicaid, to apply for food stamps, to actually live in this city.
2:08:12
How many construction workers are using SafetyNet programs in your experience to try and get by?
Alvaro Gonzalez Duran
2:08:20
The UC Berkeley Labor Center found that 41% of construction workers families are actually signed up for 1 or more essential safety nets programs.
2:08:33
Which comes at a tune of $2,000,000,000 a year, which basically means we're subsidizing contractors who refuse to pay wages to essential workers in the most dangerous sector, of course.
2:08:47
And industry.
Gale A. Brewer
2:08:49
Okay.
