19 (476)1
Susana Barrios
From: Theresa Bass <TBass@anaheim.net>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 9:48 AM
To: Public Comment <publiccomment@anaheim.net>
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Re: $25.00 Minimum Wage Initiative, Work Rule Changes in Anaheim Hotel‐Motel's
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Date: May 15, 2023 at 8:16:33 AM PDT
To: Stephen Faessel <SFaessel@anaheim.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: $25.00 Minimum Wage Initiative, Work Rule Changes in Anaheim Hotel‐
Motel's
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments
unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
Dear Councilmember Faessel,
The hospitality industry is one of a handful of industries where you can rise to top
management positions from minimum wage jobs. I know several colleagues who
started at the bottom rung and worked up to General Manager, Directors of Sales,
Director of Housekeeping, Director of Engineering, etc. I supply my own credentials
below to add validity to my asking for you to vote for an economic impact report on the
ballot initiative before you on Tuesday.
In almost 40 years of negotiations and contracting with Convention and Tourism
entities, there were many, many times that we lost the bids to other cities for better
pricing (i.e.: Las Vegas). I don’t have the percentages, hoping your contracting for an
economic impact report will show what it was in the past; as well as, what they project
the impact will be with a rise in pricing that will be required by this initiative.
My career started at age 15 in the restaurant business for minimum wage as hostess,
buffet server. I worked my way into the Accounting Office, learned to be a Controller for
the restaurant at the same time working parttime as an on-call Banquet Server. Next,
became a Banquet Manager, went into Catering Sales at my first Anaheim Resort Hotel
in 1980. I worked my way up the ladder in that hotel and eventually was hired for my
first Director of Sales job at another Anaheim Resort Hotel. Worked as a Director of
Sales & Marketing for four Anaheim Resort hotels (Brands and Independents),
AirportBus, and for Marriott International with sales responsibilities for 7 of the area
Marriott products. This industry trains and mentors all who want the opportunity to
promote.
I worry that if this initiative passes, the hotels and motels in Anaheim would
struggle to keep their doors open. Not only would this drive down values of the
2
small businesses, it would make us less competitive than other
destinations. Investors will choose to invest in other cities, and hotel and motel
owners will not be able to improve their properties. I believe this initiative is a
disaster for Anaheim and Anaheim's economy.
We all experienced the negative economic impact that the Covid shutdown caused for
the City Budget and Services as well as the hotel/motel properties. We are still trying to
recover—the hospitality industry and the City of Anaheim. Hence, my plea for you to
vote for an economic impact report.
Thank you,
Cathy Dutton
PS: Most of my 74 years of age have been as a resident of Anaheim and current
business address is in Anaheim. I am currently retired from the hotel industry and in the
process of starting a shuttle from ARTIC to LAX (another reason we need to know how
this measure would impact the Anaheim Resort).
The highest compliment I can receive is the referral of friends & family.
Thank you for your trust!