Political Gumbo: Local Projects Have to Include More Local Hires

Yes, two pots back-to-back. That doesn’t happen a lot, so enjoy this one. 

I decided to get back to the stove after a story caught my eye on Monday. So, pull up a chair and grab a bowl.

Bridge Housing called on the City to hire local skilled and unskilled workers for the Heritage Square South Project, a mixed-use development that would provide 70 affordable housing units for seniors.

But as admirable as that clarion call is, it cannot just stop at one project.

On Oct. 24, the City Council will hold a public hearing on the Affinity Project, a five-parcel project on a 3.3-acre site that will include a medical office building and a housing facility between 465 and 577 S. Arroyo Parkway.

The project would result in the demolition of six of the nine existing commercial buildings at the site and the construction of two seven-story buildings – a 154,000 square foot medical office building and a 184,376 square foot assisted living building, with up to 95 senior housing units. 

Not to mention, 850 parking spaces in five subterranean levels.

That’s a lot of work.

And there’s no reason much of it can’t be done by local hires. 

On a project like this 20% of the labor force on the project should be local hires, 20% of the contractor work should be done by local contractors and 15% sourcing of local materials by local companies. 

That’s a step up from the development deal the City reached with Bridge Housing on Heritage Square South, which had a deal for 15-20-15, but performed above and beyond the mandates. 

The same thing should be expected on the Affinity project and other construction ventures in town. 

There are local businesses that can do the work. 

Pasadena-based Titan Disposal, Tree Developers and Burch Construction are just three companies that could provide local jobs to local residents.

Of course, there are others. Those are the first three I found.

Of course we need affordable housing. That’s well documented.

But affordable doesn’t mean free. 

In this time of inflation and skyrocketing gas prices, the City Council has to add two additional words to affordable housing. 

Local hiring.

Of course some developers have already done the right thing. 

Developers on the Huntington Project, on Fair Oaks Avenue voluntarily open into a first source local hiring deal. 

Developers on the project at the corner of California and Fair Oaks are also in talks for a similar deal. 

Good for them. Please live up to your word because we will be watching.