Several business people and state lawmakers want the law repealed. Under a provision in the ordinance, the earliest the council can start amending the law is Dec. 16. We still see the living-wage ordinance as something that ought to be repealed by the city council. The ordinance was not logically legislated or debated in the public arena. The union-backed living wage ordinance passed by 80 percent of Detroit voters in November 1998.
Ordinance causes confusion Defenders of the law say it's too early to call it a failure.
Council member Nicholas Hood III said that while there may be some glitches, the ordinance hasn't hurt the city so far. Its long-term impact needs to be examined, Hood said. But the ordinance is still causing much confusion for employers and workers. Some businesses with city contracts are either avoiding the living-wage rate or are not sure whether they should pay. The city government's purchasing department requires employers to sign a waiver stating they would comply with the ordinance.