Former SLO councilwoman blasts her successors: Stop whining about a ‘living wage’

There are many ways for folks to serve their community, often depending on one’s interests, capabilities and stage in life.

Volunteering in a school classroom or coaching children’s sports, joining one of the various service clubs or helping one of the many non-profits are enriching activities.

Speaking out at council meetings or serving on city advisory bodies are valuable ways to serve. One does not have to be elected to office to be of service.

We have people currently on the San Luis Obispo City Council who had never been to a council meeting or served on a city advisory body before running for office and thus never learned the important 3 Ps: the Players, the Policies and the Process.

We ended up with people without any prior experience conducting city business whining about how much work it is and wanting more money for doing it. Some people do the work, some don’t. This is not new. I remember a council meeting I attended years ago as a community activist.

A council member asked staff a question. I wanted to raise my hand to say, “The answer is on page 2 of the staff report. Did you even read it?”

While I was on council there was a huge development in front of us and we had two giant binders of information to absorb as we prepared for the final vote. One council member did not even bring his binders to the meeting. There is no accounting for the number of hours one puts into doing the job; there is no time clock to punch.

Now we have some complaining about putting in 20 hours a week and wanting to be paid a living wage for doing it. I personally averaged 30 to 35 hours a week, reading everything that came across my desk and accepting every opportunity to visit businesses and organizations I hadn’t known existed.

I attended meetings of the various advisory bodies to which I was liaison in order to understand what they do and how they work. Another council member told me that is not our job, but how else does one liaise?

Council members are treated very well. Yes, there are free lunches, and dinners. Expenses are paid for attending black tie events, monthly Chamber breakfasts, and annual statewide conferences.

It is an honor to be elected to office and I find it obscene that those now on the council think they should be paid a living wage. Many others have done this job in the past as a way to serve the community. Each gives according to their own ability, and that means that not all have the time to take on the work, due to employment, family and other obligations.

I knew it was a big job, and waited until my son was grown to throw my hat in the ring. It was a gift to serve on the council, and I never gave a thought to the money, certainly not voting more for myself.

I encourage others who are interested in city government to attend meetings and perhaps serve on an advisory committee. There is a steep learning curve once elected and it behooves all of us to have prepared candidates running for office.

Christine Mulholland served on the San Luis Obispo City Council from 2000 to 2008.

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Former SLO councilwoman blasts her successors: Stop whining about a ‘living wage’."