Missing an Orr wrote on Jul 16, 2007 9:57 PM:If Jack Orr did it it was a good fight. If a union is involved it is Hardball politics. Conservative commentary is rowing in circles at the NCT - must be missing your Orr.

Not clever wrote on Jul 17, 2007 2:41 AM:NC Times has it right. When unions threaten development itself they lose jobs for their members as well. You do not need to go to the grave to figure that out. Lose 6500 jobs to inflate an ego is wrong. PS if you need to go to the grave, call up Hoffa.

Dave wrote on Jul 17, 2007 5:53 AM:Very strange that this author thinks the problem here is that copanies and cities need to be able to hire cheaper labor. Isn't the problem the opposite of that? Prevaining wage laws do not "merely increase construction costs". They provide a stable workforce within a community that, among other things, spends their money in the local economy. Attempting to bypass the prevaing wage law seems to me to be an attempt to tap in to the largely illegal cheap labor that has become such a big problem in this country. The writer of this piece could not be more wrong.

Ron wrote on Jul 17, 2007 9:29 AM:The "I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse", either work with us, or you don't work at all attitude of unions is really hurting their own workers. Sounds like an old mafia movie. Unions had 85% of everything they wanted in the Chula Vista/Gaylord deal, and they wanted more. Well, at least the union bosses did. Reagan once said: "I'll take half a loaf anytime." I guess no bread is better, or so think the union bosses. When are you union members going to learn, these bosses are in this game for themselves, and not for you.

Peter wrote on Jul 17, 2007 9:42 AM:Dave, while your points seem sincere you need to understand the following: prevailing wage in California is anything but. It is based on a modal rate which means union rate. If you want the goverment to set the rate for what someone should be paid (a dubious desire at best) then at least have it be a true weighted average, which is what 48 other states use. The unions are just using some arbitrary number and charging taxpayers for the pleasure. The free market is the best way to determine what someone is worth, not some government hack. Fight these thugs Vista!

$80 sport coat wrote on Jul 17, 2007 10:09 AM:Missing an Orr: Jack Orr didn't have millions of dollars to hirer a team of $3,000 suites to come down from SF to bully taxpayers. Dave: "attempting to bypass prevailing wage laws". They've been bypassed, and legally. It is called a charter city and Vista residents overwhelmingly approved it (almost all the other North County City's are too). Wake up we have been out of the great depression for a while and by a while I mean Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini are no longer in power. Maybe you didn’t get the memo, this isn't 1939 anymore. These labor unions are only out for themselves. The Gaylord deal proves it and this is just another example. Don’t let yourself be fooled, it is not even about prevailing wages, its about Union dues for their treasure chests! North County Times has got it right and unions are doing a disservice to their members on this one. Public opinion for unions in San Diego has got to be at record lows.

Hugh wrote on Jul 17, 2007 10:36 AM:Prevailing wages do not (a) ensure construction workers are qualified - state certification does; (b) ensure the quality of construction - healthy competition does; (c) ensure workers are citizens or legal immigrants - federal law enforcement does; (d) provide coverage for pension or healthcare - an employer or the employee does; (e) prevent downward spiral in wages - the supply of willing and qualified labor does. Unions seek prevailing wages to grossly inflate wages to cover the union bosses cut, and to stifle non-union competition from cutting out union bosses. Vista officials are doing the right thing for its citizens.

I am Arthur, King of the Britons wrote on Jul 17, 2007 2:56 PM:What a terrific editorial!!! You've been gone for awhile, but wow, now you're back and you're on fire!!! Great job!

Karl wrote on Jul 17, 2007 5:45 PM:Good post Hugh. I was about to chime in but you said it all. I am a non union general contractor and my employees and subcontractors are doing quite well.