San Mateo Legislator Retaliates to SF's Locals-only Worker Rule

Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, introduced legislation at a press conference in Millbrae this morning to combat San Francisco’s local hire ordinance for construction projects.

The San Francisco law requires projects over $400,000, including those at the San Francisco International Airport, the San Bruno jail and Hetch Hetchy facilities in the Bay Area, to hire at least 20 percent of city residents in 2011, increasing the local workforce by 5 percent every year to eventually reach 50 percent by 2016. 

Hill's Assembly Bill 356 prevents San Francisco, and other cities with similar laws, from enforcing the local ordinance on projects funded with state money.

“Taxpayers from around the state should not suffer from increased construction costs,” Hill said, estimating about $9 million in additional costs from the locals-only legislation.

Millbrae Mayor Dan Quigg said that the airport burdens the community with noise and occasional traffic on Highway 101, therefore Millbrae workers should not be denied local job opportunities.

“We’re being told our community is not allowed to work in it,” Quigg said about the San Francisco law.

is currently 4.3 percent, compared to San Mateo County’ rate of 8.3 percent, according to the latest California Employment Development Department numbers. 

However, the county’s unemployment rate in the construction industry is much higher, about 25 percent.

“A skilled construction worker in San Francisco is no different than a skilled worker in San Mateo County,” said William Nack, executive officer of the San Mateo County Building and Construction Trades Council. “County residents deserve to work on projects in the county.”

But, San Francisco workers are displeased by Hill’s move, and feel like he is denying them of work they need.

“He is killing everything we worked so hard for to pass this,” said Jacqueline Lane,  a Hunter’s Point resident and member of San Francisco Laborer’s Local 261.

San Francisco’s local worker ordinance is not atypical, but stricter than other cities’ local workforce laws throughout the state, such as Los Angeles, Hayward, Richmond and Berkeley.

Hill thinks the Bay Area should focus on creating jobs regionally, not just in each city or county.