Richard Cato: Politicians shouldn’t begrudge a raise to Valley’s poorest

Re “Wage hike is too much, too soon-and it’s forever” (Page 1D, April 10): I found the opinion piece by Vito Chiesa and Adam Gray infuriating. These two men, respected members of the community, have so little regard for the lives of people they are sworn to protect. While they suckle at the state and county teats, they complain about less fortunate souls being afforded access to a modestly larger “non-governmental” one.

While we have no problem paying statewide competitive salaries for supervisors at all levels (to retain or entice “qualified “ people) they can’t find it in their hearts to stand up for those who actually work and live here and spend all their hard-earned money to support the economy.

If we are so poor and disadvantaged in the Valley, maybe SaveMart should charge a little less for food, the state should relieve the tax burden on gasoline, landowners should charge less when they sell and business people should be encouraged to hire more of the disadvantaged so that all us poor folk can at least get by. Perhaps they would benefit from a visit to their pastor or priest to find out why their hearts have become hardened to the people they serve. Spare me your crocodile tears.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Richard Cato: Politicians shouldn’t begrudge a raise to Valley’s poorest."