I am writing to you about the proposed changes to the living wage policy that were on the agenda and tabled at the August 25th city council meeting. I understand our budget is being squeezed by proposition U and state revenue caps, but it would be irresponsible to move to a market based calculation of the wage floor and take hard earned pay away from many of the city’s lowest wage contractors like our custodial, landscaping, and ground transportation staff. Contractors are workers, like all other employees, and deserve to be paid a living wage. We are living in a time where Dallas residents are struggling to stay in the city due to the affordability crisis. We should not be driving the lower income workers who keep Dallas afloat out of the city. The amount saved by this proposal would be minuscule; its impact on workers' lives, however, would be palpable. I urge the council to find other solutions to freeing up money for the budget.