Debate Over Proposed Paid Sick Leave In Albuquerque

September 9, 2016 – Supporters of a proposal to require paid sick leave in Albuquerque gathered enough signatures to put the issue to voters in November but the Bernalillo County Commission voted this week to not include the initiative on the ballot. Commissioners debated whether they must legally use the full, multi-page text of the proposal or a summary on the ballot. They ultimately voted to not include the Healthy Workforce ABQ initiative, and another initiative that would have increased funding for publicly financed candidates for Albuquerque mayor, on the November ballot.

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty filed a lawsuit today seeking to put a summary of the initiative on the November ballot. New Mexico in Focus will continue to follow new developments in this story.

Correspondent Stan Wilson sat down recently with Jason Espinoza from the NM Association of Commerce and Industry and Ivy Rizzo, co-owner of Fano Bread Company, to hear their perspectives on the proposed sick leave ordinance.