Christopher Leon Johnson Testifies in Support of Salary Increases
Christopher Leon Johnson supports the salary increases 100%, calls for eliminating the ban on outside income, classifying the council as part-time, and raising council member pay to at least $200,000, citing higher pay for MTA workers and nonprofit executives.
Christopher Leon Johnson.
Hello.
My name is Christopher Leon Johnson.
I support these provisions 100% of the same for the past two meetings, one with Natasha Williams and now with you.
First off, we have to eliminate the ban of outside income.
The problem is that what we want people that make, we want the right people in office, but if they make in $500,000, $600,000 in the private sector or sometimes nonprofits, I know these two in the back probably make over $300,000 a year.
Why are you going to leave a $300,000 a year job at a nonprofit to go make $148,000 in the city council, $175,000 in the city council?
That's the problem here.
We can't attract the right people to run for office because nobody's going to take a big-time pay cut, and especially where you're scrutinized for everything you do, and everybody's thinking that you're taking money under the table.
Not only am I calling for the removal of outside income in the city council, I'm calling on where that the city council is making at least $200,000 a year.
Why in L.A.
They make $200,000 a year, L.A., while these guys make $140,500?
Look, second thing is that the city, if you ever move the provision for, what is it, outside income, I think that should be the priority of the city council.
The city council should be classified as part-time.
Not only with that, but part-time because these majority offices are open part-time.
Why are the offices open 21, Sandy-Nurse is open 21 hours a week?
But she's full time.
That's ridiculous.
If you want to be full time, you should open your doors for 40, at least 32 hours a week.
I'll say this right here that there should be when it comes to inflation, there should be this.
You should just increase the salaries anytime there's an inflation, inflation increase.
No, I should be taking longer anything just to stay.
Complying with the money.
Look, at the end of the day, guys, look, I support this 100%.
This is long overdue.
The mayor and the speaker should not be declining their own salary increase.
They don't understand that what they make or they tend to make $300,000 a year, I think the speaker can make $195,000 a year, is like pocket change compared to what
people that they have to attend, have to have the P's make in the private sector, especially the MTA.
There's MTA workers that make more money than the mayor.
That is crazy.
But that's a different thing.
Why is that some MTA workers that they in a contract dispute are complaining?
about their way.
They make more money than the mayor.
They make more money than some of the city council members.
It's crazy.
Going forward, like I said, I support 100% that this should go through.
There should be no more commissions, no more side commissions, nothing to that extent.
To where that it hurts your pocket because I know some of you members, they need that increase.
So I support it 100% guys and this should go through with super majority and the mayor should not veto it.
So thank you so much.
Enjoy your day.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Perfect timing.
Thank you.