Alumni of the criminal justice system don't have it easy in today's world -- convicts and ex-felons have a 50 percent unemployment rate. And that's just A-OK with Mayor Ed Lee.
The San Francisco mayor is opposing legislation that would offer a tax break of $10,000 to companies who hire ex-felons, according to the San Francisco Examiner. The tax break was $10,000 per ex-felon hired.
The mayor is "skeptical" of the legislation, which is "not comprehensive enough," according to Christine Falvey, the mayor's press secretary.
The Board of Supervisors will vote on the legislation next Tuesday. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, the sheriff-elect, is the legislation's sponsor.
Lee looks likely to veto the felon hiring legislation. Eight votes at the Board are needed to override a veto. Supervisor Carmen Chu, a mayoral ally, said she is uncomfortable with the legislation because it "prioritizes" one population over another.
Mirkarimi levelled a volley at the critics. "What are we going to do with this large and increasingly growing population of ex-offenders who can’t get access to employment?" he asked. "I’m not hearing any other solutions and doing nothing isn’t acceptable either."
