On the eve of Labor Day, the Council advanced motions for the City Attorney and the office of Wage Standards to investigate the prevalence of wage theft in Los Angeles, and report on measures to strengthen the enforcement of the City's minimum wage laws. It has been estimated that unscrupulous employers may be withholding as much as $1.4 billion a year from their employees.
The Council also directed the City Attorney to investigate possible legal action against the Governor of Texas for repeatedly transporting busloads of migrant from Texas to Los Angeles, many against their will. Many of these men, women and children are refugees fleeing civil violence in their native countries who have requested asylum in the United States.
While the City of Los Angeles is prepared to welcome and assist those in need, it appears that the State of Texas has shipped many of these refugees here without their consent, without telling them where they were going, to ride without food or water for 20 hours, even as Los Angeles awaited a tropical storm. At least one child has already died on the journey, and the Texas Governor's wanton disregard for the lives of helpless human beings may lead to litigation or prosecution.