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Copyright © 2019 Albuquerque Journal

A yearslong debate over paid sick leave takes center stage again Tuesday, with the Bernalillo County Commission slated to vote on an ordinance requiring employers with at least two workers to offer the benefit.

But the law would only apply in the county’s unincorporated areas – meaning it does not affect businesses within Albuquerque city limits – something opponents in the East Mountains are calling unfair.

Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis in December introduced paid sick leave legislation for the city, which has yet to go before a committee.

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Chad Gunter, whose family owns Ribs restaurant in the East Mountains, is among those opposing the policy. He said offering paid sick leave at his 30-employee eatery might make operating in the area unsustainable. He said it would raise his costs, while competitors in nearby jurisdictions, like the incorporated village of Tijeras, would not have to comply.

“They’ll have an unfair advantage; I don’t think (leaders) look at airplane view,” he said.

A fledgling conservative coalition says almost 60 East Mountains businesses are opposing the proposal but is not making the list public.

Bob Gore, who said he is in the process of starting an East Mountain-based conservative political action committee, has solicited signatures for a statement asking the commission to vote against the bill “due to the fact that the continued addition of government mandates and enforced costs being dealt to the businesses is detrimental to the East Mountain economy.”

Gore, who works for the U.S. Forest Service, declined a Journal request for the complete list, saying the owners would “rather address the issue with the employees on their own rather than have it come out on the news.”

The proposal, introduced last month by Commissioners Maggie Hart Stebbins and Debbie O’Malley, is on Tuesday’s agenda along with another hot-button issue: a proposed ban on single-use plastic bags and foam food containers.

But Hart Stebbins said far more feedback has come in about paid sick leave.

While some business associations have voiced objections, other groups – such as AARP and the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence – spoke in support during a May commission meeting.

Hart Stebbins said she has met with multiple business groups and business owners in recent weeks and had productive discussions that would likely lead to some amendments Tuesday.

“My intention is to come up with a version that is acceptable to as many parties as possible,” she said, noting that some business groups have previously said they support some form of paid sick leave and “I take them at their word.”

Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty, who represents the East Mountains, said she supports paid sick leave because a “healthy workforce leads to having a healthy community,” but that she sought input from business advocacy groups and local businesses and recently hosted a community meeting on the subject. She said she would like to tweak the legislation – including by delaying its implementation date – but believes paid sick leave has support, even among some business owners.

“It seems like there’s just a small handful of people who have come to me specifically who are against it,” she said. “… But the people who have come to me and written thoughtful emails really talk specifically about how this would affect their business and actually gave suggestions for how to make the ordinance better.”

Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, whose district includes unincorporated areas, could not be reached for comment.

Anticipating significant public comment, the commission moved up the start time of Tuesday’s meeting to 4 p.m.