I’m writing in response to the Longmont Leader’s recent coverage of the proposed “fishbowl” discussion on minimum wage. While it’s good this issue is getting attention, your article missed key context—including my testimony as President of the Boulder Area Labor Council—and overlooked serious concerns many of us share.
The fishbowl idea is new, but for 3+ years, our coalition has worked to ensure real community engagement whenever Longmont considers wage increases. We’ve asked to help design these discussions so they’re fair and inclusive—especially for workers whose lives are directly affected. It’s disappointing that only business-oriented groups have been included so far. A fishbowl can be useful, but only if it’s carefully planned to balance power instead of reinforcing it.
Picture workers sitting beside current or future bosses. How freely can they speak, knowing their jobs could be at stake? And which businesses will participate? If we’d been engaged earlier, as promised, we’d have recommended including only businesses actually paying the minimum wage, and designing a space where workers can speak safely and honestly.
We absolutely need to keep this conversation going. With federal cuts threatening to take away key support systems, the so-called “benefits cliff” will hit workers even harder. Without local action like wage increases, Longmont’s workers will be left struggling even more.
That’s why this process matters so much. Right now, there’s no neutral facilitator announced, no clear plan for fair participation, and no councilmember stepping up to champion this issue—as Councilmember Folkert did in Boulder.
Local politics matter. We deserve a fishbowl that truly includes workers’ voices and reflects Longmont’s values. Let’s plan this right.
Sincerely,
Alejandra Beatty President, Boulder Area Labor Council
