LA MESA CITY WORKERS WILL GET BONUSES FOR VACCINATIONS

First responders and other La Mesa employees will get $500 bonuses for getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, after a close City Council vote raised questions about the best use of federal aid.

That money will come on top of $500 given to every full-time city worker, regardless of status, and proponents said the money could help head off future COVID-19 infections and thank workers for sticking through difficult years.

“I appreciate the public services we get from our employees, and I want to recognize that,” Vice Mayor Jack Shu said last week during a public meeting.

California similarly decided to tap federal funds to offer millions of dollars worth in prizes to the vaccinated, while some local school districts offered cash to teachers who didn’t leave.

La Mesa is slated to receive more than $10.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, and the council approved several change to their spending plan in a 3-2 vote.

Councilmember Laura Lothian questioned whether the money would be better directed toward residents who had lost jobs and businesses.

Councilmember Bill Baber said he supported bonuses without strings attached, but linking money to shots raised the specter of “social engineering.” Plus, it could be difficult to verify who’s gotten the shot.

There are 268 full-time workers, according to city spokesperson Perri Storey. (Sixty-five part-time employees will be eligible for a lesser amount, she said.)

A little less than a third of the workforce is likely not vaccinated, although staff are not required to report their status, according to City Manager Greg Humora.

Councilmembers Lothian and Baber were overruled by Shu, the vice mayor, Mayor Mark Arapostathis and Councilmember Colin Parent.

“There’s a good business case to get as many people as possible vaccinated,” Parent said.

“Giving people a financial incentive — that they don’t have to take — seems like a pretty sensible way to strike that balance.”

A total of $300,000 was set aside for the bonuses, out of about $1.8 million in the approved proposal.