VOICES-The minimum wage has been stagnant and in real terms, declining, for far too long. Raising the minimum wage in Los Angeles would not only be the right thing to do, it would also increase consumer demand for small business goods and services and help boost our local economy.
Recent polling from Small B usiness Majority found the majority of small business owners support increasing the minimum wage. I support increasing the minimum wage because low-wage workers are more likely to spend additional income in the local community. As a small business owner, I certainly want more money in our local economy, not less.
At Hemingway and Pickett, we already pay our employees above the minimum wage because we recognize the economic benefits, and we know employees who are paid a respectable wage are happier, stay with our company longer and are better able to provide for themselves and their families.
(Toby Burke Hemingway is the owner of Hemmingway and Pickett in Los Angeles. He can be reached at [email protected].)
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CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 7
Pub: Jan 23, 2015
