San Diego becomes the largest city in the country so far to raise the minimum wage:
San Diego joins several other cities across the nation, including San Jose and Seattle, trying to fight poverty by establishing local minimum wages that are higher than state and federal requirements. San Diego is the largest city by population in the country to make such a move.
California’s minimum wage rose from $8 an hour to $9 on July 1 and is scheduled to become $10 in January 2016. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
San Diego’s minimum wage will rise to $9.75 in January 2015, $10.50 in January 2016 and $11.50 in January 2017. Further increases tied to the local Consumer Price Index would begin in January 2019.
The measure was a compromise on Council President Todd Gloria's earlier proposal for a $13.09 an hour minimum wage. More below:
The vote of the City Council was 6-3 with all six Democrats supporting the measure and all three Republicans opposed. The Republican mayor of the city has threatened a veto, but the Democrats have the two-thirds majority on the council necessary to override the veto. The vote approved the raise as an ordinance, which means it takes effect immediately. The alternative was to put it on the ballot in November. The talk is that opponents might try to gather signatures for a referendum that would put a repeal of the increase on the November ballot. Also included in the ordinance was a provision that employers allow employees to earn up to five paid sick days a year.
Speakers were 26 opposed to the increase and 71 (including myself and former NBA star Bill Walton) in favor. The council chambers were packed with supporters of the increase, with labor and other progressive groups (Planned Parenthood, the Environmental Health Coalition, LGBT groups, liberal religious leaders, etc.) turning out supporters under the banner "Raise Up San Diego."
Links to local television, including interviews with Bill Walton:
KGTV (ABC affiliate)
Fox 5 San Diego
Packed City Council chambers:
Native San Diegan Bill Walton:
More crowd pictures