July 15, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

LA considers raising minimum wage to as high as $15.25 by 2019

minimum wage
(Thinkstock)

A Los Angeles City Council committee will hold a public hearing in Watts tonight to talk about a proposal to raise the minimum wage to as high as $15.25 per hour by 2019.

The Economic Development Committee hearing is one of several meetings being held around the city over the next week to give the public a chance to weigh in on the plan. Meetings are also scheduled for March 31 at 6 p.m. at Van Nuys City Hall, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., and April 2 at 6 p.m. at the Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd.

The City Council is debating a proposal to raise the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $13.25 an hour by 2017, to $15.25 an hour by 2019, and higher levels in subsequent years based on the Consumer Price Index.

Supporters of the wage hike proposal say it will lift hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers out of poverty and that businesses are capable of absorbing the increased costs, while critics of the plan say it would drive businesses out of the city and slow job growth.

Some business groups are urging the City Council to make some exceptions for certain employers, such as small businesses, nonprofits and employers of teen workers. They are also asking city officials to consider creating different rules for workers who receive tips, such as restaurant waiters, and who, as a result, earn more than their minimum wages.

Groups pushing for the minimum wage hike are calling on the City Council to adopt the largest possible hike — to $15.25 rather than raising it only to $13.25 as proposed by Mayor Eric Garcetti. The groups are also pushing for the measure to include provisions that require employers to give their workers paid time off and to set up a wage enforcement bureau to ensure that, if a higher minimum wage is adopted, businesses would adhere to them.

The committee met earlier this week to hear presentations on three studies of the economic effects of the minimum wage proposal.

A city-commissioned study done by UC Berkeley had mostly positive findings. Researchers determined that the benefits would outweigh the negative effects. While the wage hike would prompt businesses to pass costs onto customers, driving down consumer demand, this would be offset by $2.381 billion added to workers wages by 2019, which is expected to have a multiplier effects on spending, according to the UC Berkeley researchers.

The UC Berkeley report also points out that 80 percent the workers affected would be people of color, and the wage increase would affect more than half of Latino workers in the city. The 600,000 workers who would see their wages go up by 2019 make up about 40 percent of the Los Angeles workforce, the report said.

The Beacon Economics report — funded by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce — contends the wage hike to $13.25 per hour would slow job growth by killing an anticipated 73,000 to 140,000 new jobs.

A labor-funded report released by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, and done by the Economic Roundtable, argues that the wage hike would result in $5.9 billion in added income for about 700,000 workers in Los Angeles and create more than 46,000 additional jobs.

Related Posts

Nonprofit Formed by Palisades High Alumni to Host Benefit Concert for Fire Recovery

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

All proceeds will support relief for the Hildebrand family, Palisades High School’s booster club and Palisades Dolphin Strong The Pacific...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...

Venice Family Clinic Slams HHS Funding Restrictions as Assault on Immigrants

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

HHS announced on July 10 that it would restrict access to programs like community health centers, Head Start, and other...

Santa Monica Assault Suspect Faces Multiple Charges, Authorities Seek Additional Victims

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Marbra allegedly assaulted a 52-year-old woman on the Strand in Santa Monica, facing a felony count of assault with intent...

Newly Built Mar Vista Home with Spa and Plunge Pool Offered at $3.6M

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

The home’s powder room stands out with Roman Clay walls and a marble sink, while European oak floors, brass fixtures,...

Veterans Tech Group to Launch Los Angeles Chapter with Networking Event

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Founded in San Francisco, VetsInTech operates 20 chapters nationwide and claims more than 60,000 veterans VetsInTech, a national nonprofit that...

Nine-Unit Apartment Building in Palms On Sale for $3.3M

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

Recent upgrades include a new roof coating and water heater tank, with no seismic retrofit required, according to listing details...

Weekly Yoga Sessions Offered at Venice Branch Library

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Open to all skill levels, the sessions aim to guide attendees in balancing body, mind, and spirit The Venice Branch...

County Supervisors Move to Preserve Measure J Amid Charter Error

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Measure J mandates that at least 10% of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted funds be allocated to community investments like...

Sen. Ben Allen Highlights Challenges, Economic Gains for LA28 Olympics

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The remarks came during the first informational hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on International Sporting Events State Sen. Ben...

Downtown Santa Monica CEO Andrew Thomas to Step Down

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Thomas, who rejoined DTSM, Inc. in 2022, oversaw the introduction of a private security program, expanded homeless outreach, and boosted...

Mayor Bass Issues Directive to Protect Immigrant Communities

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The order expands access to city resources for affected families and requests records from ICE, including details on arrests Mayor...

Culver City Joins Legal Fight Against Federal Immigration Raids

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The legal action seeks to intervene in the class-action lawsuit Perdomo v. Noem, which alleges federal agencies have conducted unlawful...

Input Sought for Culver City Tourism Brand Ahead of Olympics

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The effort aims to highlight the city’s culinary, creative, and experiential attractions as it prepares The City of Culver City...