Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Employees In West Hollywood Will Earn Highest Minimum Wage In The U.S.
The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.
(
Mike Jiroch
/
Creative Commons License via Wikimedia Commons
)
Starting next year, the city of West Hollywood will begin implementing the highest minimum wage in the country at $17.64 an hour.
As of New Year's Day, hotel employees in the city will see the bump in their pay. Starting on July 1, all other workers will see incremental raises in their paychecks every six months until their hourly wage reaches the new minimum in July 2023.
West Hollywood's city council unanimously approved the pay hike shortly after midnight Thursday morning.
During the meeting, Councilmember John D'Amico said West Hollywood currently employs 20,000 people, but only 2,000 of the jobs pay well enough to live in the city.
Support for LAist comes from
The wage increase will enable “minimum wage workers to consider and possibly live in the city . . . [and] allow entry level management and others to afford our rents and possibly invest in their own homes," he said.
Councilmember Lindsey Horvath said she backed the measure because “the wealth generated by an increased minimum wage will raise more people into the middle class, drive more consumer spending, and create a more stable, prosperous, and business-friendly economy.”
Over 40 community members from West Hollywood commented on the wage hike during the council meeting, including several business owners who fear the increase could cause them to close their businesses or cut their workforce.
Councilmembers noted that struggling businesses can apply for a one-year waiver to delay the wage increase.
A living wage calculator developed by Dr. Amy Glasmeir at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that a single person without any children living in L.A. County must earn $19.35 an hour to cover their basic expenses, including health insurance.
The minimum wage in the city of Los Angeles will rise to $15 per hour at the start of next year. The state of California has been gradually increasing the statewide minimum wage, which will reach $15 by next year for employers with more than 25 employees.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist