San Jose Voters To Decide On Minimum Wage Increase In November
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — What started out as a class project at San Jose State University is now making its way to the city ballot in November. Voters will get to decide on a measure to raise San Jose's minimum wage.
The proposal would raise the pay rate from eight from $8 to $10 an hour with yearly inflation requirements making them some of the state's highest paid minimum earners.
"I'm excited about this said Elisha St. Laurent, a senior at San Jose State. She helped gather over 19,000 certified signatures required to qualify for the ballot on November 6th.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
The 23-year-old said an extra two bucks an hour will make a difference for her.
"Maybe [it will] give me more breathing room to put my son in sports or just go out to eat and put more money back into the economy," she explained.
Some business owners are opposed to an increase. Matt Moorhood, President and CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, said while there's no official position on the issue, a minimum wage hike would make the city less competitive.
"That could potentially cause employers within the city of San Jose to say, 'You know what? If my costs within the city are going to increase, maybe I can just take my business over to Campbell.'"
The measure is modeled after San Francisco's 2003 Minimum Wage Law that also includes annual inflation adjustments.
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