SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, June 9 the Santa Monica City Council approved the drafting of an ordinance that could increase the local minimum wage.
The council came to the decision shortly after news broke that Los Angeles would increase its minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2020.
In the case of Santa Monica, it was decided that the city could no longer wait to see the results of an ongoing study into what the effects of increasing the city’s minimum wage would be.
Per Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown, a decision needed to be made on the issue well in advance of the report’s scheduled conclusion, set for the end of 2015.
Should the minimum wage ordinance pass as expected, the proposed increase would follow a similar timeline to Los Angeles’ ordinance, perhaps offering even more money to workers supporting themselves in the beach community.
“We would like to be a leader on minimum wage issues, but we’d also like to achieve regional balance and not create undue tension with the business community,” McKeown said in a statement.
It appears that the minimum wage in Santa Monica will be at least $15 per hour, if not slightly steeper by the year 2017.
“I’d say the history of actions by this council would show it is a progressive council, and it will almost certainly move in the direction of a substantial minimum wage,” McKeown said.
