This follows Long Beach and Santa Monica in recent weeks.
Pasadena’s number is $13.25 an hour in July of 2018, with contingent studies for $15 by 2020 if salutary effects are found.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti had hoped that L.A.’s wage hike would kick off a domino effect of sorts in the nearby cities, and several dominoes have fallen. West Hollywood has a wage hike under consideration at the moment as well.
Getting in depth on Pasadena’s wage increase:
- July 1, 2016 will see the hourly wage boosted to $10.50
- July 1, 2017, it will go to $12.00 an hour
- July 1, 2018, will see a final bump to $13.25 an hour
- Wage hike impacts will be studied in February 2019 and if positive effects are found…
- July 1, 2019, the wage will go up to $14.25 an hour
- And July 1, 2020 will see it hit $15.00 an hour
- After this, the minimum wage will be controlled by Consumer Price Index Annual Adjustment for Inflation
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Paul Little reported that research by the Chamber revealed that 59% of local businesses would raise prices, 52% would reduce workforce, and 46.4% would reduce hours for existing workers. The Chamber also offered an alternative wage proposal that would see a $12.50 an hour minimum wage in 2020.
Wage advocates were not entirely happy either, two local attorneys cited the city staff recommended plan as not containing sufficient enforcement provisions, asking the council for the city to hire a city staff member to focus on wage enforcement.
Further reading on the Pasadena wage hike can be found here via Pasadena Now.