Tomorrow, voters in two key cities in the Bay Area will weigh in on measures to increase their minimum wage. Both Oakland and San Francisco have propositions on the ballot that would increase their minimum wage to $12.25 per hour.
The two cities have taken different approaches to getting a minimum wage hike on the ballot. At a press conference at San Francisco’s City Hall in June, Mayor Ed Lee announced Measure J, an initiative to increase the minimum wage which is currently at $10.74.
The wage would rise every year, topping out at fifteen dollars an hour in 2018. That means $31,000 a year for a full-time worker.
Mayor Lee helped negotiate the proposition, and he’s backed up by a coalition of labor groups and community organizers. Shosan Lui is with the Campaign for a Fair Economy and backed the mayor’s announcement.
“San Francisco should not be leading the country as the number one fastest growing wealth divide in the nation. That’s not the legacy we want to leave,” says Lui.
The pushback to the proposition has been minimal. The Golden Gate Restaurant Association announced they would have preferred a more gradual increase over time. The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce says they’re simply taking a neutral stance.
Boots on the Ground
Over in Oakland, community advocates are working hard to pass Measure FF — an even greater possible hike, since the current minimum wage there is $9 an hour.
In Oakland the ballot measure wasn’t negotiated and announced by City Hall. It came together at places like the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. On a recent weekend over 60 people gathered here, some have pamphlets and clipboards, others wear colorful shirts that read ‘Liftup Oakland,’ the name of their campaign. Before hitting the streets they start the morning with an exercise.
“I want everybody to shake it all out! Those who can’t get up, shake it out in your chairs,” yells a member of the street team.
People from all over Oakland came here to knock on doors, distribute pamphlets and get the word out any way they can.
Seshi Subba, has her son in one arm and a handfull of “Yes on FF” flyers in the other. She says she’s going to hand them out in her community where most of her neighbors are minimum wage workers from Nepal.
“I’m going to go and educate them because our community is very difficult they can’t understand English well, so I came here and will tell them in my own language,” says Subba.
Subba says she’s seen how low wages affect her community.
“All the rents are higher and higher and only the wages its not increasing and it’s really difficult to survive here,” she says.
The group breaks off into smaller teams of four or five people. One group heads across the train tracks to a part of the Fruitvale neighborhood calledJingletown. Among them are students campaigning for the first time.
Like Jin -Yi Lian a student from Malaysia, studying at UC Berkley, he sees the national implications for the campaign. “That’s why I hope to be a part of this campaign, to make sure we win and hopefully other cities will follow,” Lian tells me between knocking on doors.
He’s even made up a song that he says is something that appeals to younger voters. Standing on the corner he says he’s made up a song to appeal to young voters, he closes his eyes and sings, “We can lift up Oakland, 12.25 now... and paid sick days.”
The Talk Downtown
After leaving the foot-on-the-ground campaign I head to downtown Oakland, to see what people there think about increasing the minimum wage.
John Corriea told me: “I think the young kids need a fresh start to keep them off the street and an incentive to a quality paying job. I think there should be an increase in the minimum wage.”
Michael Karasick wasn’t as optimistic, “I don’t think it’s good unless the economy is really roaring up, then you can assume there is more business and people can get paid more.”
Meanwhile a woman by the name of Miss Rina told me…. “when I was growing up [the minimum wage] was 3.95 … yes, more money, more help, more things, less crime.
None of the people who stopped to talk to me, have minimum wage jobs, or run a business.
But just down the street I meet a business owner, Mimi Li, sitting at a sewing machine next to satin wedding and quinceanera dresses.
“I do alterations and custom made wedding dresses,” says Li.
Li says she supports both sides in the minimum wage campaign.
Li works long hours and works alone because she can’t afford to hire employees. She says the cost of her tailoring service is lower than the minimum wage, so even now, it doesn’t make sense to hire anyone.
Around the corner from Li in a small storefront selling wooden headphones isKunal Dalal. He’s a small business owner and the organizer of a non-profit called Project Aruna.
“It’s a lot trickier for a non-profit. Like staff costs you are already looking at costs that are so significant that you have to raise funds to cover it no matter what,” says Dalal.
Dalal’s non-profit creates partnerships between teens from Oakland and Guatemala. While some non-profits have raised concerns in the press about the increase, Dalal says it’s all a part of running an organization.
“Human capital is expensive, which it should be,” he says.
In addition to increasing the minimum wage, Measure FF also allows forpaid sick days, something San Francisco already has.
Neither city has had much of a formal, organized campaign against the propositions.
At Mimi’s Alterations, Mimi Li says rising labor costs are also a part of running a business.
“Just the boss earns a little less, only this way can both sides be ok. Raise the price less so it’s in the middle, the boss pays a little bit more so it’s good on both sides,” Mimi smiles.
If voters in San Francisco and Oakland pass these measures tomorrow, the cities will have the highest minimum wages in the country.