The proposed minimum wage hike that could go before San Diego voters this fall was revised downward on Monday, June 16, by City Council President Todd Gloria. Gloria had originally proposed an incremental increase to $13.09 an hour. At a June 16 news conference, he dialed back his proposal to $11.50, to be phased in over three years. This plan, like the original, would require employers to furnish five paid sick days.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer and some councilmembers and business representatives had opposed the plan. At the conference, Gloria responded by saying that he’d heard his proposal “brought too much change too fast and that a higher minimum wage would put San Diego at a competitive disadvantage. This is a common-sense compromise that reduces the potential impact on businesses while maintaining tremendous benefits for our workers and our economy.”
Council can either adopt Gloria’s plan as an ordinance or place it on the November ballot, which is Gloria’s preference. The decision is not expected until sometime in July.