Measure JJ can correct inequalities

Businesses in Santa Monica have the luxury of being located in
an area with an affluent consumer base. They can increase prices to
pay for higher rents because residents can afford more expensive
goods.

The downside to this is the increased cost of living for the the
non-affluent worker who cannot afford to buy the products he helps
make, or live in his city of employment. Measure JJ helps correct
this for about 2,000 restaurant and hotel employees by raising
their minimum wage to $10.50.

It may seem increasing the minimum wage almost $4 above the
state minimum might hurt some businesses and encourage the
encroachment of corporate businesses that can pay, but the issue is
one of fairness.

Measure JJ would only impact beachfront hotels and restaurants
““ many of which have been major beneficiaries of tax-payer
funded improvements which have helped those businesses
flourish.There’s no reason workers should be denied their
fair share because of competition if businesses can make more money
in an affluent community.

If workers are laid off due to higher costs it won’t be
the measure’s fault, but a choice businesses make to protect
their own profit margins ““ the repercussions of which may be
lower productivity for the business itself.