Minimum wage increase impacts local restaurants

summit daily news ^ | February 4, 2007 | KIMBERLY NICOLETTI

[george76]

Before Amendment 42 passed in November, some restaurateurs weren't concerned about a minimum wage increase, but as it turns out, the law is impacting restaurant budgets significantly.

"It's a huge change," said Barb Richard, marketing manager for the Dillon Dam Brewery. "We've had to tighten our belt everywhere, from ads to raises, and cut costs dramatically. (But) there's no way to absorb it completely."

Eric Mamula, owner of Downstairs at Eric's in Breckenridge, said he's paying his waitstaff $75,000 to $80,000 more annually because of the amendment, which calls for waitstaff to earn a minimum of $3.83 an hour, up $1.70 from the previous minimum. When the Dam Brewery's management team analyzed the additional cost, it came up with tens of thousands of dollars a year, ...

"It's already expensive to go out, and it's going to be even more expensive," Mamula said. "I don't know if people realized that when they voted."

Meanwhile, the waitstaff isn't benefiting much.

"They're paying much higher FICA, and we're paying much higher FICA. And the capital for raises isn't there anymore," ...

Perhaps most concerning is the fact that the increase is tied to the Constitution, which means it's no longer in the hands of policy makers.

"To us, it was not well conceived," ... "We could not understand why it belonged in the Constitution..."

[TheLion]

Thanks for the info....this is where, as I have read that the minimum wage increases are among the most inflationary events of all.

[A. Pole]

"I find it deeply insulting."

Poor baby. Go home and mommy will kiss it and make it all better.

There is a better way to get even. One can donate time or money for the local trade unions.

[jan in Colorado]

Here you go Vince!

[4KennewickMan2Invent]

Personally, I *HATE* being served by another human being; never met anyone so great that they should be served, nor anyone so despicable that they should be subservient to another human.

Do you buy everything online? Because it sure sounds like you have the same thoughts for retail stores and grocery stores. (sigh) There are so many people that work in customer service related fields, it's just enormous. Please clarify the difference between food service and customer service (retail and the like).

[4KennewickMan2Invent]

I agree with you. Though I consider A. Pole to be using an apples and oranges comparison.

The speed limit is based on physics. Enough energy and anything can be destroyed. A. Pole is using the physical world to contrast against something that only humans recognize, that being monetary value.

If I give bear a liter of solid butter and a liter of solid gold, we all know the bear will eat the butter. I do the same with a human and tell them only one can be chosen, the gold is taken. Apples and oranges....

What I especially like is your concise and to the point message versus A. Pole just using religious dogma of a man that was against what this country is supposed to stand for.

[4KennewickMan2Invent]

Was Pope Leo XIII a Communist?

Nope, just a liberty hater according to Testem Benevolentiae, with a strong dislike of the melting pot and of freedom of the press. Though Pope Pius IX was worse with his condemnation of freedom of religion, separation of church and state and of the concept called human reason.

Though they both have similar viewpoints to Marx and socialists and communists who also deny the concept of man being able to use reason.

[timer]

I think it was Ronald Reagan(correct me if I'm wrong) who said that if you want MORE of something you tax it less, if you want LESS of something you tax it more. In trying to squeeze those dirty RICH restaurant owners/republicans, the dems just succeeded in whacking off low end workers. You might want to remind them of that just before the next election : it was DEMOCRATS who got you laid off.

[RedStateRocker]

"Please clarify the difference between food service and customer service (retail and the like)."
Gladly and with great relish. With retail and others one is not dependent on tips. I make a distinction between providing a specified service for a specified price as part of my job and being forced to depend on the whim of a customer who may or may not be pleased or pissed over many things, most of those outside my control, for a portion of my renumeration.
In addition I find, on a philosophical basis, servitude of any kind disgusting; even more so if I am being served. I want no one 'waiting' on me, nor carrying my bags, nor driving me or doing ANY thing which I am capable of doing; thusly delimiting the 'service' I wish to receive to things such as medical, legal, or architectural assistance.
In particular I *HATE* tipping, and hate the idea of anyone with whom I have a financial, service (or social) relationship being paid insufficiently, which I define as enough to purchase a house and send children through college.
As far as *I* choose to perceive things, subservience and subordination of one human to another are far more evil than any demonic constructs of the imagination of ancient writers and people who cravenly desire another human being to fawn upon them are sick, to the point of perversion, in spirit and mind.
Just my .02, YMMV, etc.

[4KennewickMan2Invent]

That was well said and very persuasive. I have to agree with you.

>GRINNING< that was articulate... that makes you the first mainstream RedStateRocker-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice ummm.... typing guy.

I must be paraphrasing someone..... I swear I've heard it before. Let's vote on it, then vote on a non-binding resolution where we disapprove of it......