Posted on 03/17/2015 2:58:05 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Some businesses in Oakland's Chinatown neighborhood are feeling the effects from the city's new voter-approved minimum wage. The new $12.25, up from $9, went into effect on March 2 and was approved by 82 percent of voters.
"With this minimum wage kicking in, it's the final nail to the coffin," said Carl Chan, a board member for the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. The new minimum wage forced owner of the Legendary Palace restaurant to close its doors on Feb. 26. Officials said four restaurants and six grocery stores have closed since January.
Many business owners are blaming the 36 percent wage hike, while some said the businesses were already in financial distress. "Business owners are angry," said KC Lam, a business owner. "They can't cope too much."
Lam said he will keep the New Gold Medal restaurant open by being creative -- possibly opening an hour later and closing an hour earlier. Oakland City Councilmember Abel Guillen said it is too early to panic over the new minimum wage.
"It was just implemented two weeks ago," Guillen said. "In the long run it will benefit the entire community."
Worker Danielle Schlamp has not received a check with her new raise on it, but is looking forward to more money in her pocket.
With Business closing ,the city will take in less taxes so they have to increase taxes on businesses , oh my
Democrats must hate low-skilled workers.
Good example of what happens when government pushes aside the free market and sets wages.
82% of the people were this stupid...
Plus they got wise at the animal shelter about all of Mr. Chan’s cat adoptions.
Why Democracy sucks!
We get to kill more businesses! We get to kill more businesses!
Lib logic! Isn't it amazing? (Did I just use an oxymoron?)
LOL
What did they do, implement a food supply tax?
Those restaurants making huge profits will just scrape by now. Those not making huge profits will close, leaving their workers with no jobs. They will become dependent on the government for benefits and will vote for Democrats forever.
"See, I told you in the long run it will benefit the entire community."
“Many business owners are blaming the 36 percent wage hike, while some said the businesses were already in financial distress.”
Whether they were in distress or not, the jobs are now definitely gone.
LOL.
Yes, only ten bussines have gone under in two weeks. At least 125 should have to go under for this to be seen as a real failure. /s
California Stupid
What is totally missed there, is that this was the final straw for those businesses. They can’t admit to that.
As you said, the jobs are gone. Eh, what’s a few tens or hundreds of jobs anyway. This is America, land of the under employed.
Fire everyone except your best employee and go buffet.
Venezuela has a minimum wage but toilet paper isn’t available in stores, and if it is, few can afford it.
I hope the Marxists in Oakland stocks up on toilet paper.
Welcome, workers, to the real minimum wage — $0.00
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