Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

"Final Nail to the Coffin": Chinatown Businesses Struggle Over Oakland's New Minimum Wage
NBC Bay Area ^ | Cheryl Hurd

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; chinatown; minimumwage; oakland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
To: Bob

LOL! +1


21 posted on 03/17/2015 3:11:24 PM PDT by EnigmaticAnomaly ("With the demonrats in charge, we find ourselves living in an ineptocracy.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

So, we see consequences from a feel good.liberal policy.

The people who worked at the places which went out of business now have no job.

And consider the business owner who is going to be coping, by cutting the hours his restaurant is open. His employees will be working fewer hours. Their rate of pay may be higher while their take home pay actually declines.


22 posted on 03/17/2015 3:11:35 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Abolish the Federal minimum wage. I love it when lib hellholes commit economic suicide like this. I have no problem when cities and states do this.


23 posted on 03/17/2015 3:12:00 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bob

Honestly, I am shocked they aimed so low with the min wage boost. Why not 100/hr? 500/hr? Heck, 10,000/hr?


24 posted on 03/17/2015 3:12:56 PM PDT by EnigmaticAnomaly ("With the demonrats in charge, we find ourselves living in an ineptocracy.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“Worker Danielle Schlamp has not received a check with her new raise on it, but is looking forward to more money in her pocket.”

After the guy turns puts his new hours into effect it won’t be much of a raise. Cutting two hours off the 8 is a decrease of 25%. The wage increase was 26.5 percent.

On the plus side, she’ll have more time and can work a second job. AND the job’s figures go up!


25 posted on 03/17/2015 3:16:59 PM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts It is happening again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The city government should bar these businesses from closing, and force them to make just as much money as last year. They could call it Directive 10-289.


26 posted on 03/17/2015 3:19:28 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

It’s a win win for libtard politicians.

If the businesses stay open, they say see, it didn’t cause them to close.

If the businesses close, they can blame the business owners for the economic distress - they closed and caused workers to lose their jobs. Then these unemplyed can use government services and welfare and vote for the libtard politicians who want to continue their benefits.


27 posted on 03/17/2015 3:21:11 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“Can’t we just make it illegal for businesses to lay off workers or close down?” -Oakland City Council


28 posted on 03/17/2015 3:21:28 PM PDT by Organic Panic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Worker Danielle Schlamp has not received a check with her new raise on it, but is looking forward to more money in her pocket.

Until the moron figures out that everything costs 36% more, and oh yeah the company that used to employ her has gone belly up. Idiots on parade.

29 posted on 03/17/2015 3:21:59 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“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.

Voices of the clueless. Money in their minds truly grows on trees.


30 posted on 03/17/2015 3:22:08 PM PDT by wita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Hey, who cares about hundreds/thousands of workers losing their jobs? They got a pay increase, right...and that’s what’s most important. Who cares if they don’t have a job anymore thanks to the “increase”?(snicker)


31 posted on 03/17/2015 3:25:27 PM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
"With this minimum wage kicking in, it's the final nail to the coffin...."

That's OK. The idiotic socialist voters and their Dem reps meant well.

32 posted on 03/17/2015 3:25:55 PM PDT by bkopto (Free men are not equal. Equal men are not free.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

~snicker.

I live in the east bay. There are 100+ restaurants you can go to other than Oakland. That doesn’t include the joints in Berkeley that I’m boycotting.


33 posted on 03/17/2015 3:26:23 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Oakland is 27% Black and over 25% Hispanic. Throw in a bunch of left wing Whites and you can see how the vote went. In other words, Oakland is Toast. It has been for many years.


34 posted on 03/17/2015 3:27:07 PM PDT by CdMGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“The reason this isn’t working well is that they didn’t raise it enough.”

-Andy Sullivan


35 posted on 03/17/2015 3:27:21 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Life is good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The same thing is happening in Seattle where their left wing city government is implementing a $15 minimum wage in stages. Several restaurants already are closing.


36 posted on 03/17/2015 3:29:02 PM PDT by CdMGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: eyeamok

Just copying Seattle...


37 posted on 03/17/2015 3:30:18 PM PDT by SZonian (Throwing our allegiances to political parties in the long run gave away our liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

>”It was just implemented two weeks ago,” Guillen said. “In the long run it will benefit the entire community.”<

It will do even more for the surrounding Communities.


38 posted on 03/17/2015 3:31:53 PM PDT by Captain Compassion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jewbacca

“Democrats must hate.”

Fixed that for you.


39 posted on 03/17/2015 3:32:24 PM PDT by glasseye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
About time, they've been enjoying the fruits of Asian privilege for far too long. /s

40 posted on 03/17/2015 3:38:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson