Chicago on Friday became the largest American city to independently require that tipped employees make a full minimum wage, following a relatively easy City Council vote that delivered one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s biggest political wins for his progressive agenda. In a 36-10 vote, aldermen approved the measure that advocates said was direly needed for the lowest-paid service workers and that opponents countered would backfire, causing some employees in the service industry to be paid less and lead to higher menu prices and staff cuts. The ordinance becomes law immediately but the full impact won’t take effect for five years....
