Just a week after City Council President Todd Gloria proposed raising the city's minimum wage to $13.09 an hour, a second measure has popped up.
City Council candidate Blanca Lopez-Brown proposed raising the city's minimum wage to $12 an hour over a four-year period. It also exempts many businesses from the increase. Gloria's measure would implement the wage hike over a three-year period.
Lopez-Brown, who's running for the 4th district seat currently held by Councilwoman Myrtle Cole, said her measure is a compromise.
To qualify for the ballot, backers need to collect about 67,000 signatures by late June.
In a written statement, Gloria said the new measure doesn't go far enough to help minimum wage workers.
"The many exemptions included in this petition mean that the minimum wage increase would not apply to 93% of businesses who employ San Diegans. Because it would leave many of our working neighbors in poverty, I do not support this petition and would encourage San Diegans not to sign the petition,” said Council President Todd Gloria. “I continue to welcome dialogue on this important subject and expect to amend my proposal to accommodate additional feedback. The petitioners should participate in the City Council's process instead of pursuing a competing measure that will prevent too many San Diegans from making ends meet."
The city council's Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee takes up Gloria's proposal Wednesday.
