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Proposition 32 would raise the minimum wage to $18 an hour over two years, about $1 more than it would be otherwise. The measure would make California’s minimum wage the highest in the nation. Current minimum wage levels were set under a compromise deal passed by state lawmakers in 2016.
Yes: Day laborer employment advocate Victor Moreno says many workers are struggling to survive in California but many can’t ask for more pay. Proposition 32 offers an opportunity for the voters speak for them. A wage increase has the potential to change lives, helping workers earn enough to move beyond just survival.
No: Small business owner Jim Relles says raising the minimum wage would not make California any more affordable. Proposition 32 would only increase costs for working families, small businesses and even state and local governments. And unlike other increases that went through a transparent legislative process, this ballot measure was drafted by a single person.
Editorial: California voters should approve the modest minimum-wage increase in Proposition 32. We should be willing to help employees at the financial bottom of the labor force afford the basic needs for them and their families.
