Los Angeles to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour

The national push to “Fight for 15” just attained its largest victory to date. By 2020, the minimum wage in Los Angeles will be raised from $9 an hour to $15 an hour.

The increase was passed on Tuesday with City Council voting 14-1 in favor of the boost. The raise still needs to return to council for a final vote after an ordinance is drafted to implement the new requirements, but is expected to pass without issue.

As it stands, the minimum wage will be raised to $10.50 in July of 2016 and continue to increase every year until landing at $15 in 2020.

Los Angeles currently has the largest disparity between wages and rent in the country, with 57.3% — or 4.6 million residents — unable to afford living in the city. As of 2015, 67% of children living in Los Angeles are living below the basic budget threshold.  Some estimates claim that 40% of the work force is currently making less than $15 an hour.

Critics of the increase have argued that businesses in the city will be forced to move to nearby areas outside of the city limits to avoid paying their employees more money.  They also claim that businesses will be forced to lay off employees.

Supporters argue that this could set off a wave of increases across the entire region, perhaps even the entire nation.

Seattle and San Francisco have both passed measures to raise the minimum to $15, and New York and Chicago are considering following suit.