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Workers and advocates urge city to approve $17.50 minimum wage; oppose additional carve-outs
Summary
Multiple speakers urged the Santa Fe governing body to adopt the proposed living-wage increase from $15 to $17.50 per hour and to preserve the proposed formula for future increases. Supporters said the measure is especially popular in lower-income ZIP codes and urged the council not to create new exemptions for small businesses.
Several residents, nonprofit leaders and union-affiliated speakers addressed the governing body in support of a proposed increase in the City of Santa Fe's minimum (living) wage from $15 to $17.50 per hour and recommended against additional carve-outs.
David Thompson, a District 2 resident and longtime living-wage advocate, told the council that the original living-wage exemption for small businesses proved ineffective and was removed in 2007; he said the current proposal is particularly popular in the South Side (ZIP code 87507) where low-wage workers live. Scott Bunton, vice chair of the Food Depot board, thanked council and staff for extensive outreach and committee work and urged approval on Nov. 12 without added carve-outs, calling the proposal "an essential step in the right direction." Julia Wierick and other speakers said the increase would help workers meet Santa Fe's high cost of living. Commenters emphasized a broad public-engagement process that included a city survey and committee hearings.
Multiple speakers asked the council to avoid new exemptions beyond those already in statute and to allow the committee process to finalize technical changes; the governing body is scheduled to take final action at its Nov. 12 meeting. No vote on the policy occurred at this session; speakers urged timely adoption when the matter returns to the agenda.
