Apocalypse? Not. (The Living Wage Ordinance pays off)

When Los Angeles passed the Living Wage Ordinance, many predicted dire consequences. Businesses would close or lay off workers, and those who remained wouldn't see little benefit if any. A study released last Friday determined our city's ordinance gave a considerable raise to 10,000 mostly lower-income workers. It showed that raising standards for service workers who are employed on city contracts or at city-leased space did not cause notable unemployment or drive firms out of business. And it also showed that there is more work to do to alleviate poverty in our city. I wrote an opinion piece for the Los Angeles Daily News explaining why living wage laws are good policy.