California: Don't Wait Seven Years to Raise the Minimum Wage!
California legislators recently voted to raise the minimum wage to $15. The problem is, they're planning to roll out the increase over a period of seven years. Meanwhile, low-income families are struggling to make ends meet while housing costs are rising at a rate they can't keep up with. Food and transportation costs are rising as well.
California raised the current minimum wage to $10.50, where it will stay until 2018 if everything goes as planned. In 2018, they will raise the wage to $11.00, followed by one-dollar yearly increases until 2022.
In 2013, Americans spent a median of $6,897 on housing costs. In a single year, that median leaped to $9,178. California's planned wage increases aren't enough to sustain the cost of living at this rate.
California needs to expedite its planned minimum wage increase in order to keep up with the rising cost of living. Please sign the petition to urge California State Legislators not to wait seven years to raise the minimum wage to $15!
I am encouraged by your intentions to raise the minimum wage to $15 dollars, but I believe seven years is too long to achieve this goal.
In 2013, Americans spent a median of $6,897 on housing costs. In a single year, that median leaped to $9,178. California's planned wage increases aren't enough to sustain the cost of living at this rate.
I respectfully urge you to increase the minimum wage to $15 within the next few years. Seven years is much too long to wait with the current rate of rent increase and the increasing costs of other basic needs. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.
[Your comments here]
[Your name here]
