PASADENA: The Board of Directors of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, without objection, voted to strongly oppose increasing the minimum wage in Pasadena. Citing two studies performed for the Chamber and a peer-review of that work, Board members, representing small, medium and large businesses in diverse sectors of our local economy, cited potential negative impacts on the local economy, risks to employment, impacts on the local retail, hospitality and healthcare industries, as well as youth employment, in making their decision.
Pasadena Chamber Board members clearly understood that imposing the Los Angeles minimum wage model in Pasadena would harm workers, local small businesses and pose a threat to our local economy. “Recognizing that only 13,700 Pasadena residents work in the city, and that a much smaller subset of those are breadwinners that earn minimum wage, Chamber Board members chose to support the Pasadena economy in opposing the Los Angeles minimum wage model here,” said Pasadena Chamber CEO and President Paul Little.
The Pasadena Chamber polled its members about the impact of importing the Los Angeles minimum wage model to Pasadena. While not a scientifically valid poll, 69.4% of the respondents indicated the increase to $15 per hour by 2020 would have a negative impact on their businesses. When asked, Chamber member companies said they would cope with the increased costs by reducing their workforce, cutting hours for existing workers, raising prices and not filling vacant positions. A minimum wage increase would add $5000 to $8000 per year for each minimum wage employee when fully implemented.”
