The Brief
- Supporters of a $30 minimum wage initiative in Alameda County say they are turning in nearly double the signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot.
- A new study finds the wage increase would create roughly 1,800 new jobs, generate $529 million in new tax revenue, and boost the county’s GDP by about $1 billion.
- The proposal phases in the increase over time — reaching $30 by 2030 for large corporations and by 2035 for mid-size businesses, and 2037 for small businesses.
Oakland, Calif. – Alameda County voters could soon decide whether to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour, and supporters say they are well on their way to getting the measure on the November ballot.
Gathering support
What they’re saying:
Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage — a nonprofit advocacy group backing the campaign — says the signature gathering has gone better than expected.
“We’re turning in nearly double what’s needed,” Jayaraman said. “The response from voters has been overwhelming. Everywhere we go, young and old, all races, all parts of the county, people are saying the cost of living is way too high.”…