At the City Council meeting on Monday, May 9, Action Item 2 on the agenda saw the Council discuss the possibility of a new minimum wage in the city. The item called for a “report on and discussion of the potential development of an ordinance setting a Culver City minimum wage,” and “(if desired) creation of an ad hoc minimum wage subcommittee and appointment of two city council members thereto.” A staff presentation pointed out that, while the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour, as of this year the state of California has a minimum wage of $15. Still, individual cities with higher costs of living have adopted a minimum wage greater than the state’s. For example, San Francisco has a minimum wage of $16.32 per hour. Comments from the public were understandably mixed, with many people grateful to the council for understanding that $15 really isn’t a livable wage in Culver City. Others were concerned that a wage increase, while small businesses were still coming to terms with the economic effects of COVID, could force them out of business. Council Member Göran Eriksson said that a new minimum wage isn’t necessary because the climate takes care of itself, due to the fact that Culver City borders Los Angeles. Vice Mayor Albert Vera agreed. Both Vera and Eriksson are business owners. Meanwhile, Mayor Daniel Lee, and Council Members Alex Fisch and YasmineImani McMorrin were in favor of forming the subcommittee in order to explore the options available. Due to the lengths remaining on their terms in office, it was decided that Vera and McMorrin would be the most suitable candidates for the subcommittee, and that was put to a vote. The vote passed 3-2, with Vera and Eriksson the two nays, though Vera did consent to joining the subcommittee.
