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A new minimum wage in Los Angeles is one step closer to being a reality. On Wednesday, the LA City Council voted 13-1 in favor of an ordinance that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, according to the Los Angeles Times. The ordinance has to go through one more procedural vote before it can be signed into law by Mayor Eric Garcetti.
"Today we're going to say that we're a city that doesn't tolerate poverty," Councilman Mike Bonin said, per the Times. "Today we're going to show that we're a city that really, really sincerely believes in economic and social justice."
If the law goes into effect, wages will increase next July.
The desire for higher wages has sparked protests around the world, with fast food workers setting their sights on McDonald's, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announcing a plan to raise pay without the help of his state legislature. However, not everyone is in favor of the increase. Some Los Angeles restaurateurs believe $15 an hour will spell doom for the industry.
