The May meeting was quite eventful. After a presentation from Miranda Dietz, researcher at UC Berkley Labor Center on minimum wages and the local economy, the Club passed a resolution urging the El Cerrito City Council to enact a minimum wage ordinance with amounts and annual adjustments no lower than those set for in the City of Richmond’ minimum wage ordinance by January 1, 2016 (see below). The Club also heard a presentation form Ben Greif, Evolve, on their latest campaign on modifying Prop 13. The Club also passed a resolution supporting the National Day of Action for Medicare’s 50th Birthday.
Minimum Wage Ordinance Resolution
WHEREAS, a person who works full time in the City of El Cerrito should earn enough to pay for his or her basic living expenses; and
WHEREAS, the cost of living in West Contra Costa County is significantly higher than the state average; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Richmond became the first city in West Contra Costa County to pass a municipal minimum wage ordinance to help fill the gap between the California state minimum wage and our higher-than-average local cost of living;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the El Cerrito Democratic Club calls on the El Cerrito City Council to enact by January 1st, 2016, a municipal minimum wage with amounts and annual adjustments no lower than those set forth in the City of Richmond’s Minimum Wage Ordinance.