When the wage went up, Ms. Parra stated, she may extra simply assist with lease and pay the telephone and cable payments on the house that she shares along with her mom, who makes $18.50 an hour at a heating and air-conditioning firm.
She famous, nonetheless, that her wages weren’t sufficient for her to dwell on her personal. “I wouldn’t say that we’re poor, however I additionally wouldn’t say that we’re nicely off,” she stated. “However as a result of there’s each of us who’ve incomes, we’re in a position to do O.Ok.”
Mayor Jerry Dyer stated there have been “combined emotions, clearly,” concerning the rising minimal wage. “As a mayor of a metropolis, it’s vital that now we have folks in our neighborhood who’re making a livable wage,” he stated.
However Mr. Dyer, a Republican, stated he additionally understood the ache that companies is likely to be feeling. “I’ve heard from companies that if the minimal wage goes up an excessive amount of, they’re not in a position to be aggressive,” he stated.
“That’s the problem that we face,” he stated.
One prevailing query is whether or not $15 is sufficient.
In Fresno, it typically isn’t. M.I.T.’s Living Wage Calculator estimates {that a} residing wage in Fresno for a household of 4, with each adults working, is $22.52 an hour. Prior to now 12 months, Fresno’s median lease elevated by 11 %, to $1,260, in line with Apartment List’s National Rent Report, among the many biggest will increase within the nation.
For 40 hours every week, Jessica Ramirez, 26, makes $15.65 an hour on the Amazon warehouse in Fresno. She is the first breadwinner for herself, her associate and her 5 kids, however even with meals stamps and occasional gig work, she stated, her wage is barely sufficient for them to get by.
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