Minimum Wage Hike Is Small Price to Pay

Regarding “State Minimum Wage Gets a Raise,” Sept. 13:

Let’s take at face value the fears expressed by the California Chamber of Commerce and others about the resulting $2.6 billion a year in higher payrolls. It’s obvious that businesses will pass that increase on to us, the consumers.

That $2.6 billion divided by the California population of 36 million comes out to $72 a year (not counting tourists), which is 20 cents a day.

Considering the humane nature of this legislation, my family and I are more than happy to pay that amount.

Nancy O’Rourke Simon

Los Angeles

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I have a question for Mike Flynn, director of legislative affairs for the Employment Policies Institute, a business-backed think tank, who said the raise in the minimum wage would “reduce the number of entry-level jobs” for young workers.

I’d like to know exactly what these jobs for young people are, and when was the last time he was in a fast-food restaurant?

David Hawkins

Anaheim Hills