KC Council votes for minimum wage increase to $13 per hour by 2020

Source: Kansas City Star

After more than three months of furious debate, the Kansas City Council voted 12-1 Thursday for a minimum wage increase that calls for $13 per hour by 2020.

While it’s not as high as the $15 per hour that will be required in a few years in Seattle, San Francisco and some other cities, the new law would place Kansas City among a wave of cities considering big pay raises for the working poor.

It means Kansas City could soon have the highest minimum wage in Missouri — although it won’t be as high as the $15 per hour that a group of grass-roots petitioners had sought, and it’s far higher than business advocates said they could accept.

The increases come gradually, with the first bump Aug. 24. In Kansas City, the minumum wage would rise from the state-set minimum of $7.65 per hour to $8.50 per hour.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article27390862.html

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I was in the City Council chamber for this. I applaud KC Mayor Sly James for his support on this issue.

Mayor James stated that he could see both sides of this issue and that he respected people on both sides.

This would never have happened without a ballot initiative on the issue and supporters from a number of local organizations camping out and fasting in front of the KC Courthouse. I hate to admit it; but, I was only present to give my support today. I wimped out on camping out in 90+ heat and fasting.