The Las Cruces City Council is scheduled to discuss the city’s new minimum wage law on Monday. And some are concerned that if major changes are made to the law, it will have lasting damage to public trust in government.
A proposed amendment to the new minimum wage law calls for massive changes…including exemptions for many businesses. Communities in Action and Faith Executive Director Sarah Nolan spoke about the prospect for those changes at a KRWG forum this week. And she says the effort risks real damage to public trust in government.
Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Smith also spoke at the KRWG forum. He defended his decision to vote “yes” on the $10.10 minimum wage law even though he wants the law to be changed…a move that prevented the ordinance from being placed on the November ballot. And he says it’s a decision he’d likely repeat.
There are already indications that the battle over the minimum wage may lead to other initiatives. A group calling itself “Close the Café” has set up a website and Facebook page and is threatening an effort to recall unnamed Las Cruces city council members…an implied threat to officials who support the $10.10 minimum wage law. Those behind the effort do not identify themselves online. KRWG-TV presents a documentary and forum on the minimum wage this weekend…You can watch Saturday night at 5 or Sunday morning at 11.