Whereas, The city of Novato has not set a local minimum wage while the actual costs of living in Novato have continued to rise; and
Whereas, In the wealthiest county in the state of California, full-time workers continue to earn poverty-level wages, putting their children and themselves at a lifestyle risk for health and education concerns, including, but not limited to, poor nutrition, unsafe or inadequate housing, lack of access to medical aid when needed, and challenges to children’s learning abilities and therefore to their success in school; and
Whereas. Studies show an increase in the minimum wage corresponds with an increase in jobs and has little or no negative effect on the employment of minimum wage workers, irrespective to the strengths or weakness of the economy, and that an increase in the minimum wage will generate revenue in the form of consumer spending, adding a stimulus to the local economy; and
Whereas, Many leading economists have supported a $15 minimum wage, basing their support on sound research; and
Whereas, Municipalities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Petaluma, and the city of Sonoma have voted for $15 dollars per hour as the minimum wage:
Resolved, that the Marin branch of the Democratic Socialists of America support an increase of the local minimum wage to AT LEAST $15 per hour, or to the point where full time employment can constitute a living wage; and
Resolved, that the Marin branch of the Democratic Socialists of America support an annual increase of the minimum wage based on the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers; and
Resolved, that the Marin branch of the Democratic Socialists of America strongly encourages the Novato City Council to vote Yes on a local $15 minimum wage on an accelerated schedule.
Marin DSA 