It's time for TEN!!

Raising the wage in San Jose makes plenty of good sense when one looks at the reality of the situation we ( we San Jose-nians) have to deal with.  I'll give you TEN reasons to Raise the Wage in San Jose 

1. The minimum wage has NOT increased in four years! Unlike food, gas, school all have increased. (Just doesn't make sense; does it?)
The federal minium wage is $7.25 though the federal minimum wage would now be at $10.40 per hour if it kept up with the rising cost of living since 1968!!!

2. The average rent in San Jose is $1600, increasing at 6.8% per year all the while official unemployment rate stands at 10.6% . . . still just doesn't make any sense?!?!

3. Raising the wage is a "key part of economic recovery" meaning that it's NEVER a wrong time to raise the wage. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, every $1/hr increase for a minimum wage worker results in $2,800 in new consumer spending by the household over the following year.
Increasing the wage will pump money back into our local economy, that's just what we need here!!!

4. Big chain stores can afford paying our employed community members $10/hr, yet most refuse to do so. The largest share of grow domestic production have been corporate profit since 1950! Salaries and Wages are the lowest share of GDP.

5. The largest corporations hold on to $1.9 trillion in cash refusing to expand and hire since demands for goods are services are weak SO if they raise the wage for their employees here in San Jose, more people will be purchasing goods.

6. 76% of low wage workers are adults not teens, they have to contribute to their household income making $8/hr. We want our families in San Jose to be better off because we know that right now with a salary of $8/hr, they are not well off.

7. A higher minimum wage DOES NOT cause job losses. Academic research has found that raising the  minimum wage increase incomes of low paid workers does not in fact lead to job loss.
I hear one of people's main concern is that they fear that job loss will occur if we raise the wage but thats not the actual case. Here's another way to think of it; if we don't raise the wage and pump some money into our local economy soon then job loss will occur even more!!

8. I would love to see us in San Jose, get a little bit closer to the decline of growing inequality in our country. I believe our community members deserve a raise. The rich do not need to get richer here.

9. States with minimum wages above the federal level have had faster small business and retail job growth.
A 2006 fiscal policy institute study examined growth in employment from 1998 to 2003 for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, and found that employment in small businesses grew faster with minimum wages above the federal minimum wage than in states where the federal minimum of $5.15 an hour prevailed.

10. If we raise the wage in San Jose with this proposition 40k people will be impacted starting the next year in January! Also, 36k will benefit from this.
Meaning roughly 86k people in San Jose will be impacted positively from this proposition.

Now what's not to love?

Turn out

"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe’ —a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Albert Einstein

     On Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 the Raise the Wage campaign kickoff event, held in the Alameda Labor Council, was a success. In a room filled with over 250 community members, politicians, union members, and organization representatives the vibe of the room was warm, light, and powerful. Before the speakers began everyone was to sign in and even endorse the campaign. Inside two long tables with refreshments and delicious food; cheeses, grapes, hams, tea and people lined up neatly serving themselfs. Around the room balloons and posters where hung with sayings such as ones that had facts like "The average rent in San Jose is $1800 a month" and others that were more moral related like "Paying a higher minimum wage is the right thing to do".
     A sense of community hit the room when one turned around to notice everyone in the same building; families, friends, children, and students where all standing and sitting next to one another. Smiles, good chatter, and good speakers where a factor contributing to the ambiance of the room.
Green folders were handed out to individuals, which held endorsement cards, and other informative papers. A wonderful video by De Anza students in support of the campaign, and an amazing rap by members of DeBug where part of the event.
     It was truly a wonderful event to have attended, it was great to see so many people interested in helping out coming out and supporting. Alone this campaign cannot do it, the proposition is going up against big money; the campaign has people power, and definitely on Tuesday night, our power was felt.

If you were unable to make it to the kick off, keep in touch because there are several things coming up which you can get involved with to support the campaign, learn, and hang out with good hearted locals. On Tuesday August 7th, 2012 at 2pm in downtown city hall San Jose the Chamber of Commerce will address the Raise the Wage San Jose proposition and what is to say on the ballot flyers. We need to be there in support of the campaign, and address the the chamber that we need fair and education truth on the flyers because we do not want any misunderstanding or bad wording that will weaken and misinform the community!