The San Diego City Council this morning held a special session to override a veto of the minimum wage increase it voted in at the end of their last regular session. Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R-Big Business) vetoed the wage increase on the last day of city business, and as it takes place without an override within 30 days, the council had to call a special session during their summer break to override. Of the 9 members of the council,3 were not present, but two of those not in the chamber voted via livestream, over the phone. (Ah, the wonders of technology).
The original vote was 6 to 3 to approve the raise, which raises the minimum wage in the city from $9 and hour to $9.75 on January 1 2015, and provides five sick days a year. In 2016, the minimum rises to $10.50, and in 2017 to $11.50. After that, the minimum is tied to inflation.
A group of 'small businessmen' linked to the Chamber of Commerce is vowing to fight the raise, and has been told it has 30 days to gather 33,866 signatures, which would put a referendum on the ballot to force the raise to a vote in the next election. As usual, the quote here is "the increase is too much for businesses to absorb."