Should California Boost Wages with Proposition 32?

Proposition 32 is a proposal that aims to gradually raise California's minimum wage to $18 an hour within two years. This would make California the state with the highest minimum wage in the country. The current minimum wage levels were set through a deal struck by state lawmakers back in 2016. Victor Moreno, an advocate for day laborers, believes that many workers in California are struggling to make ends meet. Moreno sees Proposition 32 as a chance for voters to represent these workers and push for a wage increase that could significantly improve their lives. On the other hand, small business owner Jim Relles argues that raising the minimum wage won't make California more affordable. He believes that Proposition 32 will only drive up costs for working families, small businesses, and even state and local governments. Additionally, unlike other wage increases that went through a transparent legislative process, this ballot measure was drafted by a single individual. An editorial perspective suggests that California voters should support the modest minimum-wage increase proposed by Proposition 32. The idea is to help employees who are at the bottom of the wage scale afford the basic necessities for themselves and their families.