San Jose Voters Approve Minimum Wage Increase
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - San Jose's minimum wage will soon be $10 an hour instead of $8 with the passage of Measure D on Tuesday.
"We're ecstatic," said Elisha St. Laurent, a low-wage earner, single mother and behavioral science and sociology double-major who has been working on Measure D since its humble beginnings in a San Jose State University social action class two years ago.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
Although the measure had some formidable opponents, including the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, it had garnered 59 percent support according to election results available Wednesday morning, with some votes remaining to be tallied.
ELECTION RESULTS:
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The measure was born in the classroom of San Jose State University professor Scott Myers-Lipton. Students in the class created a draft of the measure then collected enough signatures to place it on the ballot.
"My students many times don't feel they can make a difference. And this shows that a group of students and community members who are fighting together and have a clear message can change economic policy for the better."
Myers-Lipton said that while opponents of the initiative put ads on television and radio stations, supporters focused on walking the local precincts.
The wage increase is likely to take effect in March 2013.
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