Las Cruces City Council discusses minimum wage ordinance

Las Cruces City Council met Monday to discuss the minimum wage ordinance in Las Cruces.

The law is set to kick in on January 1st, the wage will be raised form the current $7.50 to $8.40 an hour. Two future increases will be voted on in two weeks.

In the meantime, council is discussing exemptions to the ordinance.

Council is currently scheduled to meet in July to see how the law is affecting the community and businesses. Mayor Ken Miyagishima and Councilor Greg Smith want to move that timetable up.

During Monday’s meeting, Mayor Miyagishima said he would like to meet a month after implementation to observe data on hike. Councilor Smith will propose to do so sooner.

“We should look at what this is doing to our economy. I think that’s a very smart thing for us to do. Look at this after its been implemented and say okay, this is working the way it should work,” Councilor Smith said.

Some supporters and opponents Abc-7 spoke to say six months is hardly enough time to observe any real change.

“Six months is just not enough time. Their own office of management of budget here in the city have said six months is not enough data. Let’s look at a year, that would give us a good amount to study,” Sarah Nolan, Executive Director of Caf, said.

“It’s going to take at least a year. I like the idea that it’s going to be tracked but a six-month period will show you nothing,” Vince Vaccaro, Owner of Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant, said.

Council is scheduled to meet December 1st on matter again. Public input will be allowed then.