Berkeley

California’s Minimum Wage Rises to $9 an Hour

Published

11 years ago

July 1, 2014

By Vanessa Ochavillo, Sacramento Bee

At Krazy Mary’s Boutique in midtown Sacramento, owner Mary Kawano is already accommodating the state’s new minimum wage of $9 a hour, which went into effect Tuesday.

To absorb the increased costs, she’s planning to improve employee performance, use stricter hiring guidelines and be more careful about ordering inventory. “I’ll just be a little more focused,” said Kawano, who’s been in business 14 years. Of her five employees, three will receive the state’s new hourly wage.

Krazy Mary’s is one of hundreds of employers statewide who are now be paying their minimum-wage employees $1 more an hour, under legislation signed into law last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. Under AB10, by state Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, the state’s baseline wage will increase again – to $10 in 2016.

California’s wage hike is part of a nationwide effort in some states and communities to raise the standard of living for entry-level workers. San Francisco recently raised its hourly wage to $10.74. Seattle voted in a $15-a-hour minimum wage, effective next April.

“When consumers do not have money in their pockets, they cannot consume,” said Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who recently introduced a bill to hike California’s minimum wage to $13 an hour in 2017. It died in committee last month. “Only when they have enough to spend does the demand for goods and services increase … (creating) a virtuous cycle upwards.”

A number of business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, have consistently opposed increasing the state’s minimum wage.

“Largely what minimum wage increases tend to do is make it more challenging for youth and unskilled people to find jobs,” said Roger Niello, president and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce. Entry-level jobs “that don’t require skills are the types of jobs that get people into the workforce,” he said.

Employers absorbing the new hourly wage can respond in several ways: increase prices for consumers, lay off workers or swallow the additional costs. In every instance, someone – consumer, employee or business owner – loses, Niello said.

Rather than mandating wage increases, he added, state legislatures should look to alternative regulations, such as flattening tax rates for small businesses.

As of June, 22 states and Washington, D.C., have a minimum hourly wage above the federal minimum of $7.25, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. California’s new $9 a hour is on par with Oregon, Washington state and Washington, D.C., with the highest hourly minimum wages in the country.

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Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

3 days ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

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Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2025

Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.