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POR 2016 #166 · Agenda item attachment · Jun 13 2016
That the Mayor convene a Task Force charged with establishing recommendations for the City Council on what the ideal minimum wage in Cambridge should be, and how to best implement this increase without creating unintended consequences in Cambridge or elsewhere
City of Cambridge
O-1
ORIGINAL ORDER
IN CITY COUNCIL
June 13, 2016
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR MAZEN
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
WHEREAS:
The current Massachusetts-wide minimum wage of $10 per hour is equal to only two-
thirds of the current Cambridge Living Wage of $15.04 per hour, and this Living Wage
currently covers only City employees and those employees working indirectly for the
City via contract; and
WHEREAS:
The City Council has, on multiple occasions, expressed a great concern about low
wages in Cambridge and their detrimental impact on the city’s residents, which have
placed a tremendous strain on the local affordable housing market, the city’s food
pantries and shelter system, and various other social services that attempt to mitigate
the effects of the rising costs of living; and
WHEREAS:
Raising the minimum wage in Cambridge, if done properly, could have a positive
ripple effect throughout the community, and it may be necessary for the City Council
to put forth a successful Home Rule Petition before the State Legislature in order to
implement this; and
WHEREAS:
The City Council wishes to obtain the ability to raise the minimum wage in Cambridge
without doing so in such a way that could unintentionally impede the efforts of other
Massachusetts communities who are engaged in similar efforts; now therefore be it
ORDERED:
That the Mayor convene a Task Force charged with establishing recommendations for
the City Council on what the ideal minimum wage in Cambridge should be, and how to
best implement this increase without creating unintended consequences in Cambridge
or elsewhere; and be it further
ORDERED:
That Business, Labor, and Community Interests should be equally represented on this
Task Force, that the Task Force should work to solicit the opinions of other affected
stakeholders, and that this Task Force should hold its first meeting within three months
of the adoption of this resolution, and report back to the City Council within six
months of that meeting.