San Diego voters made their support for a minimum wage increase very clear when they went to the ballot box Tuesday.
Proposition I was approved by 63 percent of voters, clearing the way for an immediate increase to the city’s minimum wage.
The proposition not only raises the minimum wage to $10.50 but also gives workers five days of paid sick leave.
In January, the minimum wage will be boosted to $11.50 an hour.
The state also approved a similar hike to $15 an hour minimum wage.
But that will take effect much more gradually.
For instance, the state's rate wouldn't reach San Diego's wage until three years from now.
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Business leaders argue this increase would pass more costs onto customers.
"It increases all my labor costs too, and in turn that means I have to increase my prices," said Trong Dinh, owner of The District.
"Some businesses, they going to suffer on the number of people they hire because now you need to pay more, and some of the people are going to lose their jobs over that," 7 Café owner Javier Jimenez said.
But supporters say it will actually help the local economy.
The San Diego Registrar of Voters is still counting absentee ballots. Once all ballots have been counted and the races are verified, the minimum wage increase will take effect.
