The proposal by District 9 Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera will be introduced to a committee Thursday. NBC 7’s Omari Fleming explains why city leaders say the pay increase can be done without impacting jobs.
People working in San Diego's hotel and tourism industry could soon be getting a pay raise. A city council member is proposing a minimum wage hike of $25, similar to the one labor unions rallied for last year.
The proposal, which would raise minimum wage for hotel, event center and janitorial service workers in the tourism sector, passed the brand-new City Council Cost of Living Committee on Thursday.
It must next face the full council before becoming law. The council will need to determine whether corporate hotel chains will be held to the same standards as mom-and-pop bed and breakfasts.
While tending to San Diego’s tourism needs in the Gaslamp, hotel workers like Antonio Hernandez say they're forced to make sacrifices to make ends meet.
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“I live in TJ, so that's why I think that's a big part of why I’m not struggling as much as everybody because I know a lot of people have, like, two jobs,” Hernandez said.
As a hotel employee, Hernandez is making at least $17.25 an hour, which is the city of San Diego’s minimum wage. That's why he and other hotel workers are applauding the proposal.
“Sounds good. Of course, more money,” exclaimed Hernandez. “It's just like, I guess, more freedom ... You don't have to think about the money as much and how am I going to make it."
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It's no secret that San Diego is one of the most expensive cities to live in. In fact, the city's staff report notes that MIT’s living wage calculator says: a single-person household needs to earn nearly $31 per hour.
“Even as a janitor, you do a lot of things that nobody wants to do," said Michael Hill, a mechanic. "And quite frankly, it goes unnoticed, except for those of us who really do notice. I walk into a bathroom. It smells like bloody lemons. It looks clean. Everything's presentable. My guy, you have earned the 20 bucks out of my own pocket."
San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is proposing the pay bump.
"They're already struggling to pay their bills. They're struggling not to be able to have rates that are affordable to individual family travelers. And it would just make that even worse," said Elo-Rivera, who also chairs the Cost of Living Committee. "It will be well targeted to make sure that it doesn't have negative consequences that we don't want it to have, but also rewards the workers who are the heartbeat of this economy."
The San Diego County Lodging Association, whoc represents hotels, wants to see this discussion put to bed. They say the proposal could leave consumers footing the bill.
"We don't believe that the economy in San Diego can really afford the negative impact," association chair Robert Gleason said.
A recent UC Berkeley report says there have been no negative effects on employment as a result of the fast-food wage increase to $20 an hour. But previous reports have indicated that there have been job loses as a result.
“Please pass it," Hernandez said. "I think it would be good."
Hernandez and other hotel employees are remaining hopeful that San Diego follows in the footsteps of Los Angeles and Long Beach, both of which have already passed minimum wage hikes for tourism workers.
If approved, the ordinance would go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
