And probably automate a few jobs.

Yes, automation is coming regardless, but right now I think a lot of people are opposed to it. I don't want to order a burger from a machine. With rising prices, I imagine there will be a bit less reluctance and automation will increase a bit faster.

Too bad.

Another more robust & viable business will sprout & fill the market need.

Let these whiney, poorly managed, barely viable businesses go under.

How about that?

Let's support businesses that CAN & DO support our communities.

Because I have lots of entrepreneurial relatives & unfortunately a %-age of them are lying greedy jerks who just want to make an extra penny.

Here's an idea: employ only your family members for no salary if you're really going to go broke paying living wages. Don't hire employees if your business us sooooo pooooor. Lying scumbags.

those small businesses?

for one thing, all of his competition have to follow suit. And the effect of raising a worker's hourly wage is spread out over the productivity he/she attains. We're not going from 0 to 15 in one step here.

It will be phased in, most certainly over at least 3-5 years. There will be time to adjust costs to account for it.

One thing that nobody on the right likes to admit, raising the min wage will probably reduce unemployment because people will have more incentive to find jobs. It's not silly if you really think about it.

Two cities here in Washington state have done this, Seatac and Seattle. There have not been massive closures of businesses. The few that were reported last year, it turned out, would probably have closed anyway for different reasons. Sure, the final outcome is not in yet, but there has not been any real problems yet.

He already pays his workers at least 15$ starting out and more for someone with more qualifications. BTW this is in Texas which does have low cost of living.

business, or doing it wrong.