Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has put forth a proposal that aims to ensure fair wages for workers in larger hotels and theme parks located in unincorporated areas. Under her plan, these employers would be required to pay their employees a minimum wage of $25 per hour. Hahn presented her motion during the recent Board of Supervisors meeting, emphasizing that it would not be considered until after the August recess, on September 12th.
Hahn expressed concern over the insufficient wages that many workers in L.A. County receive, which prevent them from meeting their basic needs and contribute to poverty, homelessness, and housing insecurity. She said, “Too many individuals in our communities are working full-time jobs but are unable to afford their rent.”
Her proposal would instruct county attorneys to develop an ordinance mandating that hotels with more than 60 rooms in unincorporated areas, as well as theme parks, comply with the $25 minimum wage requirement. This mirrors similar ordinances under consideration by the cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Once the ordinance is drafted, it would require a final vote from the board.
Although a $25 minimum wage would not make these workers wealthy, Hahn believes it would improve their quality of life and reduce the need for them to work multiple jobs in order to afford housing in the same area where they are employed. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath seconded Hahn’s motion, and they both propose gradually increasing the wage to $30 by 2028, with subsequent adjustments for the cost of living.
Hahn anticipates that there will be opposition from the business community. However, she firmly believes that an industry as profitable as tourism in Los Angeles County should provide their workers with sufficient wages to survive in the area.
In the past, when Councilman Curren Price introduced a motion for a minimum wage increase in Los Angeles city, it received criticism from local business leaders. The Valley Industry and Commerce Association expressed concerns about the burden this would place on the already struggling tourism industry. Stuart Waldman, the association’s president, stated that implementing a $25 minimum wage within a short timeframe would not allow businesses enough time to adapt to the increased costs.
Waldman also highlighted that small, local businesses and minority-owned enterprises would be most affected by the proposed wage increase. Several industry organizations, including the California Hotel and Lodging Association, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, and the Hotel Association of Los Angeles, issued a joint statement criticizing the city’s plan. They viewed it as a politically motivated, industry-specific mandate that disregarded fair living wage policies and the lower salaries of teachers and city workers.
Lynn Mohrfeld, President and CEO of the CHLA, questioned why city leaders are imposing financial burdens on the hospitality sector without demanding similar pay raises for teachers and municipal staff. Mohrfeld argued that such proposals contribute to Los Angeles’ reputation as a challenging place to do business and work, calling for better solutions from the city’s leaders.
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