Living Wage in L.A.

What to do about the minimum wage continues to be a contentious policy issue across the country Wikipedia has this historical overview of the minimum wage in the U.S. The same article surveys global policies on the issue. In this piece from last April (4/10/06 - 8:57), Renée Montagne reviews the impact of the living wage ordinance in Los Angeles.

This report is part of a larger series, Fighting Poverty in America, all of which deal with how general policy issues impact specific
people, helping us to see, or hear, how real people deal with tough circumstances.

Classroom thoughts

• This NPR piece fcuses on the policy concept of living wage. What are your thoughts about the movement in cities and municipalities to create their own, higher minimum wage?
  
  
• What do you think of the tactic of focusing on specific individuals, as Renée Montagne does in her piece?