Portland City Council Votes To Raise Minimum Wage To $10.10 An Hour

The Portland City Council voted 6-3 Monday night to raise the city’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour Jan. 1, followed by a second increase a year later with future minimum wages tied to inflation. After a long debate that drew pleas from advocates and opponents, the council embraced a plan first put forth by Mayor Michael Brennan, who vowed to raise the minimum wage in his 2014 State of the City speech. “There is no science for this that has something perfect, but one thing I’m confident we’re not being is too aggressive,” said City Councilor Jon Hinck, who revived the mayor’s plan after the council’s finance committee proposed smaller increases over a longer period, with no tie to inflation. “I think it’s clear that every member of this council wants to raise the minimum wage,” said Councilor Ed Suslovic, who sought to delay the vote by two weeks.