I want to applaud St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones’ decision to raise the minimum wage to $15 for the working people of her offices. Her decision will lift families and communities across St. Louis and shows fellow elected leaders that supporting working people takes more than talk – it takes action.
The rest of our region should follow her example.
No matter our background or where we come from, we all want the opportunity to support our families with good union jobs and higher pay. While the cost of living keeps rising, too many working people are struggling just pay the bills. Whether it’s working as a graduate worker at Washington University in St. Louis or as a janitor like me, it feels like our paychecks just don’t go as far as they used to. When working people make more money, we take home more to spend in our communities, making our economy stronger for everyone.
If elected officials and community leaders want to show that they’re dedicated to bringing our region together, they must take a stand for the $15 wage we need to raise our families and build stronger neighborhoods. That’s how we move St. Louis forward.
