Editor, Ceres Courier,

How many times will we keep raising the minimum wage until we realize the true detriment we are causing to our community? With each dollar that minimum wage raises, the cost of living rises as well.

A vote yes for this proposition would be a vote to pay workers $18 an hour as well as a vote yes to make basic necessities essentially unaffordable and inaccessible to members of the community. Some may think the extra dollar workers are being paid will help them to afford the cost of living and give them the means to live more comfortably than they would on a $17 rate. Wrong. If passed, this proposition will raise our community’s taxes and make both our state and local government’s budget deficit even worse than it already was.

Additionally, employers who must afford this extra cost will resort to laying off employees who are undeserving of termination. If you think this problem doesn’t impact you, you are mistaken. This is a pressing issue that will create consequences to everyone through a domino effect. The cost of living is already expensive enough; why would we agree to make it even worse?

A vote yes on this proposition would be akin to shooting yourself in the foot. With this election around the corner, make the choice to vote no on proposition 32 and avoid adding to the problem.

Maren Areias