San Fran min wage consequences

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Locals in San Francisco discover that a beloved local comic book shop will have to pay the higher minimum wage, too, just like everyone else. 

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/417763/when-minimum-wage-hikes-hit-san-francisco-comic-book-store-ian-tuttle

'I’m hearing from a lot of customers, ‘I voted for that, and I didn’t realize it would affect you.’”

So says Brian Hibbs, owner and operator of Comix Experience, an iconic comic-book and graphic-novel shop on San Francisco’s Divisadero Street, of the city’s new minimum-wage law.

As someone once said, it's always fascinating to watch otherwise intelligent people belatedly discover the obvious. 

[MillCreek]

I applaud the owner for thinking outside the box for ways to raise additional revenue, with his 'Graphic Novel of the Month Club'.  Hilarious that people would think that the new laws would not apply to their favorite store.

[brimic]

Nothing is more enjoyable than watching the fail from afar. 

[Fitz]

Nothing is more enjoyable than watching the fail from afar. 

Problem is, california fail spills over.

Disastrous economics and high land values are precisely what is responsible for the exodus from california, and why people are complaining about all the california transplants in formerly nice cities.

[Andiron]

As someone once said, it's always fascinating to watch otherwise intelligent people belatedly discover the obvious. 

I think you're being generous with the "otherwise intelligent" part.

[brimic]

Problem is, california fail spills over.

Disastrous economics and high land values are precisely what is responsible for the exodus from california, and why people are complaining about all the california transplants in formerly nice cities.

Too bad they aren't moving to Baltimore....

[wmenorr67]

Thing about it, where could most Californian's trace their linage?  A lot are probably the spawn of those that migrated there from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and such during the 1930's, of course that isn't counting the ones from Mexico and places further south.

[Fitz]

Thing about it, where could most Californian's trace their linage?  A lot are probably the spawn of those that migrated there from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and such during the 1930's, of course that isn't counting the ones from Mexico and places further south.

So, other than the majority of californians, most of them are from OK, TX, KS? :-D

[makattak]

Thing about it, where could most Californian's trace their linage?  A lot are probably the spawn of those that migrated there from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and such during the 1930's, of course that isn't counting the ones from Mexico and places further south.

I'm betting the Okies aren't responsible for the current direction of California. I'd be willing to bet it's from more recent migrants to the state.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I applaud the owner for thinking outside the box for ways to raise additional revenue, with his 'Graphic Novel of the Month Club'.  Hilarious that people would think that the new laws would not apply to their favorite store.

And just imagine if Mr. Hibbs did the Book of the Month club without having to pay artificially higher labor costs.

I originally found that story by reference from in an article on Forbes (here).  The Forbes author explains what's happening in abstract economic terms.  Mr. Hibbs is trying to reduce his labor costs through increased productivity.  This manifests as fewer workers (or fewer hours for the same workers) vs what he would have needed to do the same amount of business before the wage hike.  

So the higher minimum wage has an opportunity cost of reduced employment.  And, interestingly, that loss of employment will never register in the unemployment rates.  

Mr Hibbs' business will probably survive, but nobody will ever know of the workers he could/would have hired but didn't due to the wage hike.

[MechAg94]

Everyone will also complain about the service at the local resturant or fast food outlet, but not think about the additional help those places can't afford to hire forcing the few employees they do have to do more.

Not knowing San Francisco at all, are there suburbs around it that some of these stores could relocate to?  Houston is pretty much surrounded by other cities.  I wasn't sure how the San Francisco area was set up.

[wmenorr67]

I could imagine the cost to relocate would be very high and not worth the expense.

[vaskidmark]

It matters little where the little socialists' ancestors came from.  Go back to the first generation of pretty much any group that moved to the land of golden opportunity and you usually find folks wanting and willing to work (and work hard) for a life better than they had wherever they came from.  IMHO it's the 3rd & following generations that see the gold twinkling in other people's wallets.

stay safe.

[MechAg94]

I could imagine the cost to relocate would be very high and not worth the expense.

But if that business is what the guy does and knows, it might be worth it to him, especially if it allows him to keep the doors open.

[HankB]

. . .  Hilarious that people would think that the new laws would not apply to their favorite store.

Forget the minimum wage - I found it hilarious some years back during the Rodney King riots when many Californians - feeling endangered by urban unrest for the first time - found out they could NOT just go into a gun shop with a wad of cash and walk out with a gun to defend their homes and families; even THEY were subject to the WAITING PERIOD.