Santa Fe minimum wage increase gains support and concern – KOAT

Report on Proposed Minimum Wage Increase in Santa Fe and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Economic Disparity and Urban Sustainability

Officials and community organizations in Santa Fe, New Mexico, are proposing an increase in the city’s minimum wage to $17.50 per hour. This initiative is framed as a critical measure to enhance urban affordability and sustainability, directly engaging with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The proposal seeks to balance the objectives of ensuring decent work and reducing poverty with the economic realities faced by local businesses, reflecting a core challenge in achieving sustainable urban development.

Advocacy for a Living Wage: A Step Towards SDG 1 and SDG 8

Proponents, including Mayor Alan Webber and The Food Depot, advocate for the wage increase as a direct strategy to combat poverty and promote decent work, aligning with key UN targets.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Research conducted in partnership with The Food Depot indicates the proposed wage could increase annual household income by approximately $5,000. This additional income is projected to enhance financial stability, enabling families to cover essential expenses such as groceries, medical bills, and debt repayment.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The initiative aims to establish a “living wage,” ensuring that full-time employment provides a sufficient income for individuals to live within the community they serve. This supports the SDG 8 target of achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Economic and Social Implications: Aligning with SDG 10 and SDG 11

The debate over the wage increase highlights its potential to address broader issues of inequality and urban sustainability.

1. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By raising the income floor, the measure is intended to reduce income disparity within the city, ensuring that the benefits of economic activity are more equitably distributed among the workforce.
2. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Mayor Webber emphasized that the city’s sustainability is compromised if its workforce cannot afford to live there. The proposal is presented as a foundational step toward making Santa Fe an inclusive, safe, and resilient city where all residents can thrive.

Community Concerns and Business Impact: A Challenge for SDG 8

While there is general support for the principle of a higher wage, residents and local business owners have expressed concerns regarding the potential economic consequences, highlighting the dual nature of SDG 8, which calls for both decent work and sustained economic growth.

• Economic Viability: The primary concern revolves around the potential strain on local businesses, which may struggle to absorb the increased labor costs. This presents a challenge to maintaining sustainable economic growth alongside improved labor standards.
• Housing Affordability: Community members noted the proliferation of new apartment buildings but questioned their affordability for minimum-wage earners, indicating that a wage increase must be part of a broader strategy to address the housing crisis, a key component of SDG 11.

Implementation and Future Outlook: A Commitment to Sustainable Progress

The city administration has outlined a plan for a phased implementation to mitigate negative impacts on the local economy.

• Scheduled Implementation: The wage increase is scheduled to take effect in 2027.
• Collaborative Approach: Mayor Webber has committed to working with the business community to facilitate a smooth transition, demonstrating an approach consistent with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The initiative is described as a significant, though not final, step in a comprehensive program to address affordability and build a more sustainable and equitable city.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are connected to the issues discussed in the article:

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The central theme of the article is the proposal to increase the minimum wage to a “living wage” to help residents “survive” in Santa Fe. This directly addresses poverty by aiming to ensure that employment provides enough income to cover basic needs. The Food Depot’s statement that an extra $5,000 could help families pay for essentials reinforces this connection.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The involvement of “The Food Depot,” an organization focused on food security, and the specific mention that increased wages could help people “buy their own groceries” directly links the issue to ending hunger and improving access to food.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article explicitly states that the additional income from a wage increase could help people “pay for that medical expense that they’ve not been able to,” connecting economic well-being directly to health outcomes and access to care.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The entire discussion revolves around wages and the concept of a “living wage,” which is a core component of decent work. The article explores the balance between providing fair compensation for workers and the potential economic impact on local businesses.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Mayor Webber’s concern that “If people who work in Santa Fe can’t live in Santa Fe, we will have lost something fundamental about our city” highlights the goal of creating inclusive and sustainable communities. The discussion about the affordability of new apartment buildings further emphasizes the challenge of ensuring adequate and affordable housing for all residents.

2. Specific Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The proposed minimum wage increase is a local policy aimed directly at reducing poverty by ensuring workers earn a “living wage” sufficient to afford basic necessities in Santa Fe.
2. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article connects the wage increase to this target by noting it would help people “buy their own groceries,” thereby improving their food security.
3. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services… The article points to this target by mentioning that higher wages could enable residents to “pay for that medical expense that they’ve not been able to,” which is a form of financial risk protection in healthcare.
4. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The advocacy for a minimum wage of $17.50 is a direct attempt to ensure that work is “decent” by providing a wage that is considered livable within the local context.
5. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services… The article addresses this target through the mayor’s emphasis on making Santa Fe a “livable city” and the expressed concerns about whether residents can afford the “countless apartment buildings going up all over town.”

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Local Minimum Wage Level: The proposed wage of “$17.50” is a specific, quantifiable indicator of the effort to establish a living wage, which relates to SDG 1 and SDG 8.
2. Increase in Annual Family Income: The Food Depot’s research stating the wage increase could provide families with an “additional $5,000 annually” is a direct indicator of the potential economic impact on low-income households, relevant to measuring progress against poverty (SDG 1).
3. Housing Affordability: While not providing a specific number, the concern over “who’s going to be able to afford” the new apartments implies an indicator related to the ratio of housing costs to income. This is a key measure for tracking progress on affordable housing (SDG 11).
4. Ability to Afford Basic Needs: The article implies indicators of well-being by mentioning the ability to “buy their own groceries” (related to food security, SDG 2) and “pay for that medical expense” (related to health access, SDG 3). These represent measures of a household’s ability to meet essential needs without financial hardship.

4. Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: koat.com