September 16, 2025
On September 16, 2025, CPI Researcher & Policy Advocate, CJ Valasek, spoke out in favor of a $25 minimum wage for hospitality workers.
CJ talked about the findings of our joint report with the UCSD Labor Center, “Inhospitable: San Diego Tourism and the Struggle for Fair Pay”, and shared the stories of workers we interviewed.
The City Council voted unanimously to pass the $25 hospitality minimum wage!
The billion dollar tourism industry tried to stop the minimum wage increase but people power won. Workers, unions, community organizations and everyday San Diegans showed what we can do when we come together and fight for the working class.