Minimum Wage Pays for Itself

Letter to the Editor from supporters and business owners in Sonoma.

So wonderful to have business owners willing to speak up for the workers.

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EDITOR: I was pleased our City Council recently passed a Minimum Wage Ordinance (“Sonoma Minimum Wage to Be $1-$2 More than State,” May 24). My husband and I own a catering and cheese-making company in Sonoma Valley. We have five staff we value as family who earn from $20 to $50 an hour. Our employees have been with us between three and 24 years. We feel a responsibility to pay them a living wage. They own homes or rent in Sonoma and Oakland. When we owned a cafe/cheese shop on the Sonoma Plaza between 2005 and 2015, our base wage was $15 an hour. Paying a living wage was important for consistency, reliability, honesty, trust and teamwork. We enjoy very little turnover.

Running a business isn’t easy and compromises must be made. That said, my husband and I enjoy many rewards because our business has been successful. We firmly believe this is due to the team of people who are so essential to that success. They should be rewarded and paid well. I hope more independent small businesses will recognize the value of paying a living wage and support the Minimum Wage Ordinance when it comes to their city.

Sheana Davis and Ben Sessions

Sonoma