Breakfast links: How the pandemic complicates planned minimum wage increases
A workers strike in Oakland by Steve Rhodes licensed under Creative Commons.
How are minimum wage increases surviving COVID-19
The economic turmoil caused by the pandemic has caused Virginia to push back a planned increase to the state minimum wage by months, while Maryland business groups are lobbying for a similar delay in that state. In DC the minimum wage is set to hit $15 today, marking a victory for the “fight for 15” activists. (Mikaela Lefrak / WAMU, Martin Austermuhle / DCist)
MD Comptroller disagrees with budget cuts
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced he will vote against $200 million of the $672 million in state budget cuts before him and the rest of the state Board of Public Works this week. Governor Lawrence Hogan proposed a total of $1.45 billion in cuts to Maryland’s budget next year. (Bruce DePuyt / Maryland Matters)
DC will try to host the World Cup
Mayor Bowser announced that the city will bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though the proposal says most of the games would actually be played at FedEx field in Maryland. (Colleen Grablick / DCist. Tip: Chester B.)
Montgomery County considers a hybrid school reopening
The county’s public school system will not have students back in school full time in the fall, but the school board has not decided if it will pursue a fully remote learning model or a hybrid model where students trade off days in class and days at home. (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)
Loudoun County asks families to decide now about schooling
The county school board will follow Fairfax’s lead and ask families to decide over the summer whether their school-aged children will stay home in the fall for remote learning or return to school for class for two days during the week. Parents and teachers have until July 13 to make their decision. (Hannah Natanson / Post)
Alexandria is pro-scooter during the coronavirus pandemic
The city says that e-scooters can be a useful mode of transportation while social distancing. Scooter companies Spin, Bird, and Razor are available to use in the city during the pandemic. (James Cullum / ALX Now)
Amazon cites a regional hiring milestone
Amazon says it has hired 1,000 people to work in HQ2, which isn’t going to open its physical doors until 2023. Despite the pandemic, Amazon still intends to hire 25,000 people over the next ten years to work in its Northern Virginia office. (Patricia Sullivan / Post)
Virginia’s reopening won’t include bar seating
While Virginia is moving to Phase Three of its reopening, Governor Ralph Northam announced yesterday afternoon that bar seating will remain closed during this phase. (Daniella Cheslow / DCist)
What kind of Councilmember will Brooke Pinto be?
Brooke Pinto was sworn into office this week, and claims she will break from Jack Evans’ methods in a few ways, like contacting constituents for feedback on hot button issues, and refusing to abuse the council parking permit, but does share some of his fiscal conservatism and dislike of new taxes. (Fenit Nirappil / Post)
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