The City Council Wednesday delayed until Dec. 11 its vote on a proposal to increase the minimum wage for tourism workers, including hotel and airport employees, who are seeking better compensation and health benefits ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The decision to table the proposal came after a lengthy and difficult discussion with city department officials and a representative from Berkeley Economic Advising and Research, a consulting group that conducted an economic impact assessment for Los Angeles. The discussion left elected officials with more questions than answers.
Council members asked Samuel Neal, an economist for the group also known as BEAR, several questions about the study via teleconference. They focused on issues such as hotel operations and developments, potential price hikes, the city’s ability to host the Olympics, and on local taxes, among other topics.
Several council members criticized the report, arguing it lacked sufficient information …