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Bylivingwages,ImeanmorethanabaresubsistencelevelImeanthewagesofadecent
living.ThesearethewordsofFranklinDelanoRoosevelt,thearchitectbehindtheminimumwagethat
hashistoricallysavedthelowwageearningpopulationofAmerica.Althoughitsintentionwasandisto
provideadecentlivingfortheminimumwageearningpopulationofAmerica,theminimumwageinthe
presentdayUnitedStatesdoesanythingbutthis.Thewageisnotevenonefitforabaresubsistence
level,muchlessadecentliving.Inmostareas,especiallyDC,theminimumwagedoesnotallowfor
workerstomakeenoughmoneytosustainthemselvesortheirfamilies.DespitethefactthatDCcurrently
hasoneoftheoneofthehighestminimumwagesinthecountry,currentlyatarateof10.50dollarsan
hour,itisnotenoughforpeopleearningthiswagetoliveinthecity,whichhasarankingofthefifthmost
expensivecityintheUnitedStates(YouWontSurvive).Becausethecurrentminimumwageisnot
enoughforworkersearningthewagetoaffordhousing,forcesthemtoliveoffofpublicassistance
programs,andbecauseitcontributestotheracialsegregationpresentinthecity,theDClegislaturemust
passabilltoraisetheminimumwageto15dollarsanhour.
MinimumwagehasbeenanaspectofAmericansocietyandeconomicsfordecades.The
minimumwagewascreatedin1938bytheFairLaborStandardsAct,withPresidentFranklinD.
Rooseveltasitschampion.Thisactsettheminimumwageto25centsanhour,whichwouldbearateof
4.19anhourtoday,andwascreatedtocombattheseverelylowpaythatemployerswerepayingtheir
manuallaboremployees(FairLaborStandardsAct).Althoughareasonableamountatthetimeofits
creation,theminimumwagetodayhasnotincreasedasmuchasitshouldhave.Infact,accordingtothe
HuffingtonPost,iftheminimumwageweretohavekeptupwithinflationsinceitpeakedinrealvalue,it
wouldbeover10.52dollarsanhour,andifithadincreasedwithincreasesinworkerproductivity,which
istheamountofgoodsandservicesthataworkerproducesinagivenamountoftime,asof2012itwould
be21.72dollarsanhourandwouldbeevenmoretoday(Wing).

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Sinceitscreation,therehavebeenmanypastattemptstoresolvetheminimumwageproblem,
includingmanylegalmeasurespassedtoincreasethewageovertheyears.Althoughnoble,theseefforts
havenotbeenenoughtofullysolvetheproblem.Oneofthesesucheffortsistheincreaseoftheminimum
wageatthefederallevel.In2009,theminimumwagewasincreasedfrom6.55dollarsanhourtoits
currentrateof7.25dollarsanhour(WageandHourDivision).Althoughavaliantefforttoresolvethe
situation,thiswageonlymakesoutto15,080dollarsayear,whichisstill8,000dollarsbelowthepoverty
lineforasingleadultsupportingafamilyoffour(Allison).Sincethen,DChasputforthevenmore
effortstoraisetheminimumwage.In2014,theDClegislaturesignedabillthatputinplaceaplanto
incrementallyincreasetheminimumwagetoafinalwageof11.50dollarsanhourbyJulyof2016
(Bourree).Thisworksouttoapproximately22,000dollarsperyearand1840dollarspermonth.Although
thiswillbeoneofthehighestminimumwagesforanyUnitedStatesjurisdiction,itisstill1000dollars
belowthepovertylineforasingleadultsupportingafamilyoffour.Thisisalsoalowminimumwage
relativetoacitythatholdsthetitleofthefifthmostexpensivecityinthecountrywiththeaverageannual
spendingcostofaresidentat80,452dollars(YouWontSurvive).Despitethesenobleeffortsto
combattheminimumwageproblemthatisplaguingourcountrytoday,therestillneedstobemoreaction
takentoincreasetheminimumwageinordertoliftthosewhoearnitoutofpoverty.
Oneofthegreatestproblemsthatthecurrentminimumwagepresentsisthatitdoesnotallowfor
peopletobeabletoaffordtheirrents.DCcurrentlypossessesoneofthehighestcostoflivinginthe
country.Thisismostlyduetothehighhousingexpensescharacteristicofthecity.Themedianrentfora
onebedroomDCapartmentiscurrently2000dollarsamonth,whichisthefourthhighestmedianrent
costinthecountry(Stein,MedianRentalPrice).ThismeansthatrentsinDCwithinthe2000dollara
monthrangehavethehighestmajorityinthecity.Eventhecheapestapartmentscostaround800dollarsa
monthandtheexistenceoftheseapartmentsinDChasdroppedby42percent(Stein,MedianRental
Price).Withminimumwageworkersearning320dollarslowerpermonththanthemedianrentalrate,

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thecurrentminimumwagemakesitnearlyimpossiblefortheminimumwageearningpopulationto
affordhousing.Thisfactshowsacorrelationwiththenumberofpeoplewholiveinpublichousing
projectsorusetheSection8housingprogram,aprogramthatallowsthosewhoqualifytorenthousingat
lowerpriceswitharentalsubsidyadministeredbythegovernment.DCcurrentlyhasatotalof11,899
peoplewhoeitherresideinthecityspublichousingprojectsorreceivehousingthroughtheSection8
housingprogram(Ho)and90percentofthesepublichousingresidentsmake22,050dollarsorunder,
whichisaroundtheyearlyamountamountthatminimumwageworkersinDCcurrentlymake(Zippel3).
ThefactthatthecurrentDCminimumwagedoesnotallowpeopletobeabletoaffordhousingisoneof
themajorproblemsthatthecurrentminimumwagepresents.
Thecurrentminimumwagealsopresentsaproblembecauseitforcesthosewhoearnitto
significantlydependonpublicassistanceprograms.DuetotherelativelylowminimumwageinDC
comparedtoitshighcostofliving,manyminimumwageworkerscannotevenaffordbasicnecessities
suchasfood,andareforcedtoliveoffofpublicassistanceprogramslikefoodstamps.Infact,asof2013,
inDC40,667familieswereontheSNAPprogram,formerlycalledfoodstamps,andoutofthose
families,68.7percenthadatleastoneworkingadultprovider(ProfileofSNAPHouseholds1).One
suchAmericanexperiencingaplightsimilartothatofDCsresidentsearningminimumwageis
Katherine,afoodserviceworkerfromMassachusetts.Katherine,whoworksinakitchenata
biopharmaceuticalcompanyinCambridge,Massachusetts,makes11.25anhourforherjob,awageeven
higherthanthe10.50anhourthatDCworkersmake(Johnston).Despitethis,muchofthetimesheis
forcedtoliveoffoffoodstampsandfoodfromChurchpantries(Johnston).Herdaughter,wholivesin
Seattle,alsomustpayhercellphonebillandsendhermoneyduringtoughtimes(Johnston).Although
beingaworkerfromMassachusetts,Katherinesscenariorelatestoandisevenbetterthanthelivesof
minimumwageworkersinDCas,intheDistrict,theworkersmakealowerwagebuthaveahighercost
oflivingthaninanycityinMassachusetts,includingBoston(YouWontSurvive).Thefactthat

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minimumwageworkerscanbarelyaffordbasicnecessitiessuchasfoodwhilealsokeepingupwithrent
isahugeproblemcreditedtothelowminimumwage.
Onemoreproblemthecurrentminimumwagepresentsisthatitcontributestothesignificant
racialsegregationbetweenwhitesandAfricanAmericansinthecity.Thecurrentminimumwageof10.50
anhourcausesadisproportionateamountofAfricanAmericanstoliveinpoorerareasontheeastside.
Whites,ontheotherhand,aremoreconcentratedonthericherwestside(MaranissandSamuels).
AccordingtoamapbytheWashingtonPostthatdetailsthepopulationdemographicsofdifferentCensus
tractsinthecity,thecityissplitalmostdownthemiddle,withthecommunitiesonthewesternhalfbeing
mostlywhitedominatedandthevastmajorityofcommunitiesontheeasternhalfbeingoverwhelmingly
black(MaranissandSamuels).Theblackneighborhoodsmostoftenendupbeingthepoorestasonly22%
ofblackneighborhoodshave90%oftheirpopulationlivingabovethepovertyline(Butlerand
Grabinsky).Ontheotherhand,94%ofwhiteneighborhoodshave90%oftheirpopulationlivingabove
thepovertyline(ButlerandGrabinsky).Also,whileonly4%ofwhiteneighborhoodshave30%ormore
oftheirresidentslivingbelowthepovertyline,38%ofblackneighborhoodshave30%ormoreoftheir
residentslivingbelowthepovertyline(ButlerandGrabinksy).Thisgoesalongwiththefactthatthe
easternsideofDC,specificallytheareaeastoftheAnacostiaRiver,hasthehighestconcentrationofDCs
neighborhoodsthatareconsideredeconomicallychallenged(Stein,D.C.sPoorerResidents).This
starkcontrastbetweenpredominantlywhiteandpredominantlyblackneighborhoodscanbetracedbackto
theminimumwageasoneoftheseveralfactors.Asshownbyastudydonein2014bytheUrbanInstitute
inDC,aprojected53%ofminimumwageworkerswereshowntobeAfricanAmericanfortheyear2016
comparedtoaprojected21%forwhitesfortheyear2016(Acs,Wheaton,Enchautegui,Nichols).The
currentminimumwagemakesithardforminimumwageworkers,agreatamountofwhichareAfrican
American,toaffordaplacetolive,forcingthemtoliveonthepoorereastside.Thiscontributestothe

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splitinDCbetweenpredominantlywhiteneighborhoodsonthericherwestsideandpredominantlyblack
neighborhoodsonthepoorereastside.
Inordertofixtheminimumwageprobleminthedistrict,theDClegislaturemustpassabillto
raisetheminimumwageto15dollarsanhour.AccordingtotheMITLivingWageCalculator,DCs
currentminimumwagemustbeequivalentto14.84dollarsanhourforoneadulttosustainhimself,which
showsthenecessityofanincreasetoawageof15dollarsanhour,especiallyforthosewhoarealso
supportingfamilymemberswhoareunabletowork(Glasmeier).Thisminimumwageincreasewould,for
one,allowworkersearningthiswagetobeabletoliveinmoredecenthousinginthemedian2000dollars
amonthrange.Withaminimumwageincreaseto15dollarsanhour,workersearningminimumwage
wouldbeabletoearn2400dollarsamonthandwouldbeabletoaffordadecentapartmentinthemedian
rentalrangeforaonebedroomapartmentinDC.Notonlywouldthisminimumwageincreaseallowfor
workersearningminimumwagetomoreeasilyaffordhousing,itwouldalsohelptodesegregatethecity.
Byraisingtheminimumwage,thiswouldallowmanyminimumwageworkers,alargenumberofwhom
areAfricanAmerican,tomoveoutofthepoorerneighborhoodsofDCintothericher,oftenwhiter,
neighborhoodsofDC.Infact,accordingtoZillow.com,aprominenthousingwebsite,mostapartments
forrentataroundthe19002000dollarspermonthmarkwerepresenttowardsthewestsideofDC,where
whitesrepresentmostofthepopulation,andnonewerepresenteastoftheAnacostiariverwherethereisa
higherAfricanAmericanmajoritythaninanyothercommunity(Stein,MedianRentalPrice).This
integrationofthecitywithaminimumwagehikecanalsobeprovenwithhistoricalevidence.When
comparingthedemographicmapsfromtheyears1990to2010,althoughthedefactosegregationofthe
cityisstillapparent,AfricanAmericanpopulationareshowntobespreadingoutmoretowardsthe
westernpartsofthecityoverthecourseofthetwodecades(ButlerandGrabinsky).Thisgoesalongwith
thefactthattheminimumwagenearlydoubledduringthattimeperiodfrom4.85dollarsanhourto8.25
dollarsanhour(WageandHourDivision(WHD)).Raisingtheminimumwageto15dollarsanhour

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wouldalsohelpmanyDCresidentsearningminimumwagetobecomeeconomicallyindependentfrom
thepublicprogramsthattheycurrentlyuseinordertosupportthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Accordingto
astudydoneattheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley,forevery10percentincreaseintheminimum
wage,enrollmentintraditionalMedicaidbythenonelderlyandnondisableddecreasesby0.31
percentagepoints(WestandReich).EnrollmentinSNAP,theSupplementalNutritionAssistance
Program,formerlyknownasfoodstamps,alsodecreasesby2.4to3.2percentforevery10percent
increaseintheminimumwage(WestandReich).Withaminimumwageincreaseto15dollarsanhour,
theproblemsassociatedwithDCscurrentlylowminimumwagewouldbesolved.
Yetmanypeoplestillbelievethataminimumwageincreaseto15dollarsanhourwoulddomore
harmthangoodinDCasitwouldcausehigherratesofunemploymentinthecity.Thisisinfactuntrue.
InalettertoPresidentObamaandseveralCongressmen,over600economists,sevenofthemNobelPrize
winners,signedaletter,whichincludedthestatement,...
increasesintheminimumwagehavehadlittle
ornonegativeeffectontheemploymentofminimumwageworkers,evenduringtimesofweaknessin
thelabormarket.(MinimumWageMythbusters).AnexampleofthisisWashingtonState.

Asof2014,
thestatehadthehighestminimumwageofanystateinthecountry,whilestillhavingarateofjobgrowth
0.3percentagepointshigherthanthenationalaverageandthepayrollatitsrestaurantsandbarsexpanded
by21percent(Stilwell,Robison,andSelway).WashingtonStateisnottheonlyexampleofthisas,outof
the13stateswhoincreasedtheirminimumwagesthatyear,onlyonestateexperiencedemploymentloss
(Welcott).Also,amongthosestatesthatincreasedtheirminimumwages,

theaverageemployment
increasewas+0.99%whiletheaverageemploymentincreasefortheotherstateswas+0.68%(Welcott).
Allinall,iftheimpactsoftheminimumwageincreaseonemploymentarenotpositiveinDC,the
negativeimpactswillbelittletonone.
ManyalsosaythatameasuretoincreasetheminimumwageoncemoreinDCwillhurtsmall
businessesinthedistrict.Thiscanberefutedbymanyexamplesofsmallbusinessespayingtheirworkers

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a15dollaranhoursalary,orbetter,whileexperiencinglittletonoilleffects.Anexampleofwhya15
dollarwagewouldbereasonableforbusinessesinDCiswhatoccurredinthetownofSeaTac.InSeaTac,
atownoutsideofSeattle,theminimumwagewasincreasedto15dollarsanhourin2013,makingitthe
firstUSjurisdictiontodoso.
OneofthemajoropponentstothismeasurewasScottOstrander,ageneral
manageratthelocalCedarbrookLodgehotel(Milbank).Althoughstatinginoneaccountwhenarguing
againstthemeasuretoraisetheminimumwagethathewas,shakingbecause[hewas]goingtobe
forcedtolaypeopleoff,thesamehotelierwasabletoputhishotelthrougha16milliondollarexpansion
projectthatexpandedthehotelaswellasitsworkforce,thisoccurringafterthemeasuretoincreasethe
minimumwageto15dollarsanhourwaspassed(Milbank).Anotherexampleofwhya15dollarwageis
reasonableforbusinessesisBarMarco,abarfromPittsburg.Thissmallbusinessesinstitutedan
acrosstheboardsalaryforallofitsemployeesat35,000dollarsayearplushealthcarecoverage
(Rogers).Thissalarywouldcomeouttoanhourlywageofaround16.80dollarsanhourfora40hour
workweek.In2015,afterthebusinesshadimplementedthispolicy,thebarendedupbeingsuccessful
enoughtogiveouttheirfirsteverquarterlybonusestoitsemployeesanditdidsowithoutevenhavingto
raiseitsprices(Rogers).Withaminimumwageincrease,DCsmallbusinesseswillexperiencelittletono
negativeeffectsbuttheiremployeesearningtheminimumwage,whoarecurrentlystrugglingtoeven
survive,willseehugebenefitsintheirlifestyles.
Anotherargumentmadeagainstaminimumwageincreaseto15dollarsanhouristhatitwould
causeaproliferationofjobstobegiventoundocumentedimmigrantswhichwouldinturntakejobsaway
fromcitizens.Thismaybetrue,asa15dollaranhourwagemayincentiviseemployerstohire
undocumentedimmigrantswhowouldtakelessforthesameworkthatanaturalizedornativeborn
workercouldperform.Thesolutionforthismaybetoallowtheundocumentedimmigrantstojointhe
formallaborforcethroughimmigrationreformandpathstolegalization(Altman).Ifthisweretooccur,
employerswouldnolongerbeabletoexploitundocumentedimmigrantsfortheiracceptanceoflower

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wages(Altman).Thiswouldforceemployerstojudgethenewlydocumentedimmigrantsequallyagainst
theUScitizenswhomostlikelyspeakbetterEnglishandaremorefamiliarwithworkingintheUnited
States(Altman).Yetmanywouldsaythatwithalargerlaborforce,citizenswouldstillbeputoutofthe
jobs,especiallyduringtimesofeconomicdistress,becauseoftheincreasedcompetitionduetothelarge
numberofnewlyaddedworkers.Thisscenarioisinfactunlikelyasmigrantworkerstendtocomeandgo
astheytendtoleavetheUnitedStateswhentherearenojobsorwhentheeconomicclimateoftheirhome
countryimproves(Altman).Althoughanincreaseto15dollarsanhourmayinvitemoreundocumented
immigrantsintothecountry,asolutiontothisproblemisimmigrationreformandlegalizationtoallow
themtojointheformallaborforce.
Iftheminimumwagedoesnotincreaseto15dollarsanhour,manyrepercussionswillpresent
themselves.Forone,DCgovernmentspendingonaffordablehousingprogramswillincrease.Under
MayorBowsersbudgetforthe2016fiscalyear,spendingonaffordablehousingprogramswillreacha
recordhighof213milliondollars,a50milliondollarincreasefromthelastfiscalyear(Whatsinthe
Mayors5).Thisspendingwillincludetheexpansionofprogramstobuildaffordablepublichousing,
providerentalassistancetothoseinneed,andprovidesupportiveservicestopeopleandfamilies
consideredchronicallyhomeless(WhatsintheMayors5).Aminimumwageincreasewouldprevent
futurerecordhighspendingonaffordablehousingasmoreminimumwageworkerswouldbeableto
affordtheirownhousing,allowingthemtorelylessonaffordablehousingprograms.Another
repercussionofnotraisingtheminimumwagetoalivable15dollarsanhouristhatitwillincreaseDC
governmentspendingonpublicassistanceprograms,suchasTANF,theTemporaryAssistanceforNeedy
Familiesprogram.Althoughexperiencingonlyaslightincreaseinspendingfrom2014to2015,TANF
spendingunderMayorBowsersbudgetforthe2016fiscalyearshowsamajorincreasefrom155million
dollarstoarecordhighof444milliondollars,showinganincreasingtrendduringthepast3years
(WhatsintheMayors7).Withaminimumwageincreaseto15dollarsanhour,thiswouldhelpto

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preventtheraisingoffutureDCspendingonpublicassistanceprogramstorecordlevelsaslesspeople
willhavetousethemwithbetterwages.Onemorerepercussionthatwillcomeaboutiftheminimum
wageisnotincreasedisthattheracialsegregationbetweenwhitesandAfricanAmericansthatis
currentlypresentinthecitywillcontinue.Ifwagesdonotincrease,themajorityAfricanAmerican
minimumwageearningpopulationwillcontinuetobeforcedtoresideinthepoorereasternsideofDC,
wherehousingismoreaffordable,whichwouldcontributetotheracialsegregationinthecity.Withoutan
increaseintheminimumwageto15dollarsanhourinDC,manyrepercussionswillpresentthemselves.
Allinall,
becausethecurrentminimumwageisnotenoughforworkersearningthewageto
affordhousing,forcesthemtoliveoffofpublicassistanceprograms,andbecauseitcontributestothe
racialsegregationpresentinthecity,theDClegislaturemustpassabilltoraisetheminimumwageto15
dollarsanhour.15dollarsanhourasaminimumwagepresentsasolutiontotheproblemsassociatedwith
thecurrentminimumwage.Thisminimumwagehikewouldhelpminimumwageearningpeopleafford
moredecenthousinginthecity,wouldhelpworkersearningtheminimumwagetobecomemore
economicallyindependent,andwouldalsohelptodesegregateacitywithaclearsplitbetweenwhere
majoritywhiteandblackcommunitiesare.Despitethecriticsofthismeasurethatsaythataminimum
wageincreaseto15dollarsanhourwouldhurtemploymentopportunitiesandbusinesses,thisisuntrueas
studiesandexamplesshowthefactthata15dollarwagehaslittletonoeffectonbusinessesand
employment.Evenasmanycriticssaythatthisminimumwageincreasewouldcausemoreundocumented
immigrantstotakethejobsofAmericancitizens,thisproblemcanbesolvedthroughimmigrationreform
andpathstolegalizationinordertobringtheseundocumentedimmigrantsintotheformallaborforce.
Therepercussionsofnotincreasingtheminimumwagewouldoutweighthenegativesofincreasingitas
governmentspendingtosupporttheminimumwageearningpopulationwouldcontinueonitsincreasing
trendtowardsrecordhighseachyear,thesegregationbetweenAfricanAmericansandwhiteswould
endure,andthousandsofDCresidentsearningminimumwagewillhavetocontinuetostruggleto

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survive.Tofixtheseproblemsthatsproutfromaminimumwagethatistoolowforthecitysminimum
wageworkers,theDClegislaturemustpassabillthatincreasesthiswageto15dollarsanhour.

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(n.d.):n.pag.UnitedStatesDepartmentof
Agriculture,Mar.2015.Web.1Apr.2016.Thissourceprovidesaprofileonthehouseholdsthat
receiveSNAPinDCfortheyear2013.Thissourcewasusedinmypapertoshowhowmany
householdsusetheSNAPprogramasaformofgovernmentassistancetobuyfoodinDCand
howmanyofthosehouseholdshaveatleastoneproviderwhoisworking.
Acs,Gregory,LauraWheaton,MariaEnchautegui,andAustinNichols."UnderstandingtheImplications
ofRaisingtheMinimumWageintheDistrictofColumbia."(n.d.):n.pag.
DC.gov
.Urban
Institute,July2014.Web.3Apr.2016.Thissourceprovidesdetailsonthemanyimplicationsof
raisingtheminimumwageontheminimumwageearningcommunityofDC.Thissourcewas
usedinmypaperforitsdataonthenumberofminimumwageworkersfor2016thatwerewhite
orblack.
Altman,Daniel."WhyUppingtheMinimumWageRequiresImmigrationReform."
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UppingtheMinimumWageRequiresImmigrationReformComments
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Thissourceincludesinformationonasolutiontotheproblemofundocumented
immigrantsiftheminimumwageisincreased.Iusedthissourceforthisinformation.
"ApartmentsForRentinWashingtonDC."
Zillow
.Zillow,n.d.Web.03Apr.2016.Zillow.comisa
prominent,reliable,andpopularwebsitethatservesasasearchengineforhousing.Iusedthis
sourcetoshowthedifferenceinhousingopportunitiesbetweentheeastsideofDCandwestside
ofDC.
Berube,Alan."CanD.C.Afforda$15/hourMinimumWage?"
TheBrookingsInstitution
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anhourminimumwage.IusedthissourceforitsinsightanddatathatshowsthatDCinfactcan
afforda15dollaranhourminimumwage.

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Butler,StuartM.,andJonathanGrabinsky."SegregationandConcentratedPovertyintheNation's
Capital."
TheBrookingsInstitution
.N.p.,24Mar.2015.Web.01Apr.2016.Thissourcedetails
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thecity,andtherelationshipbetweenthesetwothings.Iusedthesourcetohelpdevelopmythird
argumentandIusedittoshowthehugeeconomiccontrastbetweenthewhiteandblack
communitiesofDCinmypaper.
Cooper,David."RaisingtheFederalMinimumWageto$10.10WouldSaveSafetyNetPrograms
BillionsandHelpEnsureBusinessesAreDoingTheirFairShare."
EconomicPolicyInstitute
.
TheEconomicPolicyInstitute,16Oct.2014.Web.03Apr.2016.Thissourcedetailshowan
increaseinthefederalminimumwagewouldsavethegovernmentbillionsinwelfarespending.
Thissourceopenedmyeyestohowincreasesintheminimumwagewouldsavegovernment
spendingandthisstartedmeonthetrackofgettinginformationonhowincreasesintheminimum
wagewouldhelpDCwhenitcomestothis.
"FairLaborStandardsActof1938:MaximumStruggleforaMinimumWage."
UnitedStatesDepartment
ofLabor
.N.p.,09Dec.2015.Web.01Apr.2016.Gaverelevantbackgroundinformation.
DetailedthecreationoftheminimumwageandhowFDRfirstcreatedit.
Glasmeier,Dr.AmyK."LivingWageCalculationforDistrictofColumbia,DistrictofColumbia."
Living
WageCalculator
.MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,n.d.Web.03Apr.2016.Thissource
isalivingwagecalculator.Itcalculateswhatthelivingwage,povertywage,andminimumwage
isfordifferentplacesalongwithtypicalexpenses,etc.Iusedthissourceforitscalculationonthe
livingwageforthedistrict.
Ho,HungKwan."EvaluationofAdequacyofPublicFacilitiesandServicesinAssistingPublicHousing
ResidentstoAdapttoNewLivingEnvironment."(n.d.):2.NationalCenterforHealthinPublic
Housing.Web.1Apr.2016.ThissourceprovidesnumbersofpeoplewhouseSection8housing

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AbhinKurella
4/4/2016
GreenGroup
orpublichousingandthetotalforbothforavarietyofareasincludingDC.Thissourcewasused
foritsdataonthetotalnumberofpeopleusingSection8andpublichousinginDC.
"HousingChoiceVoucherProgramSection8."
HousingChoiceVoucherProgramSection8
.N.p.,n.d.
Web.03Apr.2016.ThissourcedetailstheHousingChoiceVoucher/Section8program.Iused
thissourcetoclarifywhatthisprogramdoes.
Johnston,Katie."FourStoriesoftheWorkingPoorTheBostonGlobe."
BostonGlobe.com
.Boston
GlobeMediaPartners,17Aug.2014.Web.01Apr.2016.Thissourceprovidesmultipleaccounts
ofpeoplelivingonminimumwageindifferentsituationsanddifferentplaces.Iusedthissource
inmypapertopresentthestoryofapersonlivingonminimumwagetoappealtotheaudienceon
apersonallevelandalsotohelptheaudienceunderstandwhatminimumwageearnersinDCgo
through.
Lam,Bourree."NewYear,NewWages."
TheAtlantic
.AtlanticMediaCompany,1Jan.2016.Web.01
Apr.2016.ProvidesrelevantinformationonDCeffortstoincreaseminimumwagefurtherthan
thefederalwage.UsedforinformationthatdetailstheDCplantoincrementallyincreasethe
wageto11.50by2016.
Linn,Allison."'BytheGraceofGod':HowWorkersSurviveon$7.25perHourNBCNews."
NBC
News
.N.p.,n.d.Web.01Apr.2016.Givesrelevantinformationonpastattemptstoaidthe
minimumwageproblem.Usedtoshowhowlowthefederalminimumwageactuallyisandhow
muchitisunderthepovertylimit.
Maraniss,David,andRobertSamuels."TheRemarkableRacialSegregationofWashington,D.C.,in1
Map."
WashingtonPost
.TheWashingtonPost,19June2015.Web.01Apr.2016.Thissource
detailstheracialsegregationthatisapparentinDCbetweenwhiteandAfricanAmerican
communities.Iusedthissourceforthemapthatitincludesthatshowstheclearracialsegregation

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AbhinKurella
4/4/2016
GreenGroup
betweenmajoritywhiteandmajorityblackcommunitiesandIexplainedwhatthemapshowsin
mypaper.
Milbank,Dana."RaisingtheMinimumWageWithoutRaisingHavoc."
WashingtonPost
.The
WashingtonPost,5Sept.2014.Web.03Apr.2016.ThissourcetellsthestoryofSeaTac,atown
outsideofSeattlewherea15dollarminimumwagewasimplemented.Ittalksabouthowthe
townexperiencedlittleilleffectsafterimplementingthewage.Iusedthissourceforits
informationonthetownofSeaTacandthelackofilleffectsaftertheimplementationofthe15
dollarsanhourminimumwage.
"MinimumWageMythbusters."
UnitedStatesDepartmentofLabor
.UnitedStatesDepartmentofLabor,
09Dec.2015.Web.03Apr.2016.ThissourceisadocumentproducedbytheUnitedStates
DepartmentofLaborthatdetailsaseriesofmisconceivedideasabouttheminimumwage.Iused
thissourceforitsinformationonthemisconceivedideathattheminimumwagehurts
employmentchancesoftheworkersitissupposedtohelp.
"MinimumWagesince1938."
CNNMoney
.CableNewsNetwork,n.d.Web.24Apr.2016.
Thissource
showsthedifferentminimumwagesthroughouthistoryadjustedtoinflationinordertoshowits
valueintoday'sdollars.Iusedthissourcetofindwhatthefirstminimumwagewouldvalue
today.
MyBankTracker."YouWon'tSurviveinthe10MostExpensiveU.S.Cities,EvenWithTheseGreat
Jobs."
TheHuffingtonPost
.TheHuffingtonPost.com,17Aug.2015.Web.01Apr.2016.Usedfor
backgroundinformation.Detailedlistof10mostexpensivecitiesinUnitedStateswithDC
rankingamongthem.
Pacitti,Aaron."RaisingtheMinimumWageBoostsGrowthandDoesNotCauseUnemployment."
The
HuffingtonPost
.TheHuffingtonPost.com,n.d.Web.03Apr.2016.Thissourcedetailshow

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AbhinKurella
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GreenGroup
raisingtheminimumwagedoesnotincreaseunemployment.Thissourcehelpedinfluencemeto
findinformationonthisthatIcoulduseinmypaper.
Pacitti,Aaron."RaisingtheMinimumWageBoostsGrowthandDoesNotCauseUnemployment."
The
HuffingtonPost
.TheHuffingtonPost.com,n.d.Web.03Apr.2016.Thissourcetalksabouthow
raisingtheminimumwagedoesnotcauseunemployment.Thissourcecausedmetofindmore
informationonthistopicthatcouldbemorerelevanttoDCthatcouldbeincludedinmypaper.
Rawes,Erika."StateswiththeMostPeopleonFoodStamps."
USAToday.
N.p.,17Jan.2015.Web.1
Apr.2016.Thissourcehelpedtodeveloponeofmyargumentsasitgavemybackground
informationonhowmanypeoplewereonfoodstampsinDC.
Rogers,Kate."InsidetheMinimumWageDebate."
CNBC.
N.p.,04Sept.2015.Web.03Apr.2016.
This
sourcetalksaboutandgivesexamplesastowhythe15dollarminimumwageisareasonable
wageforsmallbusinesses.IusedthissourceforitsexamplesthatIgivesofbusinessesbeing
successfulwhilestillimplementinga15dollaranhour,orhigher,minimumwage.
Scheiber,Noam."Whata$15MinimumWageWouldMeanforYourCity."
TheNewYorkTimes
.The
NewYorkTimes,12Aug.2015.Web.03Apr.2016.Thissourceexplorestheimplicationsof
raisingtheminimumwageandwhenthewageisdeemed"toohigh."Iusedthissourceforits
expertopinionsthatsaythatawageat50percentofthemedianwageisreasonableforacity.
Stein,Perry."D.C.sPoorerResidentsAreIncreasinglyConcentratedEastoftheAnacostia."
Washington
Post
.TheWashingtonPost,14Apr.2015.Web.03Apr.2016.
Thissourcetalksabouthowthe
poorerresidentsofDCarenowincreasinglyconcentratedontheeastsideofDC.Iusedthis
sourceforitsinformationabouthowtheareaeastoftheAnacostiaRiverhasthemost
concentratedpovertyinDC.
Stein,Perry."MedianRentalPriceforaOnebedroomD.C.ApartmentIs$2,000,StudySays."
WashingtonPost
.TheWashingtonPost,12Mar.2015.Web.01Apr.2016.Givesinformationon

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AbhinKurella
4/4/2016
GreenGroup
medianrentalrateofonebedroomapartmentinDC.UsedtocompareagainstcurrentDCwage
andshowhowcurrentwageisnotenoughforworkerstoaffordhousing.Alsousedtodetail
declineofcheaperapartments.
Stilwell,Victoria,PeterRobison,andWilliamSelway."HighestMinimumWageStateWashingtonBeats
U.S.inJobCreation."
Bloomberg.com
.Bloomberg,8Mar.2014.Web.03Apr.2016.Thissource
detailsthesuperiorjobgrowthofWashingtonStateinrelationtothatoftherestoftheUnited
Stateswhilestillhavingahigherminimumwagethanthefederallevel.Iusedthissourceinmy
paperforitsinformationonthisasitshowsproofthattheminimumwagedoesnothurt
employmentchancesforthoseearningtheminimumwage.
"WageandHourDivision."
MinimumWage.
N.p.,n.d.Web.01Apr.2016.Givesrelevantinformationon
thepreviouseffortstoincreasetheminimumwage.Detailspastattemptstoincreasetheminimum
wagebydateandhowmucheachmeasureincreasedit.

"WageandHourDivision(WHD)."
U.S.DepartmentofLabor
.N.p.,n.d.Web.24Apr.2016.
Thissourcedetailsthechangesintheminimumwagebythestateandfederallevel.I
usedthissourceforitsinformationonchangesinDC'sminimumwagefrom1990to
2010.
Welcott,Ben."2014JobCreationFasterinStatesThatRaisedtheMinimumWage."
CenterforEconomic
andPolicyResearch
.CenterforEconomicandPolicyResearch,30June2014.Web.03Apr.
2016.Thissourceprovidesdatathatshowsthatjobcreationcaninfactbefasterinstatesthat
raisetheminimumwagethaninstatesthatdonotdoso.Iusedthissourceforthisdatatoprove
thatincreasesintheminimumwagecanactuallyincreaseemploymentopportunities.
West,Rachel,andMichaelReich."AWinWinforWorkingFamiliesandStateBudgets."(n.d.):n.pag.
CenterforAmericanProgress,Oct.2014.Web.3Apr.2016.Thissourceisastudythatdetails
therelationshipbetweentheminimumwageandgovernmentspendingonwelfareprograms.This

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AbhinKurella
4/4/2016
GreenGroup
sourcewasusedforitsdatathatshowsthatwhentheminimumwageincreases,thenumberof
peopleonwelfareprogramsdecreases.
"What'sintheMayor'sProposedFY2016Budget?"(n.d.):n.pag.DCFiscalPolicyInstitute,16Apr.
2015.Web.3Apr.2016.ThissourcedetailsthecontentsofthebudgetproposedbyDCMayor
MurielBowserforthe2016fiscalyear.Iusedthissourceforitsinformationonincreasesin
spendingforpublicassistanceandaffordablehousingprogramsanditsdatathatshowstrendsof
increasedspending.
Wing,Nick."17NumbersThatWillMakeYouRealizeJustHowPatheticTheFederalMinimumWage
Is."
TheHuffingtonPost
.TheHuffingtonPost.com,n.d.Web.01Apr.2016.Gaverelevant
informationtointroducetheproblem.Alsogaveinformationontheextentoftheproblemand
helpsthereaderunderstandhowhightheminimumwageshouldberightnow.
Zippel,Claire."DC'sPublicHousing:AnImportantResourceAtRisk."
DCsPublicHousing:An
ImportantResourceAtRisk
(n.d.):3.27Jan.2016.Web.1Apr.2016.Thissourcedetailsincome
demographicsofpeoplelivinginpublichousingandredevelopmentsofpublichousingunits.The
sourcewasusedfordetailsontheincomedemographicsofthoselivinginpublichousinginDC.

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