Sixth in a series

Re “$15 Will Reduce Culver City to Fast Foods – Shulman”

In the month and a half since the Los Angeles City Council announced a plan to compel all businesses to escalate their minimum wage to $15 hourly and beyond, Culver City restaurateur Alan Shulman has remained firm in his opposition.

He holds a majority opinion that his industry will be the most heavily damaged, shrinking employment rosters.

“The Council not only has created a city of fast foods,” Mr. Shulman said, “you really are going to take the personality out of the restaurant industry.

“For what? For what purpose?” he asked, rhetorically.

“What they are doing makes no sense.”

For a moment, the owner of Akasha and the new Sambar restaurants in Downtown reflected on a recent remark by L.A. Councilman Curren Price, possibly the most enthusiastic backer of the new minimum wage. Mr. Price cited an instance in which he paid a household employee $20 hourly, implying if he could do it, others should be capable.

“I don’t understand where Curren is coming from,” Mr. Shulman said of the former state senator who previously represented Culver City. “Curren eats in my restaurant,” and he lauded Mr. Price as a fine fellow.

Returning to the 15-person City Council, Mr. Shulman said that “all of the Council members are nice people, but they are acting irrationally.

“They pushed the minimum wage through so fast, and I want to know,” Mr. Shulman asked, “when has anything passed that fast?”

(To be continued)