Minimum wage in Westchester to increase in 2025

Beginning Jan. 1, the employees will be paid $16.50 per hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester. That's a 50-cent increase from what it was to start 2024.

"I think it's a good thing, because everything is going up," said Shad Estes.

"Why not give a little bit more money to the people there and let them spend however they please," said Luxial Florentino.

Mark Weinstock is a professor of Economics at Pace University. He said he considers the increase to be a step in the right direction.

"One of the problems with the minimum wage is it's not regularly adjusted for the impact of inflation," Weinstock said.

Despite the bump in pay, the professor said minimum wage is nowhere near the living wage in Westchester.

"I think a living wage would be a minimum of $20 or $25 an hour," Weinstock said.

Employees at Elevate Cannabis in Mount Vernon said their pay starts at $18 an hour.

"Just help out the staff... make sure people enjoy working and they put their best effort forward," said manager Chris Carey.

Carey considered how other businesses may be impacted by the increase.

"It may put a strain on certain people, but hopefully the economy will take a positive turn and people will be more incentivized to work harder," Carey said.

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