The Fight Over Initiative 77 Getting Hot

Thanks to a reader for passing on the latest on the Battle For/Against Initiative 77 (“proposes to eliminate the tip credit – which allows tips to offset hourly pay to guarantee employees are paid at least minimum wage”):

So now we have fake accounts like @Trump4DC masquerading as conservative accounts to discredit actual tipped workers. Don't be fooled. I fucking hate Trump & I'm a progressive liberal DC tipped worker & voting citizen & I say NO to 77! #VoteNo77 #SaveOurTips #Initiative77 #86ROC

— ⚛️ Caitlin 🌿 (@cqschiavoni) May 31, 2018

Get over yourself, conservatives own restaurants too, more than you think. Why don’t you relax help us beat 77 and you can go back to hating Trump https://t.co/DhpawNUEtZ

— SAVE TRUMP HOTEL DC #MAGA 🇺🇸 #KAG 🇺🇸🇧🇪🇨🇮 (@Trump4DC) May 31, 2018

The man himself has now weighed in too:

Sad someone like you has such a short view of the issue.77 will make wage disparity increase, restaurants will stop hiring, jobs will be lost, restaurants Will Close,prices will raise. Yes! But FOH people again don’t want it!.. you trying to solve problem with wrong solution! https://t.co/QLPRVLsWxu

— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) May 31, 2018

trying to fix a problem you don’t understand. Your short view will make the economy suffer, and actually create more problems. Minimum wage always should increase, and tipping one day will stop nationwide and FOH will earn just hourly or salaries, but 77 is just wrong way… https://t.co/HhM2XS1CNg

— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) May 31, 2018