Politics

To Empower Students, Save Our Tips by Lauren Kosiba

By Prince Of Petworth

Ed. Note: You can read ‘The Case to Vote YES on Initiative 77 for #OneFairWage’ By Melissa Boteach and Eliza Schultz here.

by Lauren Kosiba

I graduated from American University with a master’s degree in Public Administration. I’m sure most students shared my experience – it was a long road to get to walk that stage, full of late nights proofreading term papers, conference calls or meetings for group projects, and check-ins with advisors to stay on track. However, what some of my classmates found most interesting about my experience was how I supported myself throughout my program – I was a server. They saw me on weekends when they were brunching with their friends; they were gracious enough to be flexible with group meeting times when I had to work evening shifts. I even helped a few of my classmates, who expressed an interest in earning extra money to supplement their modest (or non-existent) intern wages, pick up part-time restaurant jobs! I’ve worked in restaurants for the past 15 years. I have not had to ask my parents or friends for a loan – though I have had to ask my restaurant managers for an extra shift, sometimes “just in case.” My experience would have simply been impossible if not for the flexibility and good pay that I make as a tipped employee in Washington, D.C. You may not know it, but students like me who take on the financial burden of education are about to get left behind due to an initiative on the ballot in DC this June. The “District of Columbia Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2017” or Initiative 77, proposes to increase the tipped minimum wage to $15/ hr, which would eliminate the tip credit.

At first glance, you might think that this sound like a good idea. (more…)

The Case to Vote YES on Initiative 77 for #OneFairWage By Melissa Boteach and Eliza Schultz

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

Ed. Note: A case to Vote No on Initiative 77 will be posted at this time tomorrow.

By Melissa Boteach and Eliza Schultz

We, like many of our fellow D.C. residents, have seen the “Save Our Tips” signs all over town. As anti-poverty advocates and researchers, we take seriously the argument that we should listen to people who are directly affected by a given policy. There are many well-intentioned people who plan to vote against Initiative 77 – the ballot initiative that would phase out the sub-minimum wage earned by tipped workers by 2026 – because they know servers, mainly in higher-end restaurants and bars, who are against it.

But we also know many servers (in D.C. as well as in the eight states that don’t have a separate tipped wage) and can tell you that a big reason you’re not hearing a lot of voices from tipped workers in favor of Initiative 77 is due to fear of retaliation. Workers are literally walking into their places of employment bombarded with signs saying “Save Our Tips” – even right above where they clock in. Publicly speaking out when you’re already economically insecure and need the job is difficult.

The debate in D.C. over 77 has been riddled with misinformation and one-sided arguments, funded by a corporate campaign that is paying tens of thousands to consulting firms so that they don’t have to pay their workers more.

To that end, we wanted to share some facts on 77 with you: (more…)

A “Voting Guide for the D.C. Primary” (June 19th)

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jacques Arsenault

“Dear PoPville,

It’s my first election cycle in DC! I was going to email to see if you could recommend a good guide to the upcoming primary, but realized that one exists provided by The League of Women Voters Education Fund, which works to register voters, provide voters with election information through voter guides as well as candidate forums and debates. The League is non-partisan, and some fellow PoPville readers may be interested in checking out the tools available at here.”

The Fight Over Initiative 77 Getting Hot

By Prince Of Petworth

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”):

The man himself has now weighed in too:

Two Months After Nellie’s Apologizes for Doing So, Rebellion Flies “Blue Lives Matter” Flag

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Similar to the issue with Nellie’s earlier this year, I noticed that Rebellion on 18th and S Street, NW is also flying a Blue Lives Matter flag. Was it perhaps to encourage cops to show up during the recent National Police Week?”

Ed. Note: After flying a Blues Lives Matter flag in late March, Nellie’s wrote (in part):

“We now understand that flying this flag — at this point in time, in particular — was at best tone deaf, and at worst offensive. We sincerely apologize to our customers and our neighbors for this egregious mistake, and want to assure you that this flag will never fly at Nellie’s again. What it represents to you is not what we want to represent, or what we want our bar to be.”

“Police decided that it was a good idea to let cars out of the parking lot on the south side of the street and direct them ONTO THE SIDEWALK”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photos by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

Thanks to nevermindtheend for the sending:

“So there were ADAPT protesters blocking the roadway on F Street between 6th and 7th yesterday, right at the peak of the PM rush. (Information about the protest here.) Police decided that it was a good idea to let cars out of the parking lot on the south side of the street and direct them ONTO THE SIDEWALK on the north side of the street so they could get to 7th Street.

To do this, access to Gallery Place Station was completely blocked off to pedestrians walking westbound on F Street. There was no warning at 6th Street that the sidewalk was closed 3/4 of the way down the street and police didn’t even bother to alternate letting cars through and letting pedestrians through. It’s quite clear that this city prioritized cars over people.”

Update from the Chief of Police:

President Obama Reacts to Pulling Out of Iran Nuclear Deal “Debates in our country should be informed by facts, especially debates that have proven to be divisive.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering

From President Obama’s Facebook:

“There are few issues more important to the security of the United States than the potential spread of nuclear weapons, or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East. That’s why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place.

The reality is clear. The JCPOA is working – that is a view shared by our European allies, independent experts, and the current U.S. Secretary of Defense. The JCPOA is in America’s interest – it has significantly rolled back Iran’s nuclear program. And the JCPOA is a model for what diplomacy can accomplish – its inspections and verification regime is precisely what the United States should be working to put in place with North Korea. Indeed, at a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes – with Iran – the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans.

That is why today’s announcement is so misguided. (more…)

View More Stories