Santa Fe Implements US First: Minimum Wage Linked to Housing Costs
Santa Fe, known for its unique culture, is implementing a pioneering ordinance to combat a housing affordability crisis by directly linking wages to both consumer prices and fair market rent. This groundbreaking approach, which will raise the minimum wage to $17.50 by 2027, aims to help approximately 9,000 workers, or about 20% of the city’s workforce, afford to live in Santa Fe. City officials are also pursuing additional strategies like increased housing permits and a mansion tax to ensure the city’s diverse population can continue to thrive. Ultimately, this effort represents a critical step in preserving Santa Fe’s identity as “The City Different”.
John Q. Hosedrinker