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L-R: Phillipa Soo and Savvy Crawford in “Amélie, A New Musical” at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. “Amélie, A New Musical” plays through January 15, 2017. See page 3. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, January 6, 2017 Vol. 11 No. 02
When is Enough, Enough? The “Fight for $15” movement that began with fast-food and other low-wage workers helped spark California’s latest round of minimum-wage hikes. (NY Communities)
California Minimum-Wage Hike Helps, but Not Nearly Enough By Desert Star Staff PASADENA, Calif. – Low-wage workers won a victory with California’s minimum-wage increase, in effect starting this week. The increases will be yearly and incremental, this year, it’s 50 cents, bringing worker pay to $10.50 an hour
and ultimately, to $15. But for many, it still isn’t really enough to get by. About 22 percent of Californians live in poverty, and the service workers’ union SEIU said that’s essentially because seven out of ten jobs pay less than $15 an hour. Frank Trejo is one such worker. At 23, he said he’s
By Desert Star Staff A startled guardsman at Buckingham Palace reportedly almost shot the Queen after she went for an unexpected 3am walk around the gardens. Per the Times, the soldier was on patrol on the palace perimeter during the early hours of the morning when he spotted a figure in the darkness. He reportedly challenged the potential intruder by shouting: “Who’s that?” On realizing it was the Queen, who had ventured out after a bout of insomnia, he said: “Bloody hell, Your Majesty, I nearly shot you.” Expecting a serious
dressing down by the monarch, he was surprised when the 90-year-old responded: “That’s quite all right. Next time I’ll ring through beforehand so you don’t have to shoot me.” The near-miss was reported as it emerged that the venerable military ceremony of handing over the guard may be rescheduled due to security concerns. The changing of the guard parade, in which one group of soldiers takes over from another, will now take place on fixed days during autumn and winter. Normally, the handover
supporting himself, his mother and two younger relatives. “Right now I’m working two jobs,” he said. “In the morning, I open at McDonald’s from 4 to 12, as maintenance, and then I go to my second job as a dishwasher.” Some small businesses say they empathize with workers
but just can’t afford the pay hike, and might even relocate to states like Nevada, with its $8.25 minimum wage and fewer taxes and regulations. Others argue that focusing on pay rates, instead of keeping jobs in-state and improving job training, won’t do enough to patch the deeper problems
around job creation. Trejo said his mom, who also cares for a young niece and nephew, will soon be moving. Pasadena, where the median household income hovers around $70,000 and rent tops $1,400 a month, is just too much for the family right now.
Queen almost shot by startled guardsman during 3am stroll
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