California entrepreneur who led minimum wage measure 'disappointed' by defeat, vows to fight for working class

Joe Sanberg, the entrepreneur and anti-poverty advocator who spearheaded a precocious defeated authorities ballot measurement to rise California's minimum wage, said helium felt "frustrated and disappointed" by the loss, but vowed to proceed advocating for struggling Californians. 

Proposition 32, which would person raised the state's minimum wage from $16 to $18 per hr by 2026, narrowly failed astatine the ballot container 50.8% to 49.2%.

The measurement was pushed by Sanberg, a progressive concern leader, capitalist and co-founder of the socially-conscious fiscal steadfast Aspiration.

OPPONENTS OF FAILED CALIFORNIA MEASURE TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE SAY VOTERS ‘MADE THE RIGHT CALL’

Joe Sanberg spearheaded Proposition 32 successful an effort to rise California's minimum wage to $18 per hour.  (Fox News Digital)

"I thought it was going to walk by a constrictive margin," helium told Fox News Digital. "I'm frustrated and disappointed that we mislaid by a constrictive margin. I besides admit that… radical are precise aggravated and frustrated astir inflation, and they don't cognize who and wherever to blame."

"We should each beryllium capable to hold that if you enactment full-time, you should beryllium capable to spend life's basal needs," helium added. "And determination are millions of Californians for whom that is not the case." 

Advocates of Prop 32 said astir 2 cardinal workers, including edifice and market store employees, stood to payment from the measure, The Associated Press reported.

In caller years, California has raised its minimum wage successful an effort to offset accrued costs for housing, state and different necessities. In April, fast-food restaurants successful the authorities with 60 oregon much locations were mandated to commencement paying their employees astatine slightest $20 per hour.

Business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, California Restaurant Association and California Grocers Association, opposed Prop 32, saying precocious labour costs would wounded tiny businesses, arsenic good arsenic pb to an summation successful prices for customers. 

"It's understandable that policymakers, and adjacent galore Californians, mightiness beryllium allured and attracted to the conception of a fewer other dollars successful someone's pocket, but unfortunately, they did not look to recognize the economical fallout of that benignant of concept," John Kabateck, the California manager for the National Federation of Independent Business, told Fox News Digital. 

GAVIN NEWSOM: CRITICS SAID CALIFORNIA'S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE WOULD BE A JOB-KILLER. THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED

Proposition 32, which would person raised the state's minimum wage from $16 to $18 per hr by 2026, narrowly failed astatine the ballot container 50.8% to 49.2%. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Opponents besides argued that raising the minimum wage excessively accelerated would effect successful occupation losses.

"When a idiosyncratic loses a job, oregon the institution goes retired of business, the wage is ZERO DOLLARS PER HOUR," concern leaders wrote successful their authoritative ballot argument. 

Sanberg has spent years advocating for anti-poverty authorities and raising consciousness astir California's tax credit that helps assistance radical retired of fiscal uncertainty. Despite the nonaccomplishment astatine the ballot box, Sanberg said helium remained optimistic.

He noted that successful Imperial County, which sits eastbound of San Diego connected the California-Mexico border, President-elect Trump made important gains with voters, contempt Vice President Kamala Harris winning the wide ballot number there. 

"It's wide that working-class voters are successful favour of raising the minimum wage. To me, that sends a connection astir however we tin get some parties moving toward making enactment wage better," Sanberg said. 

Moving forward, Sanberg, who grew up with a azygous genitor who struggled financially, said helium plans to support advocating for amended wage for workers truthful they tin astatine slightest spend the basics. 

"I'm unfastened to each attack to get america to that outcome. But that's the result that we ought to pursue. I conscionable can't ideate that we tin beryllium satisfied with thing little than that," helium said. "What is much American than the thought of moving full-time and knowing that you tin spend your house, your transportation, your nutrient and your wellness care?"

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"That is not immoderate aspiration. That's a basal covenant that I deliberation each Americans are taught to judge that we person with each other," helium added. "I deliberation that covenant has been breached present for immoderate clip for tens of millions of working-class radical astir the country."