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For years I worked in Portland as a full-time student at USM and full-time minimum wage worker, making $15-$18 an hour. I couldn't afford to survive. Toward the end of my time in Portland, I was living off expired free food I would score at work, and barely making enough to cover the cost of my rent (which repeatedly rose).

Years of this cycle left me no choice but to move to Biddeford, where I could afford to do more than scrape by. Even after I graduated in 2022, I could still not find a job in my field beyond minimum wage work.

My story is identical to many workers across the city who work to make our food and hospitality industry in Portland successful. I'm urging everyone to vote "Yes" on A to increase Portland's minimum wage to support workers in our city, because Portland needs a raise.