On New Year’s Day, the city of Seattle, Washington hiked the minimum wage to an unprecedented $20.76 per hour. While the owner of the Bebop Waffle Shop, Corina Luckenbach, initially supported this decision, she was soon forced to shutter her business permanently due to the excessive costs it placed on small businesses.
“It just doesn’t make financial sense anymore,” Luckenbach explained to KCPQ-TV. “The increased wage would cost me an additional $32,000 a year. I can’t afford to keep my business open under these conditions.” The decision to close her business was a heartbreaking one, as she had strived to create a safe space for the queer community.
In November, Luckenbach took to social media to announce the closing of Bebop Waffle Shop after 10 years of service. In her post, she reiterated her support for the increased minimum wage while acknowledging the hardships it placed on her business. “I hate to close a safe space for queer people at this time, but the money just isn’t there after the minimum wage increase (which I fully support),” she wrote.
With her decision to close her business, Luckenbach has unintentionally highlighted a common trend among progressive policies – their negative impact on the very people they claim to help. While Luckenbach may have supported the increased minimum wage as a means of showing compassion and empathy, the result was the closure of her business and unemployment for her employees.
It’s important to note that Donald Trump and Republicans were not the ones responsible for this outcome. Rather, it was the leftist lawmakers in Seattle who enacted this policy and forced Luckenbach to make the difficult decision to shut her doors. This is a common occurrence with progressive policies – they often have a veneer of compassion, but their consequences often do more harm than good.
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As the nation becomes more divided along political lines, it’s important to consider the impact of policies pushed by the left. While they may have good intentions, their execution often leads to unintended consequences. Businesses like Bebop Waffle Shop are just one example of this.
In light of this, it’s crucial for individuals to pay close attention to the policies being pushed by their elected officials and consider the potential consequences before supporting them. In the case of Seattle’s increased minimum wage, it has resulted in the closure of a beloved business and unemployment for its employees.