Derrick Green (Courtesy photo)

Derrick Green (Courtesy photo)

Opinion: Ballot Measure 1 will help businesses and communities thrive

It would not be good for the health and safety of my staff, my customers, or my family if workers are too worried about missing pay to stay home when they are sick.

Alaska small businesses are the vital heart of our local economy. I know that as a restaurant owner and as treasurer of the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce. I’m supporting Ballot Measure 1 to raise Alaska’s minimum wage and enable workers to earn paid sick time because it will help our businesses and our communities thrive.

I’m a proud Army veteran. My life’s mission changed when my late wife developed cancer. I created our original Waffles and Whatnot mixes to provide her with delicious, nutrient-packed food she could tolerate after chemo.

I know how important the provision in Ballot Measure 1 guaranteeing earned paid sick days will be for Alaska workers and families, and for Alaska businesses.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

It would not be good for the health and safety of my staff, my customers, or my family if workers are too worried about missing pay to stay home when they are sick.

At Waffles and Whatnot, we care about our customers, and we care about our employees. My staff treats our restaurant as family because we treat them as family. Customers can feel that! We want people who come in to eat to feel like family, too.

That family feeling, great service and reliably great food that our customers have come to expect is only possible because of our staff.

People want to work for us. We haven’t had trouble hiring and we’ve had virtually no employee turnover. That means we spend a lot less money on hiring and training employees. Our staff is more committed and productive.

It makes more sense to have better wages and low turnover than low wages and high turnover. It makes my business better, more reliable and more resilient. It keeps our customers coming back and telling others about us.

You know what alienates customers at restaurants and other kinds of businesses? When employees are working sick. When employees are constantly worried about if they can make ends meet, and they cannot focus on doing the best they can at work. When there is high employee turnover and unreliable quality and service.

Under Ballot Measure 1, the minimum wage would increase to $13 in 2025, $14 in 2026, and $15 in 2027. Working people should not have to skip meals to afford to pay for electricity or gas. No business should expect them to.

When workers make more money, they can afford to spend more. They can spend more at Waffles and Whatnot, and at other businesses across our city and state. That brings in more revenue, which drives business growth and hiring.

I hear from business owners all the time who know that for their business to succeed, they need a solid customer base. More wages circulating throughout our community strengthens our customer base and our economy.

As a veteran, a restaurant owner, and a leader in the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce, I’m dedicated to building community.

I’ve joined with more than 120 businesses in the Alaska Business for Better Jobs Coalition supporting Ballot Measure 1. Our growing coalition includes a wonderful variety of small businesses in Anchorage and across Alaska as well as the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Passing Ballot Measure 1 will improve the well-being of our people, businesses and communities. Let’s get this done!

Derrick Green is owner of Waffles and Whatnot restaurant in Anchorage, treasurer of the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce, and a member of Alaska Business for Better Jobs.

More in Opinion

Therese Lewandowski. (Photo provided)
Point of View: Let’s raise equal rights for women

There is much more to our gender inequality story.

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: U.S. should treat tariffs with a cold shoulder

The problem is that the U.S. imposes tariffs on what we buy.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen in this undated file photo. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A campfire can be seen at the Quartz Creek Campground in Cooper Landing, Alaska, in May 2020. (Clarion staff)
Opinion: What carbon capture and storage might mean for Alaska

Could Alaska be the next leader in carbon capture and storage?

Promotional image via intletkeeper.org.
Point of View: Learn efficiency at upcoming Homer Energy Fair

Energy conservation and efficiency have multiple benefits.

Congress holds a joint session to certify the election results of 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 6, 2025. President-elect Donald J. Trump has waffled on his preferences for how his party tackles his agenda, adding to the uncertainty for Republicans. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
Opinion: The moral imperative of our time

Trump has made it very clear that he wants to control what the news media publishes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is photographed during a visit to Juneau, Alaska, in November 2022 . (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Opinion: Alaska’s charter schools are leading the nation — It’s time to expand their reach

Expanding charter schools isn’t just about offering alternatives; it’s about giving every child the chance to succeed.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Everyone pays the price of online shopping returns

Online shoppers in 2023 returned almost a quarter-trillion dollars in merchandise

Cars drive past the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. building in Juneau on Thursday. This year’s Permanent Fund dividend will be $1,312, the state Department of Revenue announced. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Opinion: The wisdom of late bloomers in education

In Alaska, the state’s 529 education savings plan isn’t just for children

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, addresses a crowd with President-elect Donald Trump present. (Photo from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office)
Opinion: Sen. Sullivan’s Orwellian style of transparency

But even if he thinks it’s wrong, his commitment to self-censoring all criticism of Trump will prevent him from telling us

Rep. Sarah Vance, candidate for State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Point of View: Vance out of touch in plea to ‘make more babies’

In order to, as she states, “make more babies,” women have to be healthy and supported.

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in