Last year, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in New York City had to turn away nearly 30,000 applications for summer jobs, mostly black and Latino kids.
Why? The Wall Street Journal Reports:
“The higher state minimum wage that went into effect in 2005,” writes author David Jason Fischer, “added to the challenge of funding SYEP by increasing the cost per participant, making it difficult to keep SYEP enrollment levels the same without year-over-year budget increases or additional administrative cuts.” New York’s minimum wage increased once again this year to $7.15 from $6.75, adding another $3.5 million in costs.”
But hey, the minimum wage, if it doesn’t fight poverty, is just an important symbol to show that we care. I shudder to think what would happen when a “failed” program is enacted.
