SOME REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW MEXICO'S RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WANT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO TWEAK IT'S NEW MINIMUM WAGE LAW. THEY SHOWED UP AT MONDAY NIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING TO LET COUNCILORS KNOW HOW THE LATEST MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE IS AFFECTING BUSINESS. THE LAW, APPROVED BY VOTERS, RAISES THE WAGE FROM 7-50 AN HOUR TO 8-50. IT ALSO INDEXES WAGES TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION C-E-O, CAROL WIGHT, TELLS 770 KKOB THE C-P-I PROVISION CREATES TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE, AS WELL AS PENDING CHANGES TO HEALTH CARE LAWS, HAVE REPORTEDLY PROMPTED SOME RESTAURANTS IN ALBUQUERQUE TO REDUCE THEIR HOURS OR EVEN CLOSE SOME LOCATIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP COSTS DOWN.