OPINION: Ballot Measure 1 will help businesses and communities thrive

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.

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 whether 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.

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