New York State Minimum Wage Rises to as Much as $17 an Hour but Leaves Some Unhappy

New York State is raising the minimum wage to as much as $17 an hour depending on location over the next several years.
Future increases in the minimum wage will be tied to the inflation rate.
The new minimum wage will be higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour but lower than some other high-cost states.
Labor activists argue the increases are too modest while business groups warn of potential negative impacts like price inflation and job losses.
The wage increases are expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers but the amount of the raises remains controversial.