Regarding the article about the tip credit in Portland on July 8 (“Portland’s higher minimum wage comes with unforeseen hitch”):

It should be noted that Mayor Michael Brennan and City Council members, were, in fact, highly aware that, even if their intention was to keep the tip credit wage at $3.75, the wording of the proposed wage-increase ordinance was suspect.

This matter was raised at every single council meeting – including the July 6 meeting where councilors voted to raise the city minimum wage.

At that meeting, the Maine Restaurant Association gave the council a final warning regarding the language it was proposing.

Additionally, the association offered its help in rewriting that portion of the proposal to get it correct.

No matter what your opinion is about the tip credit, it needs to be understood that the proposal was passed Monday night based on the idea that the tipped wage would remain the same.

Additionally, I think it is sad that the mayor freely admits that he still does not understand the tip credit, nor has he taken the time to figure out something that is so important to so many people in this city.

The restaurant community – the very industry that has put Portland on so many of the recent “top 10” lists and gained Portland a world-renowned reputation for food and dining – is very disappointed in the city’s lack of support at this time.

Michelle Corry

co-proprietor: Five fifty-five, Petite Jacqueline, Portland Patisserie

Portland

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