Small business owner, Hyun Shin, worries about inflation following a wage increase (Olivia LaVoice/Neon Tommy)

“If I had an employee, I would cut the employee,” said Hyun Shin, owner of Hanabi Japanese Grill in Lomita, Calif. when asked how he would handle an increase in minimum wage.

Because of the economy, Shin can only afford to employ himself and his wife. Frustrated by Mayor Garcetti’s proposal, he is worried about the inflation that could follow the wage increase.

Shin explains that less than a decade ago the price of chicken has doubled. "We need to increase our prices but customers are extremely sensitive to price increase, even by 25 cents, so it’s very difficult," said Shin. "Raising minimum wage in the past made it difficult and if minimum wage is 13.25 dollars, it's going to be very tough, business will be tough." 

SEE ALSO: The Consequences Of Raising The Wage

Two young women stocking the shelves of a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles both feel they currently are not paid enough for the type of work they are expected to do.

Jade Garcia and Nye Williams working at 7-Eleven (Olivia LaVoice/Neon Tommy)

“We go though a lot working customer service jobs,” said 7-Eleven employee, Nye Williams.

As a college student, she believes the wage increase would be beneficial. "It’d be nice to live comfortably, and if I got that pay increase it would help me do that,” said Williams.

Her co-worker, Jade Garcia, also agrees that Garcetti should raise the minimum wage.

“We don’t get paid enough to go through all of the things that we go through," said Garcia. "Sometimes people don’t show up, we have to work a double shift, and sometimes it just doesn’t feel worth it."

Hugo Castillo works as a cashier at Papa John’s Pizza in Harbor City and looks at the possible wage increase from two different sides.

“Personally, it would help a lot, I’d be able to afford more things for myself and my family, but in the workplace I think it could be difficult because hours would have to be cut back, so it would work one way, but then in another way, I don’t think it would," said Castillo.

Hugo Castillo thinks he could be positively and negatively impacted by an increase in the minimum wage (Olivia LaVoice/Neon Tommy)

Castillo says the main thing he would do with his pay increase is put the money away. “I’d finally be able to start saving money, because as it is right now, it’s really hard and I can’t save enough,” said Castillo. “I'd start to save up for my daughter to go to college, she’s only two years old, but i mean it’s never too early”.

Cameron Thurston, a young employee at a Lomita McDonald's, is excited by the idea of being able to afford healthier options at the grocery store if his wages increase.

He also feels passionately about how the minimum wage increase could affect the overall community.

Cameron Thurston is hopeful an increase in minimum wage will help many in the 15th district of L.A. County (Olivia LaVoice/Neon Tommy)

“When you’re in poverty things are so day to day, but the wealthier people usually think of things in the long-term, and that makes a divide, but it definitely affects you psychologically because you just think oh i’ll never have that, I’ll never get to that level," said Thurston. "The increase in minimum wage would help fix that because if a lot of poor families in this community had more money they’d be able to actually save money and be able to take care of each other in the longterm financially." 

While it seems the low-income workers in the 15th district all want similar things, how the county should go about helping them achieve financial stability is a difficult situation, that leaves this district divided. 

Contact Staff Reporter Olivia LaVoice here. Follower her on Twitter here.