Joe Biden, Mayor Garcetti and business leaders discussing a local wage increase. (Raakhee Natha/Neon Tommy)

Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Eric Garcetti conducted a panel discussion with business leaders at the L.A. Baking Company in Lincoln Heights early Tuesday.

While the scent of scones and croissants wafted through the crowd, it didn’t distract from the importance of what they were discussing: increasing the minimum wage. A motion was put forward in City Council to increase the minimum wage to $13.25 in L.A.

SEE ALSO: Raising the Minimum Wage Won't Sink L.A. Businesses

The meeting began with an acknowledgement of the infrastructure and development projects that L.A. has already begun, including the L.A. River revitalization project, the rail system expansion and the “Promise Zones” anti-poverty initiative.

The vice president commended Garcetti and the city of L.A. saying, “You’re one of the great cities of the world and you are stepping up.”

Garcetti said that L.A. is taking on the call to address issues around poverty and growth. He believes it is the responsibility of the country’s major cities to lead America out of poverty.

This meeting, along with other initiatives, was an attempt by government officials to find ways to convince the business sector to embrace a higher minimum wage that will combat poverty in the city.

SEE ALSO: Strike Nationwide Over Minimum Wage

Garcetti highlighted why increasing the minimum wage is particularly important in a city like L.A. 

“In a city where unfortunately too many parents can’t get home to help their kids with their school because they are working 2 or 3 jobs … too many people can’t live the American dream of working hard, keeping a job and supporting their families,” he said. 

Biden emphasized that in order to stimulate the economy, it is not only infrastructure that needs to be invested in, but also better paying jobs.

“This 1.8 billion dollars will immediately go back into the economy of the city of Los Angeles,” said Biden. This cash flow into the economy will lead to job creation.

Now the challenge is to persuade local businessmen to raise wages when entrepreneurs are not fully confident in an economic rebound after a punishing recession.

Reach Staff Reporter Raakhee Natha here.