While some Los Angeles citizens are barely making ends meet with a $9 minimum wage, most Echo Park business owners and managers are working their way up the recession.  

Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Raise The Wage L.A. proposal was not significantly relevant to a neighborhood salon, a local coffee shop, or a realtor company because they all have one thing in common: dedication. 

Ken Shapiro, 63, a seven-year owner and broker of Silverwood Properties Investment and Residential Real Estate, 1545 Echo Park Avenue, had to reinvent himself in order to stay ahead. 

"Originally, I was representing mom and pops kind of buyers and sellers for families. I discovered many of my clients were 25 to 35 year-olds in the entertainment industry and they didn’t have a retirement fund," said Shapiro. "I started doing seminars, that wasn’t good enough, so I started learning about commercial development and I’ve now cultivated a clientele that way." 

Employees who work with Shapiro are independent contractors. They are not paid a minimum wage, which works well for them and the company tax wise, he said. 

His personal view on minimum wage increase is positive. 

“I’d like to see people who are actually working be able to get enough money that can provide for their family, I know that some people have more barriers than others.”

Caitlyn Clarke, 28, manager of Neighborhood Salon, 1838 Echo Park Avenue, could not agree more. Clarke gets paid hourly, but more than the minimum wage. 

“I would never survive on minimum wage and I don’t even have a family!” Clarke said. 

The salon has been in business for four growing years. Hair stylists are renters and commissioners, but are both responsible for building their own clientele. 

SEE ALSO: L.A. Mayor Announces Plan To Increase Minimum Wage To $13.25 Per Hour

Most businesses are thriving in Echo Park, but some are falling short. 

Hania Torres, 50, owner of Chahin Travel, 1825 Echo Park Avenue, has been running her business for 23 years now. Although it’s a travel agency, she also provides income taxes and notary

. According to Torres, she would not be able to survive if that is all she offered. 

“When I was young, it was different. Everything was leveled. Right now, if you want to buy a house, it’s almost impossible. Even though minimum wage was low, housing was low. It was leveled,” she said.  

Her future plans are to continue running her business, even though she strongly believes the economy is getting worse. 

The younger generation in Echo Park doesn’t have to own a business to excel.  

Edward Fernandez, 20, is a dog lover and yearns to be a dog trainer one day. At Blue Collar Working Dog, 1533 Echo Park Avenue, Fernandez is getting all the experience he needs. 

“I volunteered at a dog rescue. I love working with dogs and I want to be a dog trainer. The owners are dog people. We’re all really on the same page,” he said. 

However, Fernandez believes there are more opportunities than just minimum wage jobs and everyone should take advantage of them. 

“People are complaining about working at McDonald's, but there are other jobs out there. People are lazy and don’t want to make a long commute to make more money, that’s on them. Life is not always easy, so you got to make the struggles sometimes,” said Fernandez. 

If employees at getting paid by the hour at independent businesses, it is at least a dollar above minimum wage. 

After working for seven years,

Joana Rubio, 25, manager of Chango Coffee House, 1559 Echo Park Avenue, confirms the business is doing great and pays fairly.

“We just got a new owner two years ago and she tripled numbers. She’s owned restaurants for 15 years of her life. She’s very smart and business savvy,” she said. 

Echo Park business owners and employees are proud. Breaking news about minimum wage in Los Angeles is the least of their worries.

Reach Staff Reporter Iqbal Al-Sanea here.