Thousands of San Diego's lowest paid workers in the tourism industry are getting a significant pay bump that city leaders pursued to address the cost-of-living crisis.

Why it matters: The raises, which will come in phases over four years, are a win for employees who power one of the city's biggest industries.

Driving the news: San Diego City Council unanimously voted this week to increase the minimum wage to $25 an hour for some hospitality workers, a roughly 45% increase over San Diego's current $17.25 general minimum wage.

• The meeting Tuesday drew hundreds of people on both sides of the issue, the Union-Tribune reported.
• The gradual annual raises will start next summer and won't reach $25 an hour until 2030. That's a major change from the initial proposal, which sought to impose the $25 minimum wage in January.

Zoom in: Once signed by Mayor Todd Gloria, the new law will affect housekeepers, parking attendants, ticket-takers, food service workers, landscapers and others at hotels with at least 150 guest rooms, plus at SeaWorld and event centers such as Pechanga Arena and Petco Park.

• San Diego State University's sports and entertainment venues and the zoo are exempt.

Between the lines: The phased-in approach was a critical adjustment to address industry stakeholders' concerns and hopefully avoid a ballot measure that could overturn the wage increase, Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who led the effort, told Axios.

• The compromise will give workers at least a 10% raise in the first year.

What they're saying: "This means a lot," said Samara Talavera, a single mom who's worked as a hotel housekeeper for 20 years and who attended the meeting, NBC7 reported.

• "Now I can afford my rent, my groceries," she said.

Reality check: A single adult with no children would need to make about $31 an hour to make ends meet in San Diego, according to MIT's living wage calculator.

Catch up quick: Local labor unions ignited the public fight for the wage increase at a rally last year and Elo-Rivera proposed the change earlier this year.

• The effort faced fierce opposition from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Padres and major players in the hospitality industry who argued it would hurt local businesses by increasing operating costs, leading to job and revenue losses, higher prices and small business closures.
• Yes, but: Elo-Rivera says the cost burden will mostly fall on "out-of-state multinational corporations or the visitors that stay in those hotels."

The bottom line: Tourism destinations like San Diego are wrestling with how to ensure the thriving industry benefits residents and increasing wages is an "important piece of that puzzle," Elo-Rivera said.

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Finca just made a pretty good case to host your next wine night or dinner with friends.

Dig in: North Park's trendy Spanish tapas and wine bar with a California twist made Wine Spectator Magazine's list of Editors' Favorite Wine Bars, which featured 37 other spots around the world.

What they're saying: Offering more than 20 wines by the glass and 165 bottles (mostly under $100), Finca is a "community-focused establishment centered on good food, wine and company, as any good wine bar should be," editor Aaron Romano wrote in his review.

• "Many sommeliers idolize this magazine from the start [of] our careers and to be showcased in this way is a sincerely humbling experience," Finca's sommelier and co-owner Dan Valerino shared on Instagram, noting that San Diego's wine scene is beginning to get the attention it deserves.

💭 Kate's thought bubble: Go for happy hour to get $10 glasses of wine, $12 cocktails and discounted dishes to share until 6pm at the bar or on the patio.

• Try the red sangria and the smoky, charred eggplant dip with house potato chips.

🎭 The Prebys Foundation is awarding $13.4 million in new grants to 61 San Diego museums, theaters, and other arts and culture organizations coping with funding and budget cuts, donor fatigue and inflation, Kate reports.

🤑 Mayor Todd Gloria wants to takeover the city's nonprofit-run parking districts after an internal review found alleged mismanagement, including contract violations and improper spending. If City Council approves his plan, Gloria would spend the $1.8 million in annual parking meter revenue on street repairs. (Union-Tribune)

💉 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Wednesday giving California the power to set its own vaccine schedules, breaking from federal guidance. (LA Times)

• Meanwhile, the West Coast Health Alliance issued its own COVID vaccine recommendations to include all kids 6-23 months old, all seniors 65 and older, anyone 2 years old to 64 years old with risk factors, and pregnant women.

Summer temperatures are hanging around longer in San Diego and nationwide, a new analysis finds, as climate change affects the seasons.

Why it matters: Temperatures staying relatively high for longer periods can increase cooling demand, prolong the risk of heat-related illnesses, and elevate the risk of wildfires.

By the numbers: In San Diego, summer temperatures now linger an average of seven days longer into fall compared to 1970, per a new report from Climate Central, a climate research group.

• The effect is similar in San Francisco (seven days), but more dramatic in San Jose (17), Palm Springs (11) and Los Angeles (10).
• Among cities with lingering heat, summer temperatures are lasting an extra 10 days on average.

How it works: Climate Central's analysis is based on NOAA data and reflects the last date each year with highs equal to or greater than historical summer-like temperatures.

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