Vice President Joe Biden will stop by a North Hollywood business today to push for an increase in the minimum wage as a way of putting workers on a “pathway to the middle class,” and his visit is expected to cause some traffic headaches.
Biden also plans to attend an evening fundraiser at the Beverly Wilshire hotel benefiting the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to the White House.
Biden’s visit comes one day after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to boost the minimum wage in unincorporated areas to $15 an hour by 2020, mirroring the increase already approved by the city of Los Angeles.
According to the White House, Biden’s remarks at Bobrick Washroom Equipment “will highlight the importance of increasing the minimum wage to give anyone who works hard every day the chance to earn a livable wage and get on a pathway to the middle class.”
Biden will also discuss “expanding the availability of overtime protections to make sure that millions of middle-class Americans are getting the extra pay they have earned,” according to the White House.
Biden will be joined at the event by Mayor Eric Garcetti and county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who led the push for the county minimum wage hike.
Bobrick, which has been in business since 1906, is based in North Hollywood and has six manufacturing divisions in the United States and Canada, according to the company’s website, which touts its “strong commitment to employee development.”
Ninio Fetalvo, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, criticized Biden for taxpayer-funded West Coast swing.
“As Vice President Biden swings through the Golden State on the taxpayer dime, people are wondering if he will challenge Hillary Clinton in the Democrat primary,” Fetalvo said. “But what is clear is that the American people are tired of the same failed Democrat policies that continue to leave the middle class behind.”
Although details of Biden’s travel plans around the Southland have not been released, Los Angeles police advised motorists to avoid selected areas while he is in town. Southbound Rodeo Drive and El Camino Drive from Wilshire Boulevard have already been closed and will remain blocked until 11 a.m. Thursday.
Police said motorists should avoid the following areas today:
— Wilshire between Beverly Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 2 to 4 p.m.;
— Wilshire between San Vicente and Santa Monica boulevards from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and
— Laurel Canyon Boulevard between Moorpark and Vanowen streets from noon to 3 p.m.
Tujunga Avenue will be closed between Sherman Way and Vanowen Street from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
On Thursday, motorists should avoid the following areas:
— Wilshire between Santa Monica Boulevard and Beverly Drive from 9 to 11 a.m.;
— Santa Monica Boulevard between Sawtelle and Wilshire from 9 to 11 a.m.; and
— Sepulveda between Lincoln and Century boulevards from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
