Virginia finally moving to $9.50 an hour minimum wage

On May 1, then to $11 on 1 Jan 2022.

BUT even at $380 then $440 a week full-time (before taxes and health care are taken out), no one at that level can live alone in Arlington VA (minimum rent about $1600 for a two-bedroom apartment, then add on utilities) unless they have other resources.

((I don't think it's a coincidence that the highest test positivity rate was in a zip code full of old garden apartments, while an adjoining one (separated by I-395) full of single-family homes and condos had a much lower one ((at least when I last checked)).))

Some retailers have figured this out and offer about $15 an hour. Others have not.

But can restaurants offer full-time work? And enough patrons to pay enough tips? Currently, indoor/outdoor dining is limited to 50/100 people, to expand to 100/250 on 15 May. Still well under capacity for the inside of the big restaurants and bars.

And if vicious variants get loose here, business restrictions may continue and expand.

I hope they don't.