The San Diego City Council will Tuesday discuss raising the minimum wage for some hospitality workers in the city to $25 an hour, phased out over several years – one day after a downtown rally by union leaders, workers, and business owners.

What was initially intended as an immediate infusion of higher wages for all workers in San Diego’s tourism industry suddenly has many carve-outs and a phased-in timeline, per the most recent iteration of the ordinance placed on the council’s docket last week.

While not expressly stated in city documents, this may be an attempt to avoid an expensive legal battle by affected entities.

If passed, the ordinance would dictate that workers “at hospitality employers, which include hotels with at least 150 guest rooms, amusement parks, and event centers,” w

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