Santa Fe Sore Thumb

The New Mexico state legislature wisely rejected the proposed increase in the statewide minimum wage. As a result, Santa Fe–with its own substantial increase–will stick out like a sore thumb.
Any business that wants to locate in New Mexico will surely avoid Santa Fe. Even those that need to be located right in Santa Fe will tend to avoid the city’s high wages. It’s said that 19 restaurants have already closed.
It’s said that a higher minimum wage will have no effect on firms that don’t hire low wage workers, but this is untrue. A $10 minimum will probably be felt in the form of wage increases higher up in the pay scale. Otherwise why were union lobbyists so thick around the capital during the minimum wage debate?