[awad]

NYC has had shockingly low minimum wage:

https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/spotlight-minimum-wage/

I specifically remember being a teenager around that time and trying to math out a part time job at McDonalds for 5.35 an hour and realizing how tough it all was.

[SoftTalker]

In 2000? Yeah that might be somewhat typical for fast food wages depending on locale.

Minimum wage is a floor. It doesn't mean you can hire at that rate.

Minimum wage in my state is the federal minimum ($7.25/hr) but restaurants here have to pay about double that to get anyone.