摘要：由紐約州州長任命的一個委員會周三建議，將紐約州快餐店員工的最低工資標準從每小時8.75美元逐步調至每小時15美元。為平衡紐約市的高生活消費水平，委員會設置的紐約市的漲薪速度高於紐約州的其他地區。支持者認為漲薪可能會擴散至該州的其他低收入行業。紐約州長則認為此舉可以帶動全國範圍內低收入人士的漲薪。 (This applies to fast food chains with 30+ outlets like Starbucks, McDonald's)

English:
http://cn.nytimes.com/usa/20150723/cc23minimum/zh-hant/

There were heated debates (mostly politically driven) on forums about this. Many cheered "It's about time" and some even argued that the gradual increase will not result in drastic price increases, inflation nor job cuts since the bottom earners would be able to afford more basic needs, which means that the additional income would be benefited immediately by the NYC economy. Then there are worries that this will mean more automations (ordering machines, burger flipping machines) at the restaurants, hours cuts for the workers, or substantial increases in food prices due to rapidly increase in labor costs, which also drives up the labor costs with competitions and even entices workers from other industries, creating an inflation that does not result in growth overall.

A few information for everyone not familiar with NYC taxes:
Although $15/hr sound pretty high in HKD (~$116.25), I did the math on income taxes, the person working 40 hours a weeks would bring in USD $31,200 per year, or HKD ~$241,800.
Taxes on the taxable income @ single rate would add up to around 25% - Federal, FICA, Medicare, State, City combined, meaning around USD $20,450 (HKD ~$158,500/yr in net pay). A McDonald's Double Quarterpounder Meal is around $7.6, including sales tax = $8.27 (HKD $64.1), a one way on the Subway (train) is $2.75 (HKD $21.3).

Sorry I can't type this in Chinese here. Any opinions welcome.