And further - the minimum wage increase only helps those making poverty level wages. Their income increases - but so does their cost of living.

The cost of living increases will disproportionately affect the lower and middle class who receive no wage increase - many of whom had zero raises, or much smaller than 'traditional' raises for years during the 2008 housing crisis.  Now we are facing another recession with the China and Euro economic issues impacting the US.

For those living in the "skyrocketing rent/housing costs" of portland - think of the building maintenance, landscaping/tree/cleanup, trash, property management, administration, related fees and licensing that will all cost more because they too have higher costs of labor - this will exponentially affect the price of rent.

It's just forced inflation, plain and simple.