Vijay Alimchandani, 56, the manager at La Quinta Inn on the Upper West Side, remembers what it’s like to get by on minimum wage with a family to support. “For us, McDonald’s was a treat,” Alimchandani recalled. “No summer camps. And going out to the movies? Forget it.” Today, Alimchandani manages 22 employees at the small hotel, which is part of a larger franchise. “Fifteen dollars minimum wage, I’m all for it. Eleven dollars is not enough to survive in New York City,” Alimchandani said. “It’s hard. I know, I’ve been there.” — Claire Molloy
Been There, Done That
