Jermaine Reed wants the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council to increase the minimum wage, but that’s the Missouri General Assembly’s job

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Jermaine Reed is thinking like Sly James.

Both believe that the minimum wage should be higher.

But Reed, a first-term Kansas City councilman from the 3rd District, has a different approach. Last week, Reed introduced an ordinance to increase the minimum wage in Kansas City, starting at $10 an hour and going up $1.50 an hour each year for the next four years.

The problem with Reed’s ordinance: Kansas City isn’t allowed to raise the minimum wage. Missouri law says clearly that cities can’t mandate a minimum wage that exceeds that of the state’s (which is $7.65 an hour).

Reed acknowledges that his ordinance may need some work as it moves through committees and up the full council. That is, if other council members see it fit to move it along.

Reed’s measure emerged less than two weeks ahead of the April 7 primary election for City Council candidates. Reed faces a crowded primary, a rarity for most incumbents in a Kansas City council race. He faces spirited campaigns from opponents like Jamekia Kendrix, Bryan Dial, Rachel Riley and Shaheer Akhtab.

James, on the other hand, called for Missouri lawmakers to increase the minimum wage during his State of the City address, held on Tuesday at Starlight Theatre.

That’s the correct course of action, legally. But Kansas City doesn’t always carry the most clout among various lobbying interests in Jefferson City.