In a move that could deal a significant blow to the so-called “sharing economy,” the California Labor Relations Board ruled Wednesday that an Uber driver is an employee, not an independent contractor. The decision may have widespread repercussions. Chris Kirkham, Christina Mai-duc, and Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times:
“[The] California Labor Commissioner's office has ruled that San Francisco Uber driver Barbara Ann Berwick was an employee — and entitled to receive more than $4,000 in mileage and toll expenses because her services were ‘integral’ to the company's business model.
“Without drivers, Uber's business ‘would not exist,’ the order concluded.
“The decision — handed down earlier this month and appealed on Tuesday by Uber — could disrupt the Silicon Valley start-ups that have redefined the relationship between companies and workers. The case could spawn other legal challenges from workers and regulations from cities and states.”
Illegal immigration opponents have filed complaints against Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and the CHP, alleging that they were barred from attending a public meeting on the issue. Patrick McGreevey, LAT:
“The state Department of Fair Employment and Housing is looking into complaints by four activists alleging that they were improperly excluded from a recent meeting in South Gate to which the public had been invited by state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)…
“The activists accuse Lara of violating California's Unruh Civil Rights Act…. The Act prohibits certain kinds of discrimination.
“The accusations were made by Raul Rodriguez Jr., Robin Hvidston and other members of a Claremont-based group called We The People Rising. Rodriguez said complaints had also been filed against the California Highway Patrol, which provides security for lawmakers and whose officers kept activists out of the South Gate meeting.”
LA Times columnist George Skelton finds much to like in the Budget agreement worked out between Governor Brown and Democratic lawmakers, but others aren’t so happy. Advocates for the disabled held a small but raucous rally outside the capitol Wednesday, protesting the absence of an increase in funding for care providers, noting that it has been nearly 15 years since the last rate increase.
Meanwhile, budget provisions were made for a pilot program to equip the California Highway Patrol with body cameras, beginning January 1. David Siders and Jeremy White, Sacramento Bee:
“The measure, contained in a budget-related trailer bill, would require the CHP to consider minimum specifications for cameras and rules for sharing data recorded on cameras.
“The Brown administration estimates the cost at $1 million. The measure is part of a package of bills lawmakers are expected to approve before the July 1 start of the next budget year.”
A bill by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) that would ban public schools from using the word “Redskins” as a nickname for sports teams passed its first Senate committee.
“This bill would apply to four California high schools in the Central Valley, including Tulare and Calaveras. It would phase out the use of the term “Redskins” at those schools starting 2017 – though the schools could continue using previously-purchased uniforms if they change their name. That provision would help schools avoid having to spend thousands of dollars on new gear.”
Newly-minted Democratic senator Steve Glazer has broken with his party 32 times in less than three weeks - more than any other Senator. Alexei Koseff, Sacramento Bee:
“In his first full week as a California state senator, Steve Glazer faced the gauntlet: a deadline crush of 207 bills for which he had only days to prepare.
“Over the objections of oil companies, he supported ambitious new renewable energy goals for the state.
“He voted against a measure, marked as a “job killer” by the California Chamber of Commerce, to expand guaranteed family leave.
“When legislation came up to increase the minimum wage and unionize child care workers, priorities for organized labor, he didn’t weigh in at all.
“Such is the tightrope walk for the self-described centrist, a Democrat from Orinda who won his suburban East Bay district promising independence from unions, the business community and other special interests that traditionally are California lawmakers’ biggest political backers.”
And now we go from Glazer, the ultimate insider, to his exact opposite: freshman Assemblywoman, and political neophyte, Patty Lopez, (D-San Fernando). Great profile from Hillel Aron in LA Weekly:
“It’s hard to overstate how much Patty Lopez stands out from her colleagues in the motley California Assembly. First is her accent, which is very thick and seems somehow thicker when she speaks into a microphone. Lopez was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and came to the United States at age 10. Although she has spoken English for decades, it remains very much her second language, and her grammar isn’t always correct.
“If the Legislature is high school, Lopez is a foreign exchange student — and not just because of how she speaks. Legislators expect their colleagues to possess certain pedigrees, to have held previous posts as local politicians, staff jobs with legislators or, at the very least, have been part of some political machine.”
After a brief hiatus, it looks like 95 Percent Accurate, the Ventura County Star’s political blog is posting again.
And, last week we shared One Voter Project’s rundown of California legislators who were killers; since today is Throwback Thursday we thought we’d revisit their rundown of five California legislators who have been shot – starting with the $11 million dollar man himself, Steve Glazer:
“[In] October 2003… while driving with his family in Orinda, Glazer was shot in the neck by a teenager with a high-powered pellet gun. ‘The .17-caliber projectile just missed his carotid artery and lodged next to his spine.’
“…Glazer would not be the first California legislator to have been shot before assuming that office.”
