September 23, 2020
Orange County
OC Register: Disneyland demands Newsom reopen California theme parks
Disney parks chairman Josh D’Amaro ramped up the pressure on Newsom to let Disneyland reopen during a virtual press conference from inside the Anaheim theme park.
Daily Pilot: Teachers push back on Orange County school reopenings
Teachers employed at two districts are saying their schools are not ready to welcome students, teachers and staff back on campus safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Voice of OCS: Irvine stalls investigations into Councilman Carroll mailer spending
An investigation into $70,000 in Irvine tax dollars spent on city mailers by City Councilman Mike Carroll appears to be stalling at the local level despite clear evidence he violated at least one city policy.
Voice of OC: City of Fullerton faces tough financial future even with new taxes
City Council members voted back in July to place a 1.25% sales tax measure called Measure S on the November ballot. If approved by the voters, it could bring in a projected $25 million a year into city coffers.
OC Register: Southern California home prices jump 12% to record high $600,000
Low interest rates and a lack of homes on the market created upward pressure on home prices, even as unemployment rates remain stubbornly high.
Daily Pilot: Huntington Beach City Council favors on-site owners for short-term housing
Short-term rental owners would need to register for a permit and pay a business license fee. They would also need to pay the Transient Occupancy Tax and pay into the Tourism Business Improvement District.
Labor
Labor 411: Administration rule would make it harder to classify Gig workers as employees
Labor advocates say the proposal would raise the threshold for contract workers, which includes gig workers, to be considered employees, a category that comes with significantly more protections.
California
Sacramento Bee: California hits highest voter registration rate since 1940
The influx of registrations means 83% of eligible Californians are registered to vote. The last time it was that high was in 1940, when the rate was slightly higher than 83%, according to the data firm.
LA Times: Californians not sold on treating Uber, Lyft drivers as independent contractors, new poll shows
Despite amassing the largest campaign war chest in California history, Uber, Lyft and other app-based companies are in danger of coming up short with voters on a ballot measure that would allow them to again classify their workers as independent contractors, a new statewide poll shows.
Publication Date: September 23, 2020
