AB 5

The Lookout: Eleven 2023 Education Bills Submitted to Gov. for Approval

After the State Legislature’s Sept. 14 deadline to pass bills introduced this year, eleven education bills found their way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature. The bills, sponsored and co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, fall into three categories: promoting inclusivity in the schools, building the teacher pipeline, and ensuring the well-being and success of California’s students. “This is an important step in building a brighter future for all of California’s students,” Thurmond said. “I applaud the efforts of our legislators, and everyone involved who worked on these important pieces of legislation.” Related Links: https://lasentinel.net/white-hall-arts-academy-celebrates-arts-and-education-with-rock-the-block-festival.html

Judge Denies Uber and Lyft Appeal; Companies’ Last Chance on Prop 22 Falls to Voters

The legal push-and-pull over whether ride-hailing company drivers in California will maintain their status as independent contractors or become W-2 employees continued last week. 

On Oct. 22, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco upheld the injunction issued against Uber and Lyft last August that those companies’ app-based drivers are employees. 

Bill to “Save Local Journalism” Awaiting Gov. Newsom’s Signature

With a 69-4 vote, the Senate passed Assembly Bill (AB) 323 Tuesday. It proposes granting ethnic media outlets, mid-size publications, and daily newspapers an additional year to pursue alternative and sustainable distribution models that don’t involve contract drivers. That would allow them to come into compliance with the state’s controversial AB 5 labor law.

Dynamex Law Will Gut Black Newspapers in California

  This is a direct appeal to Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez and our entire state legislature. I’m writing this on behalf of the more than 20 African American-owned newspapers that operate in cities and towns across California. As the leaders we’ve elected to represent and protect the interests of all Californians, we are asking each of you to search your hearts, look beyond blind spots, step in, and do the one thing that will prevent Assembly Bill 5 from putting the Black press in California out of business. That is: Exempt the contract couriers who deliver our newspapers