Senator Sydney K. Kamlager (D – Los Angeles) introduced her legislative package for this 2022 legislative session on Feb. 18. The robust package centers on economic justice in the fight for autonomy and safety.
In a time of COVID-necessitated lockdowns, if you’re working, you’re essential. In Los Angeles County, no one should allow an employer to rob them of their wages or force them to work in unsafe conditions. But immigrant workers, both documented and not, are particularly vulnerable to such exploitations.
Joseph Nicchitta, Director of Consumer and Business Affairs disclosed there is a motion among the county official table, detailing a relief fund for small businesses. The goal for the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is to provide timely and accurate information. This level of office is looking to cover multiple tiers of business, such as the “Gig” economy and business owners where English is their secondary language. As of March 26. There is a central hub for information, The Business and Worker Disaster Health Center. Assistance from established business personnel directly from the Department of Consumer and Business, and other public departments are available within that function to assist those in need. Collectively there are nine languages available within this central hub. The Emergency Operations Center are pulling together federal and local aid to support the fragile immune system of our economy.
Hilda Solis delivered news regarding aide for small businesses and reducing lay-offs. Solis paraphrased Governor Newsom’s announcement, L.A. County will be receiving state funding to assist local workers and businesses. Within the two million dollars allocated to L.A. County, $500,000 will be used as grants to eligible businesses that were impacted by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is put in place to keep businesses operational and retain employees. Supervisor Solis disclosed there is a new central portal that focuses on L.A. workers and small businesses, called “Business and Worker Disaster Help Center.” Within its first week of launching, they have taken over 1,000 calls from business owners and workers looking for guidance during the COVID-19 crisis.
Recently, the Budget Bill for fiscal year 2019-2020 was passed by the Senate and Assembly after long negotiations between both houses and the Governor’s Administration. The new budget includes the state’s largest reserves in history, pays down billions of dollars to our state’s pension debt, and prioritizes one-time investments aimed at tackling the main issues driving California’s affordability crisis.
Yes, it got a little Hollywood upstate in Sacramento Tuesday. A stage decorated with props – jumbo boxes of pampers and tampons – helped Gov. Gavin Newsom tell the story of his plan to eliminate sales taxes on diapers and other menstrual products over the next two years; the policy would be subject to renewal by the legislature after that.
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Democratic Caucus Chair, released the following statement regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal:
After a busy year of legislative work, Sen. Holly J. Mitchell will see several of her new laws take effect Jan. 1, 2019, including reforms in criminal justice that will protect youth and help shore up families and communities.
Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, released the following statement in response to the state Department of Social Services Task Force Report on Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty:
The program expects to help employ 20,000 youth this coming fiscal year starting July 1.
Helps families with healthcare, childcare, services, education, opportunity and criminal justice