New law gives workers more paid sick days
California workers will be guaranteed five paid sick days a year starting Jan. 1, up from the three days that employers are currently required to provide, thanks to Senate Bill 616.
The bill, authored by Long Beach Democratic Sen. Lena Gonzalez, also extends protections against...
Hopes raised for promised pay increase
Cristina Cortez earns just $20.70 an hour running dialysis procedures for older patients suffering from kidney failure in the city of Gilroy. Because of her husband’s serious work injury in 2017 and their need to economize, her family of five moved an hour away...
California’s food insecurity rises as pandemic aid ends
Food insecurity in California ticked upward over the past year, bringing the share of hardship back up to levels early in the Covid-19 pandemic, according to data released by the California Association of Food Banks on Dec. 12.
“Families are buying less food,” said May...
ISPs pick up slack as federal broadband program ends
The Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal program that provides internet access to low-income families, has ended after Congress failed to reach an agreement to keep funding it. Over 23 million households—including thousands in Santa Clara and San Benito counties—will no longer receive federal subsidies...
Newsom proposes lower spending on homelessness, affordable housing
After Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out a deficit-bridging budget plan in January, advocates pushing for more affordable housing and shelters hoped he might reconsider his intent to make deep cuts—or scrounge up some more money.
On May 10, Newsom released a revised proposal showing that...
County reports $89K in unclaimed monies
The County of Santa Clara Department of Tax and Collections (DTAC) published a list of 127 individuals and businesses who are potential owners of $89,017 in unclaimed general collections monies.
Potential owners who qualify for these monies must file claims by Nov. 11. The list...
Newsom signs state budget into law
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the 2024-25 budget into law on June 29, solidifying $16 billion in cuts and other moves that closed a $46.8 billion deficit.
The budget is $297.5 billion, with $211.5 billion committed from the general fund. It maintains $22.5 billion in reserve...
Lawmakers agree on across-the-board cuts in state budget
Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders reached a nearly $300 million budget agreement on June 21 that closes a $46.8 billion deficit that was projected for the coming fiscal year with across-the-board cuts of nearly 8% to every department.
The $297.5 billion budget is proposed...
