California’s farcical Fast Food Council perfectly encapsulates everything that is wrong with this state’s governance. Wasteful, performative and overreaching, it’s time to abolish the thing entirel…
An employee collects payment at an Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon store in Livermore, Calif., Thursday, March 28, 2024. He’s among hundreds of thousands of California fast-food workers who will be paid at least $20 an hour starting Monday, April 1.
California’s farcical Fast Food Council perfectly encapsulates everything that is wrong with this state’s governance. Wasteful, performative and overreaching, it’s time to abolish the thing entirely. In 2022, the California Legislature approved the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act by then-Assemblyman Chris Holden of Pasadena. Among other things, that law, overwhelmingly approved in both the state Assembly and state Senate, authorized the establishment of a fast food council with the authority to set the minimum hourly wage for fast food workers as high as $22. After the Save Local Restaurants coalition responded with a signature gathering effort to put the matter before voters via referendum, a compromise was made. Assembly Bill 1228, also carried by Holden, was approved in 2023. Under AB 1228, the minimum wage for fast food workers was set at $20 an hour as of April 1, 2024, with the Fast Food Council tasked with overseeing the “hourly minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees and develop standards, rules, and regulations for the fast food industry.” The council is to consist of two representatives from the fast food industry, two from franchisees or restaurant owners, two of fast food employees and one member of the public. In addition, the council must include a representative from the Department of Industrial Relations and a representative from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. It is also supposed to meet at least every six months. The absurdity of ceding so much power to such a Soviet council aside, recent reporting from KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala indicates the full council hasn’t met at all this year and hasn’t had a leader since May. Nick Hardeman left his post as chair of the council to accept an appointment by Gov. Gavin Newsom California Housing Finance Agency’s Board of Directors and hasn’t been replaced since. This leaves at least a few problems, one being that the council isn’t free. “California’s Department of Finance confirmed this year’s state budget included $1.1 million for the council to fund four staff positions,” reported Zavala.It was Zavala who reported in 2024 that the negotiations over the law were subject to nondisclosure agreements. Zavala uncovered this as she tried to figure out why the law exempted restaurants that make and sell their own bread. This raised concerns that perhaps this was included to aid billionaire Greg Flynn, a friend of Newsom’s who happens to own dozens of Panera Bread restaurants in California. Even now, businesses have relied on the Fast Food Council for guidance on how to navigate the law in light of all of this. Zavala notes one Handel’s Ice Cream Parlor franchisee in Southern California has tried to get clarity from the council for a year. But it’s AWOL.Son of couple slain in Simi Valley is ‘primary suspect’ in Sunday’s shooting, police sayRebecca Grossman can’t stop depositions of husband, daughter2 shot to death at Atwater Village water reclamation plantUSC football signs No. 1 recruiting class loaded with local talent As SB 79 is set to bring taller apartments near transit, LA weighs delay options — and alternative plan
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
This formula food bank is a lifeline for families facing food insecurityNo family should choose between bills and baby formula. As costs rise, mothers of newborn babies are finding hope at LIFE Houston.
Read more »
San Francisco sues food brands that sell ultraprocessed food productsBusiness Insider tells the global tech, finance, stock market, media, economy, lifestyle, real estate, AI and innovative stories you want to know.
Read more »
Food, drink books; Great Lakes Brewing dinner, beer fest tickets: WTAM 5-minute food-drinks chatOur 5-minute chat with Bill Wills of WTAM covers our roundups of food and drink books that came out this year, plus Great Lakes Brewing Co. has a dinner coming up and tickets are on sale for Winter Warmer Fest.
Read more »
5 Fast-Food Chains Diners Say Have the Freshest Fried FishYour ultimate source for expert nutrition tips and health advice, covering wellness, healthy recipes, cooking hacks, food news, style trends and shopping.
Read more »
Ask yourself why Sen. Bernie Moreno really wants to abolish dual citizenship: Today in OhioEditor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with editorial board member Lisa Garvin, impact editor Leila Atassi and content director Laura Johnston.
Read more »
California can’t keep track of its useless bureaucraciesCalifornia's Fast Food Council is costing jobs and taxpayer dollars, despite not being operational for the past 10 months.
Read more »