CA's new rules are stricter than many states
Gov, Gavin Newsom's return-to-office mandate has been in effect since July 1. Roughly 108,000 of California’s more than 245,900 state employees are affected by the mandate, according to the state human resources department.
It’s a stance that has upset — and at times befuddled — some state workers who are calling for the governor to scrap the four-day-a-week in-office policy as they hammer out new labor agreements. The new rule that requires state employees to work in office for four days a week also allows for some exemptions.
Those include for workers who live 50 miles or farther from their worksite, or who conduct work outside the office, such as telehealth providers and inspectors. Public transportation costs for commuting are also reimbursable. Service Employees International Union Local 1000, California’s largest state worker union, represents 96,000 employees and is in contract negotiations. It argues that remote work saves taxpayers and employees money, reduces traffic and lowers emissions — all without affecting productivity.
Many workers maintain they’re just as effective at home, which they say they proved when Newsom ordered them to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. SEIUS filed an unfair labor practices complaint in May with the California Public Employment Relations Board. It also threw its support behind a bill that would give state agencies more authority to shape their hybrid work policies.
“A blanket mandate does not work for all the jobs that our workers do,” said Anica Walls, the union’s president. “Let the departments decide. ”is tougher on public employee unions than his Republican counterpart in Texas: Making state workers show up in the office.for state employees. But Newsom, whose return-to-office mandate has been in effect since July 1, shows no signs of backing down.
It’s a stance that has upset — and at times befuddled — some state workers who are calling for the governor to scrap the four-day-a-week in-office policy as they hammer out new labor agreements. More importantly to them, they maintain they’re just as effective at home, which they say they proved when Newsom ordered them to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s confusing to people when they think that they’ve done a great job to be told, ‘Well we don’t think it’s good enough and you should incur going back into the office,’” said D’Arcy McLeod, chairperson of the Professional Engineers in California Government’s bargaining team. Roughly 108,000 of California’s more than 245,900 state employees are affected by the mandate, according to the state human resources department.
The others generally already are required to work at a specific location five days a week, including prison, firefighting, law enforcement, and custodial employees. Service Employees International Union Local 1000, California’s largest state worker union, represents 96,000 employees and is in contract negotiations.
It argues that remote work saves taxpayers and employees money, reduces traffic and lowers emissions — all without affecting productivity.on a case-by-case basis, including for those who live 50 miles or farther from their worksite, or who conduct work outside the office, such as telehealth providers and inspectors. Public transportation costs for commuting are also reimbursable. But that isn’t enough for SEIU, which in May filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board.
It also“A blanket mandate does not work for all the jobs that our workers do,” said Anica Walls, the union’s president.
“Let the departments decide. ”require state employees to be in the office five days a week, for example. Utah with a Republican governor wants them at the office But Newsom’s blanket policy appears to be an outlier among other blue states with robust public employee unions: Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington state still embrace remote work in some capacity.
It also differs from Texas, a Republican-led state that A few months after President Donald Trump began his second term and called for federal employees to return to the office, Abbottfor Texas state employees. But following a multi-agency survey that found that telework did not curb productivity and helped reduce turnover,about government adapting to technology and providing services in a more cost-effective way,” said Ted Toppin, the executive director of the engineers union.
“It strikes me as interesting and ironic that Texas would have a more modern, flexible and efficient take on state employee telework. ”,” but that returning to the office helps build a sense of community. The governor has also contended that in-person work fosters McLeod said he’s surprised Newsom remains resolute to the mandate even after the audit found that remote work proved successful during and after the pandemic.
“Every single Newsom appointed official that testified for the state auditor indicated that … the work that was being delivered during telework was substantially of higher quality and more efficient,” said McLeod of the engineers union. In some ways the rift echoes labor disputes from California’s last two governors. , passing a law that curbed retirement benefits and required workers to chip in more for their benefits. He had a reputation for being stingy with raises, too.
Then came the fight over returning to the office. Besides union leaders, Newsom’s steadfast commitment to in-person work has baffled Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant who has worked with public employee unions on pension issues. For Newsom, a Democratic politician who is likely eyeing a bid for the presidency, “it’s political malpractice to come across as anti-labor,” said Maviglio.
“The only thing you’ll be able to say is that ‘I stood up to state workers,’ which isn’t particularly helpful in a Democratic primary where labor is the key constituency nationwide for Democrats. ” But for Will Swaim, chief executive of the libertarian think tank California Policy Center, Newsom’s fight with the unions signals something larger than remote work. Rather, it is a “policy disagreement that has turned into a foundational challenge to democracy,” said Swaim.
Through its campaign donations and labor talks, SEIU is attempting to wrest control from Newsom, a publicly elected official, over who gets to shape policies over government work, according to Swaim.
“That’s simply undemocratic,” said Swaim. “I don’t know anybody out there who believes that in their jobs they could tell their boss, ‘I’m not coming to the office, no matter what you want. ’ It just doesn’t fly. ” But bosses should work to accommodate current employees, according to SEIU president Walls — especially if they have presumably bigger ambitions to oversee even more workers.
“As a state employee I would have trouble voting for someone who would be the boss of federal employees when I know he hasn’t shown to be a stellar employer to state employees,” said Walls. As a Dr. Pepper lover, I knew I had to try Chicken Charlie's — not new — but strange creation: Pickle Dr. Pepper. The OC Fair is back in town, with plenty of new food items for people to try.
How about a PB&J cheeseburger with bacon? Sounds weird, but it works! Because there's so much food, and so little belly space. The PB&J burger at the Philly Cheesesteak stand is definitely worth your time, and so is the cheesy, greasy French onion bun from the Ten Pound Bun stand.
And if you love sweets, don't miss the chocolate chip croffle from Mom's Bakeshoppe: That's a croissant + a waffle covered in ice cream and whipped cream. Picture a gigantic, greasy, fried tiramisu. Layers of cream, espresso and lady fingers are deep fried in a thick, sweet batter before being sprinkled with cocoa powder.
The fair runs through Aug. 16 and in addition to pig races, carnival rides and outdoor music, the big draw is the food — carefully curated creations that test the limits of what’s typical. This year is no different. I was there on opening day, and here’s what I tried:One of my favorite new items was the Croffle from Mom's Bakeshoppe. This treat was sweet and refreshing with the cold ice cream.
The Chocolate Chip Croffle from Mom's Bakeshoppe is a must if you like sweet treats. It’s a cross between a buttery croissant and crispy waffle.
Then it’s adorned with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, whipped cream and a caramel drizzle. This creation made its way to the States from South Korea, where it’s a beloved street food. A French onion bun is an OC Fair exclusive from Ten Pound Buns, which bills itself as the king of cheese breads. The French onion bun combines gooey melted cheese and caramelized onions on a crispy piece of bread.
Everything at their stand is made to order, and the portion sizes are very shareable! The Peanut Butter and Jelly Bacon Cheeseburger from the Philly Cheesesteak stand did not disappoint. Don’t be alarmed by this strange sweet and savory combo; the flavors balance each other out perfectly. The burger comes with crispy bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles on top of a beef patty smothered in jelly and peanut butter.
As a born-and-raised Nebraskan, this was my first time at the OC Fair, and I felt like I needed to try some classics. So, I headed to the OG at the OC Fair, Chicken Charlie’s. They've been at the OC Fair for 30 years now, and are known for classics like the deep-fried Oreos and new eye-popping inventions.
Some of their new concoctions this year include: A fried mangonada — which features fresh mango battered, deep fried and topped with chamoy, lime and Tajin. There's also a Shawarma fry cone, Parmesan garlic fry cone and the fried tiramisu I mentioned. The treats I tried ranged from $10 and $15 each, but there are some deals to be had. Chicken Charlie’s is offering a $30 anniversary meal deal that includes an entrée, fries, fried Oreos and a drink.
“I love being at the fair,” Charlie Boghosian, creator and owner of Chicken Charlie’s, told me. “I love creating new things, because I think frying is an art. ” Profound words from the person who created items like fried Kool-Aid, bacon-wrapped pickles and a Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich.
Street Corn Baked Potato Street Corn Fries Vegetarian Broc-Star Potato with broccoli Freeze-dried candy beverages and Candy Blast gummies The fair is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. It runs through Aug. 16. Tickets start at $15 for adults and $9 for children, with additional costs for rides.
Discounts are available for seniors and veterans. The commission is meant to serve as a watchdog over local government. Commissioners will be tasked with overseeing and enforcing laws related to campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest and other related issues. Through a multilingual ad campaign, the county is seeking residents who reflect its diverse communities.
The commission will have seven members who will meet at least six times a year. Members will spend about 5 to 20 hours a month on commission-related work. They are also expected to receive $250 for each meeting they participate in, along with reimbursement for any expenses they incur while performing their official duties. , which required the creation of an independent Ethics Commission “to increase restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct.
” The measure came amid a series of corruption cases at L.A. City Hall, but calls for reform spilled over into county government. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
The eagle’s sex and identity have not been confirmed, but Friends of Big Bear Valley said “it is apparent that the rescued eagle is likely Jackie. ”The eagle’s sex and identity have not been confirmed, but Friends of Big Bear Valley said “it is apparent that the rescued eagle is likely Jackie.
” The last time Jackie was seen in the nest was July 12, according to “We are waiting for an update on the results of the exam and everything,” Jenny Voisard, the nonprofit’s media manager, told LAist.
“But we're optimistic and we hope that she'll get to go home soon. ” L.A. County and nonprofit officials are urging people not to contact the rescue or facility so it doesn’t interfere with the help they’re providing the eagle and other animals. According to Friends of Big Bear Valley, cell phone video showed the rescued eagle fighting off the two other birds by using its talons, but it still couldn’t fly further away.
The eagle stayed near the park last Friday, but it was seen there Thursday too. The eagle was picked up by wildlife rescuers, and the nonprofit said it has been in direct contact with them and the rehabilitation facility.
“ just let us know that the eagle didn't have any obvious or apparent injuries that they could see, but that it was lethargic and just very hungry and needed to eat and all of that,” Voisard said. The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation said on social media Sunday that the eagle is safe and receiving specialized care.
TheJenny Voisard, Friends of Big Bear Valley's media manager, said the best way to help is to donate to organizations caring for the rescued eagle and other wildlife.takes in hundreds of birds each year and returns them to the wild once they can survive on their own. The public is urged not to contact the facilities directly for updates as it could distract from the care they're providing.
Sandy and Luna have been in and out of the nest in recent days, and Shadow delivered 11 fish this weekend while they continue to learn to hunt, according to organization records. , which has more than 485,000 members.
“It doesn’t do anyone any good to panic and remember to step away from the livestream as needed. Nature is naturing. ” She said the situation reminds her that habitats are important, and humans need to save some space for wildlife.
With uncertainty over when regulations on some of the most common of these cancer-causing pollutants, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, will take effect in California, lawmakers are floating alternative plans to remove them from the state’s tap water. California requires water systems to notify the public if PFAS levels reach a certain threshold. Some systems have already begun treating or blending the water with clean sources to make it safer to drink.
The long-term goal in California is for these chemicals to be regulated 'as a class' rather than through 'individual' chemicals. AB 1603 would for the first time require that pesticides be categorized as containing PFAS chemicals by the state, and their use to be reported to authorities. There are nearly 15,000 different PFAS chemicals, used in an array of everyday items like clothing, food packaging and cookware, as well as in fire-fighting foams, pesticides and many industrial processes.
Regulators have found them around hundreds of landfills, airports, military bases and industrial sites across the state. Because they’re highly soluble, once they leach into the water table they’re extremely difficult to remove — and they can take thousands of years to break down. Nearly everyone in the U.S. has these chemicals in their blood, and exposure to some of the most studied PFAS chemicals has been linked to cancer, liver disease, immune system disruption and other chronic health problems.
As the Trump administration delays regulations on “forever chemicals” that pollute reservoirs, rivers and aquifers nationwide, California officials say they are unsure what the consequences will be for an estimated 1.5 million Californians served by utilities with contaminated sources of drinking water. With uncertainty over when regulations on some of the most common of these cancer-causing pollutants, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, will take effect in California, lawmakers are floating alternative plans to remove them from the state’s tap water.
Among several forever chemical-related bills in Congress is one that would tax PFAS manufacturers to help utilities pay for expensive treatment technologies.that could have led to the ban of pesticides containing PFAS has been watered down by lawmakers, but environmental advocates still see the bill as an important first step.
“The corporations that contaminated our water rarely face accountability. My bill changes that by making them cover the cost of cleaning it up,” U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez,of the federal bill, said in an email to Capital & Main. Pico Rivera and Downey are two cities in Sánchez’s Los Angeles-area district that are grappling with PFAS-contaminated water sources.
Nearly everyone in the U.S. has these chemicals in their blood, and exposure to some of the most studied PFAS chemicals has been Under a plan established under the Biden administration, federal drinking water standards for perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid , two of the most common forever chemicals, were set to be enforced in 2029.
But under President Donald Trump, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has moved to delay those protectionsDaniel Newton, assistant deputy director of the California Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water, said state regulators are unsure whether impacted water systems in California would be eligible for the two-year delay — and, if they are, whether California would “allow that extension or not,” Newton said. Of California’s 2,363 public water systems that have been tested since 2024, 466 had levels of either PFOA or PFOS above the federal regulatory limit, according to the water board.
Californiato notify the public if PFAS levels reach a certain threshold. Some systems have already begun treating or blending the water with clean sources to make it safer to drink. Without federal drinking water limits for other PFAS substances, California has started the years-long process of adopting its own rules for one commonly used such chemical called PFHxS, which has been detected since 2024 in nearly 400 systems above the state notification level.
Newton said the long-term goal in California is for these chemicals to be regulated “as a class” rather than through “individual” chemicals.
“We’ve been monitoring these chemicals since 2019. That means that by 2029, we’ll have spent 10 years preparing,” said Andria Ventura, legislative and policy director with the nonprofit Clean Water Action. As such, she added, “California regulators should be more protective than the federal government by not delaying implementation.
”“It could potentially be advantageous to anybody dealing with this to wait,” said Carlos Quintero, general manager of the San Diego County-based Sweetwater Authority, pointing to high treatment costs and the evolution of new better treatment technologies.of Sweetwater Authority’s 200,000 customers live in areas designated by state agencies as suffering a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens.. The utility is exploring different PFAS treatment technologies, the cheapest coming in at roughly $50 million.
Quintero estimates ongoing operational and maintenance costs for the system alone could result in water rate increases of around 6%.would for the first time require that pesticides be categorized as containing PFAS chemicals by the state, and their use to be reported to authorities. According to the Environmental Working Group,language from the legislation that would have eventually banned PFAS-based pesticides in California.
But Susan Little, Environmental Working Group’s California legislative director, hopes this bill “sets the stage” for an outright ban in the future.that would have banned the sale of PFAS-laden cookware and other products, arguing it would restrict the availability of affordable cookware.major PFAS chemical manufacturers alleging they had deceived the public about human exposure risks and threats to the environment. But for the most part, the public continues to bear the brunt of cleanup costs through rate increases and taxpayer-funded programs.
Even so, these pots of money “are not anywhere near what the actual cost of compliance is going to be,” said Ian Lyle, director of federal relations for the Association of California Water Agencies. The Orange County Water District alonewould establish a 45% tax on the manufacturing of PFAS to provide a tax credit of up to 25% for public and private water agencies.
“I expect it will be enough to cover the direct pay credit that will fund water cleanup efforts for both public and private water municipalities,” Sánchez said.
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited 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.
Dishonored Official Return Confirmed For 2026Dishonored is confirmed to make an official comeback later this year.
Read more »
Andy Burnham's Leadership Sparks Fears of a Return to 1970s-Era Socialism in BritainCritical analysis of Andy Burnham's ascension to Labour leadership, comparing his rhetoric and proposed policies to the economic struggles of 1970s Britain, warning of potential risks of increased taxation, state control, and a return to outdated socialist practices.
Read more »
'We made it': Vendors return to FDR Park after destructive stormMany Southeast Asian Market vendors are back after a storm tore through FDR Park, while fundraising helps others rebuild.
Read more »
What TJ Pompey's Return Means Heading into the 2026 SeasonArkansas will return third baseman's return solidifies hot corner for 2027
Read more »