Labor
Opinion: ‘Hero Pay’ Hurts the Workers They are Supposed to Help
Townhall 2/28
While proposals to increase the minimum wage to $10 and $15 are being debated at the federal level, local legislatures in cities across the U.S. are taking initiatives to pass their own wage increases for grocery store workers during the Covid-19 health emergency.
Top Senate Official Disqualifies Minimum Wage From Stimulus Plan
The New York Times 2/27
The parliamentarian ruled that the provision, which would gradually increase the wage to $15 an hour, violated the strict budgetary rules that limit what can be included in the package.
Food Industry Policy
Some cautious optimism amid indoor dining’s return in the Bay Area
San Francisco Chronicle 3/1
Last week, San Francisco officials announced that indoor dining at 25% capacity would likely return as the county descends into the “red tier” of the state’s reopening plan: possibly as soon as this coming Wednesday, March 3. That is, if coronavirus infection rates don’t rise before then.
Did Newsom violate COVID dine-in rules while visiting Fresno? Photo raises questions
The Fresno Bee 2/28
Gavin Newsom’s visit to Fresno has generated claims that the California governor violated his own COVID-19 safety mandates. A photo posted by the governor’s office of Newsom with actor George Lopez on Friday inside the Los Amigos Mexican restaurant in Fresno appears to show a table with dishes, drinks and possibly food off a reflection of a mirror in the shot.
On the Side
House Passes $1.9 Trillion Relief Bill, Including Direct Restaurant Aid
FSR Magazine 3/1
The House of Representatives passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill early Saturday, meaning restaurants are one step closer toward $25 billion in relief.
Indian, poké and soul food: These 7 Sacramento-area restaurants opened in February
The Sacramento Bee 3/1
The shortest month had relatively few openings compared to others, but at least seven new restaurants began welcoming customers in the Sacramento area.
