Labor
Tales of a Second Generation Hourly Worker
Capital & Main 8/17
Family needs and the lack of a safety net add to a college graduate’s struggle to rise from California’s low-wage economy.
Koreatown workers are fighting for unions. Why do essential workers still lack basic protections?
Los Angeles Times 8/17
Last year, workers and management at Genwa Korean BBQ ratified what organizers say is the first labor contract at a Korean restaurant in the United States. And a few months ago, a majority of the 157 workers of the American branch of Coway, a South Korean manufacturer of air purifying appliances, successfully voted for a union.
Food Industry Policy
Woks vs clean energy? SoCalGas wanted you to think electrification would crush California restaurants
The Sacramento Bee 8/17
When Sacramento wanted to ban gas hookups in new buildings two years ago, it sparked a passionate debate over an unexpected cooking tool: the wok. Restaurateurs argued that cooking a traditional Chinese stir fry is simply impossible without an open flame.
Mayor signs bill establishing permanent outdoor dining program
Spectrum News NY1 8/16
Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday signed off on a bill establishing a permanent outdoor dining program in New York City. The new law, which the City Council passed earlier this month, creates a system allowing businesses to set up “sidewalk cafes” on restaurant-adjacent sidewalks year-round.
On the Side
Family-owned Chinese restaurant chain expanding in California
KTLA 5 8/16
In 2023, Phoenix opened its 13th location in San Diego’s Clairemont Mesa neighborhood. New locations are also planned for Irvine and San Jose, and potentially beyond California’s borders.
Sacramento-area restaurants raise money for Maui relief efforts
KCRA 3 8/16
Within just a few days, local sushi chain Mikuni has already sold $20,000 worth of its special ‘Rescue Roll’
