Labor
Auditor slams California unemployment agency, calls it ‘high-risk’ due to pandemic-era fraud
The Sacramento Bee 8/29
The Employment Development Department’s mishandling of the state’s unemployment insurance program and its failure to issue accurate eligibility rulings poses a “substantial risk of serious detriment” to California and its residents, according to the Aug. 24 report.
California sick days could more than double under proposed law
KNX News 8/28
SB 616, introduced by State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, would increase the number of paid sick days from 3 to 7 annually, and expand how sick time is accrued.
Food Industry Policy
California Regulators Require Parking Replacement for Outdoor Dining Spaces
Planetizen 8/28
The city of San Diego’s Spaces as Places outdoor dining program includes a critical parking requirement mandated by the California Coastal Commission.
‘Upsetting’: Trend-setting SF Mexican restaurant abruptly closes, blames city
SF Gate 8/28
One of San Francisco’s most famous vegan restaurants is no more. Gracias Madre, the 14-year-old Mexican restaurant at 2211 Mission Street, abruptly closed its doors on Sunday, as first reported by Mission Local.
On the Side
‘Paying it forward.’ Falafel Corner’s unique eatery springboards into Redding
Record Searchlight 8/28
Sajad Shakoor opened his first Falafel Corner in 2016, three years after he was released from San Quentin State Prison.
The 45-year history of The Cheesecake Factory: How a family bakery turned into global restaurant chain with an enormous menu
Business Insider 8/29
The Cheesecake Factory is one of the top 40 restaurant chains in the US, known for its voluminous menu of cheesecakes, pastas, sandwiches, and appetizers, such as its famed avocado egg rolls. But fans may not realize that the publicly traded company, with a market cap of nearly $1.7 billion, was a family-run bakery business for years before it scaled across the US and abroad.
