PG&E Bankruptcy Opens the Door for Municipal Utilities
PG&E’s bankruptcy declaration, liabilities, stock plunge, wrathful legislators, and possible criminal charges put the utility in a life and death situation. Many alternatives face lawmakers and regulators on how to work through the crisis for the company while at the same time attempting to spare ratepayers and to compensate, to the extent possible, victims of […]
SB 1300 Expands FEHA Litigation, But Employers and Lawyers Beware
Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1300 (Jackson) on September 30, 2018 as Chapter 955. Among other provisions, this comprehensive bill makes a number of statutory changes for litigating sexual harassment claims and prohibits employers from requiring employees to sign a release of claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act in exchange for a […]
Scott Wiener’s SB 50 is a WIMBY Bill
Zev Yaroslavsky, former LA County Supervisor and former LA City Councilmember, astutely noted that state senator Scott Wiener’s SB827, which would take away local zoning authority from cities and replace it with Sacramento-mandated levels of density in certain areas, was a “real estate bill, not a housing bill.” The exact same assessment should apply to […]
Despite Record Surplus, Gov. Newsom Wants New Water, Phone Taxes
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s has called for a first-ever water tax and an added fee on phone bills at a time when the state is enjoying what recently departed state Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor called “extraordinary” budget health. Newsom said last week that experts now forecast a $21.5 billion budget windfall in 2019Add New-20. Until recent […]