Jerry Garcia: Hall of Famer + California’s next century + XPO settles with drivers
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME EXPANDS
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Parner Jennifer Siebel Newsom on Tuesday evening formally inducted several new members of the California Hall of Fame, including rock legend Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, LGBTQ activists Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, labor activist Larry Itliong, artist Ruth Asawa and rocker Ritchie Valens.
The new inductees join 134 fellow “inspirational Californians” in the Hall of Fame. This is the 14th class to be inducted.
“Jennifer and I are pleased to induct this group of extraordinary Californians into the Hall of Fame,” Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “There is no doubt their lives and legacies have helped make California synonymous around the world with innovation, imagination and progress.”
“These luminaries represent the best of California,” Jennifer Siebel Newsom added. “Each one has left their own indelible mark on history and reminds us of the creativity, ingenuity and courage that lives inside all of us.”
California’s Hall of Fame first launched in 2006.
The induction ceremony took place via webcast streamed from the California Museum.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this new class of inductees with Governor Newsom and the First Partner,” said California Museum Board of Trustees Chair Richard S. Costigan III. “We look forward to inspiring visitors virtually with their remarkable stories through the online exhibitions published on the new California Hall of Fame website.”
CALIFORNIA 100 ANNOUNCES NEWLY FORMED COMMISSION
Via Kim Bojórquez...
California 100, a statewide initiative that aims to provide a vision and plan for the state’s next 100 years, announced its 26-member commission this week.
The group’s commissioners come from diverse sets of fields, ranging from health care to transportation.
Some of the commissioners include Michael Tubbs, Gov. Newsom’s special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity; Jeffrey Reynoso, executive director of Latino Coalition for a Healthy California; and Dan Schnur, former chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.
“We are thrilled to draw on the expertise of these transformative leaders who are making a difference in their respective fields and already leaving a mark on California,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of California 100, in a statement. “Their unique perspectives will inform our work to create a vision and strategy for California’s future — one that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable. California 100 belongs to Californians and we are excited to begin our partnership with these dynamic leaders who represent the best of our state — and the best of what’s to come.”
The commission is expected to tackle 13 key issues facing the state, such as education, economic mobility, housing, immigration integration and criminal justice reform.
The initiative is being conducted in partnership with the University of California and Stanford University. Each commission seat will last two years.
FEDERAL JUDGE SIDES WITH PORT DRIVERS
Hundreds of current and former port drivers for XPO Logistics are set to receive nearly $30 million after a federal judge in California granted preliminary approval to a pair of settlements alleging that the XPO Cartage and XPO Port Services misclassified drivers and left them unreimbursed for truck costs and that they received less than minimum wage.
The port drivers involved in the class-action lawsuits “haul all types of goods that are imported, including electronics, furniture, food, and they haul it for major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Apple, IKEA, Toyota and thousands of other companies,” according to a statement released by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
“Today, we commend these brave XPO drivers, who decided not to back down and instead fought hard to demand that XPO pay them the money they were rightfully owed,” Teamsters President James P. Hoffa said in a statement. “This is more than a monumental victory for these XPO drivers in California; it’s a huge win for workers around the world to see that by standing together, working people can take on enormous companies and win.”
XPO Logistics denies all liability and will continue not classifying the drivers as employees going forward. It argued during the case that it has correctly classified its drivers as independent contractors.
The $30 million covers several years, going back to 2013.
The company released a statement in response, saying, “With the legal and regulatory landscape in California evolving, we reached a settlement on terms that are favorable for XPO and should put this matter behind us. “
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I have been hacked and my Twitter account has been erased. I know who has done this. I will take care of this. M Waters.”
- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, via Twitter.
Best of the Bee:
Gavin Newsom vetoes bill that sought to promote more diverse California state workers, via Andrew Sheeler
Middle class Californians with children 17 and under will see some income tax breaks from Democrats’ latest spending plan. Those without children probably won’t. And the wealthy, children or not, will pay a lot more, via David Lightman.
The University of California has issued an executive order requiring all students, staff and faulty to receive their flu vaccinations on or before Nov. 19, via Sawsan Morrar.