Opinion: Gavin Newsom’s cronyism threatens families like mine
French Laundry debacle, appointment of top aide raise serious questions about who the governor really represents
Op-Ed commentary by Charles Johnson, MERCURY NEWS
December 17, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/17/opinion-gavin-newsoms-cronyism-threatens-families-like-mine/
HIV Patients CVS Lawsuit Reinstated; Suit That Claims AIDS Patients Lost Medical Information, Guidance May Proceed, Court Rules
By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
December 10, 2020
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Suit-that-claims-AIDS-patients…
HIV/AIDS patients who said they lost access to potentially vital medical information when their health plans started requiring them to obtain their medications from CVS pharmacies can sue for discrimination, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
CVS Caremark, Others Must Face HIV Patients' Claims Over Pharmacy Program
By Brendan Pierson, REUTERS LEGAL
December 9, 2020
(Reuters) - A federal appeals court has revived a proposed class action by California HIV/AIDS patients alleging that pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark discriminated against them by requiring them to use its own specialty pharmacy in order to benefit from in-network rates through their employer-sponsored health plans.
Surgeon Refused to Operate Because Patient Had HIV, Claims Lawsuit
“Everyone deserves health care without judgement,” says the plaintiff.
By Trenton Straube, POZ MAGAZINE
December 2, 2020
https://www.poz.com/article/surgeon-refused-operate-patient-hiv-claims-…
California Appoints New Director Of CalRecycle
Rachel Wagoner will lead California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
By Megan Smalley, WASTE TODAY
November 30, 2020
https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/article/california-governor-appoints…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Rachel Wagoner as the state’s new director of the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
Former Gov. Newsom Leg Secretary Named New Head of CalRecycle
Rachel Wagoner has much support, may face questions over helping kill wildfire mitigation bills
By Evan Symon, CALIFORNIA GLOBE
November 28, 2020
https://californiaglobe.com/section-2/former-gov-newsom-appointee-is-ne…
New CalRecycle Leader Eyes Overhaul Of Deposit-Refund System
By Adam Beam, ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 27, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/27/calrecycle-chief-eyes-overhaul-o…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed a new head of the state's troubled recycling agency, who has pledged to overhaul its troubled bottle deposit system that has worsened during the pandemic.
California Oil Regulators Issued Hundreds Of Improper Permits, Audit Finds
By Janet Wilson, PALM SPRINGS DESERT SUN
November 26, 2020
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/11/26/audit-calge…
California oil regulators ignored their own regulations and issued improper permits for hundreds of new wells last year, according to an audit by the state Department of Finance that was finalized this week.
Newsom's French Laundry Dinner Shows How Lobbyists Get Access To Power In Sacramento
By Alexei Koseff, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
November 23, 2020
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-s-French-Laundry-di…
SACRAMENTO - When he dined at the French Laundry in Yountville this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom enjoyed not only fine cuisine at a three-star Michelin restaurant, but also the company of several influential figures with regular business before his administration.
ONE RULE FOR US - Fury As California Lawmakers Ignore Warning To Fly To Hawaii For Covid Conference After Newsom Broke Rules For Dinner
By Magda Ibrahim , THE SUN UK
November 19, 2020
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13239989/fury-california-lawmakers-hawaii…
EIGHT California lawmakers are facing a furious backlash after flying to Hawaii for a conference despite health officials warning against out-of-state travel amid a spike in coronavirus cases.
KCBS AM SF, CA: Gov Newsom Criticized For Meeting With CMA Lobbyist While Ignoring Activist
KCBS AM, San Francisco, CA
November 18, 2020
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
Activist Charles Johnson tells KCBS radio why he is more alarmed than most over Newsom’s French Laundry blunder.
Connected Cars Including Tesla Hackable Consumer Watchdog Reports
By Lynn Walford, AUTO CONNECTED CAR NEWS
November 15, 2020
https://www.autoconnectedcar.com/2020/11/connected-cars-including-tesla…
The nonprofit, nonpartisan Consumer Watchdog released a video showing how a box it built with the help of technologists could hack into the wireless connection of a Tesla and take over the screen with a “This Tesla’s Been Hacked” message.
KCRW 89.9FM Santa Monica, CA: How Secure Is Your Car From Being Hacked?
By Staff Reporters, KCRW 89.9FM Santa Monica, CA
November 13, 2020
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/RADKCRW_11-13-…
Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog explains how easy it was to hack into a Tesla.
Zoom Settles FTC Allegations Over Its Encryption; ZM Shares Plunge
By Marivic Cabural Summers, USA HERALD
November 9, 2020
https://usaherald.com/zoom-settles-ftc-allegations-over-its-encryption-…
Zoom Video Communication (NASDAQ: ZM) agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its encryption to secure users’ data on its video conferencing platform.
California Voters Back New Data Privacy Law Beefing Up CCPA
By Jonathan Greig, TECH REPUBLIC
November 5, 2020
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/california-voters-back-new-data-pr…
Millions of California voters have backed a controversial amendment to the state's consumer privacy laws, voting in favor of Proposition 24 by a 56%-44% margin.
Expansion Of Landmark California Data Privacy Law Leading
By Jocelyn Gecker, ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 4, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/03/expansion-of-landmark-california…
SAN FRANCISCO — Two years ago, California became the first state to pass a sweeping digital privacy law seen as the strongest of its kind in the United States. Early returns Tuesday showed a measure to refine and expand the law leading with 57% of more than 7 million votes counted.
Proposition 24, Which Amends Consumer Privacy Laws, Passes
By Staff Reporters, CBS Sacramento TV-13
November 4, 2020
https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/11/04/proposition-24-the-propositi…
Proposition 24 has passed, the Associated Press reports.
Big Drop In California Redemption Rate? State And Group Don’t Agree
By Colin Staub, RESOURCE RECYCLING
November 3, 2020
https://resource-recycling.com/recycling/2020/11/03/big-drop-in-califor…
Advocacy organization Consumer Watchdog recently noted the COVID-19 pandemic has slashed California’s beverage container recycling rate. But the state’s recycling agency called that analysis “inaccurate.”
Can the Ballot Be Used to Hold Local Government Accountable?
By Max Pringle, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC PRESS
November 2, 2020
https://www.sfpublicpress.org/can-the-ballot-be-used-to-hold-local-gove…
San Francisco has faced many scandals in which public officials abused their power for personal, political or organizational gain. Most recently, the Department of Public Works was rocked by an FBI investigation into alleged kickbacks, slush funds and illicit permitting influence.
California's Prop. 24 Splits Privacy Advocates
Critics worry that the curatives in Prop. 24 are worse than the disease of privacy-rights violations.
By Seth Rosenblatt, DARK READING
November 2, 2020
https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/californias-prop-24-splits-privacy…
Watchdog Group Says Google Gave California Voters Biased Search Results
In a letter to the Senate Elections Committee, Consumer Watchdog questions the Big Tech company's motives
By Julia Musto, FOX BUSINESS
October 31, 2020
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/watchdog-group-calls-for-investiga…
Experts Split On Calif.’s Prop 24
By Patrick W. Dunne, DIGITAL PRIVACY NEWS
October 29, 2020
https://digitalprivacy.news/2020/10/29/privacy-experts-split-on-calif-s…
California residents will vote Tuesday on a divisive privacy initiative: Prop 24, also known as the California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act.
Culver City, CA Stands Up To Big Oil, Votes To Phase Out Drilling In Largest Urban Oil Field In U.S.
In a year of record fires, record heat and the unprecedented Coronavirus in California, the City Council of Culver City, the site of the largest urban oil field in the U.S, voted on October 26 to phase out oil drilling. This vote took place as the Gavin Newsom Administration has expanded oil and gas drilling in California — and the City Council members hope that Newsom will take note of the historic decision.
By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE
October 29, 2020
KCBS AM SF: Prop 24 Will Strengthen Privacy Regs in CA
By Doug Sovern, KCBS AM San Francisco, CA
October 27, 2020
Click here to listen to Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog explain how Prop 24 will strengthen privacy protections in California: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/RADKCBS_Carmen…
Prop 24 Privacy Initiative
By Nicole Nixon, KPBS, CAPITOL PUBLIC RADIO
October 23, 2020
https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/san-diego-news-matters/2020/oct/23/candid…
Californians are voting on a dozen ballot propositions this election, including Prop 24, which would tweak the state’s new digital privacy law. CapRadio’s Nicole Nixon reports.
Gov. Newsom Pledges to Ban Fracking in California – Then Greenlights More of It
The Newsom administration has established a pattern of approving permits during busy news cycles.
By Steve Horn, CAPITAL & MAIN
October 23, 2020
https://capitalandmain.com/gov-newsom-pledges-to-ban-fracking-californi…
Consumer Reports Endorses California Ballot Initiative To Broaden Privacy Law
By Wendy Davis, MEDIAPOST DIGITAL NEWS DAILY
October 23, 2020
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/357145/consumer-reports-…
The influential watchdog Consumer Reports has endorsed a ballot initiative aimed at strengthening California's already broad privacy law.
Consumer Advocate Lashes Out At Insurers For "Exploiting" CA Wildfires
By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS AMERICA
October 20, 2020
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/catastrophe/consumer-advoc…
Consumer advocate group Consumer Watchdog has issued a statement accusing the insurance industry of “exploiting” the California wildfires for its own financial gain.
CA Regulators Issue 6 New Fracking Permits Yesterday, Bringing The Total This Year To 54
By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE
October 17, 2020
http://redgreenandblue.org/2020/10/17/ca-regulators-issue-6-new-frackin…
The agency approved the permits after an independent technical review by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, according to Matt Baker, Deputy Secretary for Energy of the California Natural Resources Agency.
