Consumer Watchdog

California’s Largest Recycling Center Closes

By Austin Schoonmaker, SAN DIEGO ENTERTAINER MAGAZINE

August 6, 2019

https://www.sdentertainer.com/news/californias-largest-recycling-center…

California’s largest operator of recycling redemption centers has shut its doors to all 248 of its locations leaving 750 employees without jobs. Thousands will no longer be able to rely on the supplemental income provided by recycling cans and bottles through its services. 

rePlanet Recycling Redemption Centers Suddenly Close

By Staff & Wire Reports, PALO ALTO DAILY POST

August 6, 2019

https://padailypost.com/2019/08/06/replanet-recycling-redemption-center…

RePlanet, California’s largest operator of recycling redemption centers, has shut down all 284 of its locations and laid off 750 employees.

In the mid-Peninsula, RePlanet had redemption centers in Mountain View, Palo Alto, Redwood City, North Fair Oaks and San Mateo.

Secret Formulas Guide Who Gets Denied Home Insurance In Wildfire Risk Areas

When insurance companies deny coverage or raise prices in areas at risk of wildfire, they’re often relying on secret formulas designed to predict what homes are likely to burn, according to a Voice of San Diego review of thousands of pages of regulatory filings by eight of California’s largest home insurers.

By Ry Rivard, VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

August 6, 2019

California’s Largest Recycling Center Closes, Shuttering 300 Redemption Sites

By Annie Sciacca, EAST BAY TIMES

August 5, 2019

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/08/05/californias-largest-recycling-c…

The state’s largest operator of recycling redemption centers has closed all 284 of its centers, leaving 750 employees without jobs and many who rely on income from redeeming bottles and cans without options.

The Biggest Recycling Store Chain In California Just Closed Its Doors. Here’s Why

By Andrew Wheeler, SACRAMENTO BEE

August 5, 2019

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…

The largest bottle and can recycling center chain in California, rePlanet, shut its doors Monday, terminating its entire workforce and creating a massive gap in recycling availability in the state.

rePlanet Lays Off Hundreds Of Workers, Closes Recycling Centers

By Rob McMillan, KABC TV-7 Los Angeles, CA

August 5, 2019

https://abc7.com/business/replanet-lays-off-hundreds-of-workers-closes-…

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- The future of rePlanet, the state's largest recycling business, is in doubt, with multiple employees saying they were laid off on Saturday.

Recycling centers for rePlanet were closed on Monday all across Southern California.

Insurance Companies in California Work Hard to Avoid Public Hearings Over Rate Hikes

A 1988 ballot measure was meant to protect customers from unjustified rate hikes. But the measure has loopholes that insurers regularly exploit – and regulators aren’t doing much to plug the holes.

By Ry Rivard, VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

August 5, 2019

https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/government/insurance-companies-i…

Lara’s Calendars Will Be Released - Delayed Disclosure

By Hannah Wiley and Elizabeth Shwe, SACRAMENTO BEE - Capitol Alert AM Newsletter

August 5, 2019

https://www.sacbee.com/site-services/newsletters/capitol-morning/articl…

After nearly two months since Consumer Watchdog filed a Public Records Act request seeking Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s calendars, the department said it plans to release the documents by Aug. 31.

Eco-Tip: Contrasting European, American Recycling

By David Goldstein, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

August 3, 2019

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2019/08/03/eco-tip-contrasting-…

On vacation in Europe over the past two weeks, I photographed some amazing sights. As my pictures show, even in crowded cities where cars line up for parking spaces, city planners have cordoned off extensive curbside space for the exclusive use of recycling collection.

Hacked Cars Could Lead to Thousands of Casualties, Kill Switch Needed

By Daniel Patrascu, AUTO EVOLUTION

August 2, 2019

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/hacked-cars-could-lead-to-thousands-…

ike any system that is controlled at least in part by a computer, cars can be hacked. This is a reality experts have been talking about for nearly a decade, despite that until now we're yet to see a coordinated attack against smart cars.

Internet-Linked Cars Vulnerable To Hackers, Consumer Group Says

By Staff Reporters, KTRK ABC TV-13, Houston, TX

August 1, 2019

https://abc13.com/automotive/internet-linked-cars-vulnerable-to-hackers…

A new report by more than a dozen whistleblowers suggests that internet-connected cars are a large national security threat.

Consumer Watchdog issued the report titled "Kill Switch: Why connected cars can be killing machines and how to turn them off."

Report Warns Of Possible Mass Casualties From Automotive Cyberattacks

By Eric D. Lawrence, DETROIT FREE PRESS

July 31, 2019

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2019/07/31/auto-cyberattacks-mas…

Warnings about connected vehicle vulnerabilities have been a steady drumbeat for years. Now a consumer-advocacy group is putting it in starker terms, suggesting a mass cyberattack against such vehicles could lead to Sept. 11-level casualties.

Connected Cars Can Be Hacked Need Kill Switch & Need Privacy

By Bryan Jonston, AUTO CONNECTED CAR NEWS

July 31, 2019

https://www.autoconnectedcar.com/2019/07/connected-car-can-be-hacked-ne…

The nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog has issued a report, with the help of car industry technologists, that finds all the top 2020 cars have Internet connections to safety critical systems that leave them vulnerable to fleet wide hacks.

Hackers Controlling Your Ride? New Report Warns Dangers of Internet-Connected Cars

Our insider said most new 2020 model cars feature "info-tainment" systems with open internet connections that link with a car's computer technology; it contains all a hacker needs to crash a car you're driving

By Randy Mac, KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles, CA

July 31, 2019

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/cyber-security-risks-new-c…

California Insurance Commissioner Met With CEO Who Has Cases Pending Before His Department

By Hannah Wiley, SACRAMENTO BEE

July 29, 2019

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, under fire for accepting campaign contributions from insurance executives and their spouses, has yet to release his office calendars in response to public requests.

Consumer Groups Push For Probe Into Tesla’s Autopilot Marketing

The groups say the name ‘Autopilot’ creates confusion among consumers

By Sarah D. Young, CONSUMER AFFAIRS

July 29, 2019

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/consumer-groups-push-for-probe-int…

The Center for Auto Safety and Consumer Watchdog have once again come together to lobby for a federal investigation into how Tesla markets its Autopilot driver-assistance system. 

Lara Tells Insurers He's 'Receptive' To Their Ideas, Including Vehicle Data Use

By Carla Marinucci and Jeremy B. White, POLITICO

July 29, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO — Embattled state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara last week assured a convention of insurance executives that he would “start engaging the industry like never before” on issues that include giving insurers more access to drivers’ vehicle data — an effort long opposed by consumer advocates as a privacy invasion.

Overbilled DWP Customers Due Millions More In Refunds In Revisited Settlement, Attorneys Say

By Carlos Granda, KABC TV-7 Los Angeles, CA

July 27, 2019

Watch the video of this news segment here: https://abc7.com/society/dwp-customers-due-millions-more-in-refunds-att…]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- There could be an additional $50 million in refunds for customers who were overbilled by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power back in 2013, attorneys say.

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