Students at UCLA and UC Riverside are demanding their schools cut ties with Starbucks until the coffee chain ends an alleged union-busting campaign against its baristas. In a show of solidarity, the students plan to deliver petitions with more than 1,500 signatures to the two universities this week. “The issues of Starbucks workers and the … Read more
Southern California grocery workers who fiercely oppose a planned $24.6 billion Kroger/Albertsons merger vented their concerns Friday, Jan. 26 in a virtual press conference. They say a union of the two mega supermarket chains would undermine competition, hike prices and result in job losses and store closures. But Kroger says opponents of the plan are … Read more
”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations, while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data. Buzz: The Inland Empire was California’s top job creator during the past four years. Source: My trusty spreadsheet looked a state employment stats for 29 regional job markets – … Read more
Just two weeks after announcing their campaign to unionize with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, Breeze Airways flight attendants have filed for an election with the National Mediation Board. Flight attendants with the low-cost airline have long complained of constantly-changing work rules, low wages for time on the job, substandard hotel accommodations, insufficient work … Read more
Southern California’s job market finished 2023 with record-high employment. My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found 8.19 million at work in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties in December – up 13,000 in a month – just off the local hiring average of 14,640 for December in 2015-19. November 2023 saw … Read more
By Felicia Mello | CalMatters California will dole out $250 million more in down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers this spring, while making changes to its 1-year-old program aimed at reaching a more diverse group of borrowers across the state. Last year frenzied homebuyers hoovered up nearly all $300 million budgeted for the California Dream … Read more
The “Looking Glass” ponders economic and real estate trends through two distinct lenses: the optimist’s “glass half-full” and the pessimist’s “glass half-empty.” Buzz: California foreclosure filings in 2023 were up 41% from the pace of the previous three years. Source: My trusty spreadsheet looked at Attom’s tally of homes with any level of foreclosure filings … Read more
Clippers forward Paul George dunks as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Clippers forward Paul George celebrates after dunking during the second half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. … Read more
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams defends during the first half on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, top, shoots as Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt defends during the first half on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark … Read more
Despite passage of at least 140 housing bills, California has made little progress in solving its 2.5-million-home shortfall, a panel of experts told Realtors last week. California’s municipalities issue fewer than 120,000 new home permits each year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. But economists estimate the state needs to build 180,000 to … Read more
