Paramount Chamber of Commerce Elects New President
More than 120 people attended the Paramount Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation & Awards luncheon. During the event new officers and directors were installed including new Chamber President, Brenda Olmos.
Brenda has been a Paramount resident for more than 46 years. She and her husband David of 25 years, have two children Alexa 20, and Noah 16.
For the last ten years Brenda has worked for AppleCare Medical Management, and is the current Director of Network and Business Development.
AppleCare Medical Management located in La Palma is a full service Medical Group that contracts with more than 800 Primary Care Physicians and Specialists in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Brenda has been a member of the Paramount Chamber Board of Directors since 2005, she has served as a Director, Vice President, Senior Vice President, and President. In addition to the Chamber Board she is a Public Safety Commissioner for the City of Paramount, Past President for Pathways Volunteer Hospice, and a member of the Paramount Rotary Club.
Her dedication to service was recently recognized by Downey Mayor Fernando Vasquez when he presented her with the Mayors Healthy Heart Award.
In their leisure time Brenda and David love spending
time with family, watching football, and a lot of Dodger baseball. Brenda looks forward to a successful year for the Chamber; her goals are to increase membership, and awareness about the importance of community involvement for business.
In addition to Brenda the following chamber members were installed and will serve on the Executive Committee; Senior Vice President, Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar USA), Vice President, Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications), Treasurer,
Paramount Chamber of Commerce pulse beat 15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723
Dr. Max Martinez, and Past President, Gary Johnson (ACE Clearwater).
The event included award presentations to the following; the “President’s Award” went to Brenda Olmos for her dedication to the community and her long list of service to non-profit organizations and commitment to her profession. The “Mayor’s Award” went to Mike Ferrero with Cinta Azul Homes. Mike was given the award for building quality single family homes in Paramount, as well as a seniors
only complex. According to Mayor Lemons, “Mike has demonstrated unique creativity when it comes to building single family homes in a land locked community.” Tony Manos owner of Domino’s in Paramount received the “Award of Excellence” for his generosity to the community, contributions to sports teams, and other non-profits.
Erika Estudillo De Ponce and employee with Wavefront Technology was named “Ambassador of the Year” Erika received the award for earning the most points as an
Ambassador, Erika worked at fund-raisers, visited new members, and promoted Chamber membership.
During the luncheon Outgoing President Gary Johnson was recognized for his accomplishments during his term as President including; co-sponsorship of 26 events such as ribbon cuttings, educational workshops, and networking breakfasts. The Chamber also hosted a Poker Tournament, State of the City Address, Job & Community Resources Fair, Golf Classic, and Installation & Awards Luncheon. More than 200 business owners received one-on-one business counseling at the Chamber Business Resource Center, and 200 residents and businesses received City of Paramount Welcome Packets, 28 new members joined the Chamber, and 240,000 copies of the Pulse Beat were distributed. During her closing President Olmos said, “My goals for the coming year are to grow the membership and promote an open dialogue between the business community, the residents, and the City. Our membership is diverse consisting of 25% retail, 21% professionals, 17% service, 14% associations, 12% manufacturing, 4% contractors, 3% education, and 4% miscellaneous. Our job is to promote Paramount and its economy so that we insure the financial future of our City. I look forward to working with all of you, I am here to listen and to serve.
Recipient of Senator Ricardo Lara 2015 Excellence in Business Award
Licensed & Bonded Tax Professionals
Mayor’s Award to Gold Key Development
At the Paramount Chamber of Commerce’s Installation and Awards Luncheon in June, it was my great pleasure to present the annual Mayor’s Award for Business of the Year to Mike Ferrero of Gold Key Development.
Mike grew up in Paramount and has dedicated his career to improving his hometown. Through Gold Key Development, he has built many high-quality residential and commercial properties here since the late 1980s.
Among his various projects over the years, Mike has constructed nearly 100 single-family homes. This is a testament to his belief that homeownership should be encouraged in Paramount because it helps people put down roots and leads to stability in the community. Mike has also built a 34-unit senior housing development, a very important investment for a very precious segment of our community.
Mike has made a specialty out of creatively finding properties to redevelop in a land-scarce city. Big homebuilders often
pass on cities like Paramount because there is not much open land and it’s easier to build a new housing tract in an empty field. But Mike has always patiently taken the time to find smaller properties in town to bring his vision to life.
This approach has often replaced blight in our neighborhoods and has always improved the physical landscape while giving our residents beautiful places to call home.
For his commitment to making Paramount a truly great place to live, and for helping to make owning a home something real for so many Paramount residents, I was happy to name Mike Ferrero as this year’s recipient of the Mayor’s Award.
Local Horchatería Named Top Business by Assemblymember Rendon
In other Paramount business news, Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon has honored our very own Horchatería Rio Luna as the 2017 Small Business of the Year for the 63rd Assembly District, which includes, in addition to Paramount, the cities and communities of Bell, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, North Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, and South Gate.
The husband-and-wife team of David and Ashley Léon Vasquez, both natives of Paramount, opened Horchatería Rio Luna in March 2016 after long dreaming of owning their own business. They were honored in Sacramento on June 5 where they received special recognition in front of the State Assembly.
“From the art on the walls to the flavors of the beverages and pastries they serve, Horchatería Rio Luna is fun, welcoming, and drawing such big crowds that they are already looking to expand,” Assemblymem-
ber Rendon said. “Their fusion of traditional Mexican flavors with American-style desserts reflects the way the experiences of Mexican immigrants in California have fused with the American dream.”
The business has gained a large following of customers throughout Southern California.
“We are beyond excited, and we also want to thank the City of Paramount for the support it has shown,” Ashley said. “We are proud to represent our City.”
And the City is very proud of their great and continuing success.
Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations
The City’s second low-cost “Vaccine-AThon” this summer for all dogs and cats in the community will be held Wednesday, July 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Paramount Park, 14410 Paramount Blvd.
Rabies vaccinations (required for all dogs under California law) will be priced at $5 each (plus a $2 medical waste disposal fee). This is a $10-$15 savings over traditional prices. A complete selection of other pet vaccinations will be available at discounted prices, with special combination “packs” to allow pet owners even greater savings when they purchase multiple vaccinations. You can also get general health exams and services for discounted prices. (A list of these services and their costs can be found online at www.vetcarepetclinic.com or on flyers available at City Hall.)
Flea control products Comfortis, Trifexis, and NexGard may be purchased at special prices. Frontline flea control will be offered in single doses for $10 at this specific clinic while supplies last.
You can also have a microchip registration done for identification purposes (if your
pet is ever lost) for $30 and nail trimming for $15.
Pet licensing is available on site. Checks and cash only will be accepted for licensing. Checks, cash, and credit cards will be accepted for the veterinarian services. Please remember – dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers.
All services are provided by licensed veterinarians from Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. in conjunction with South East Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). For more information, please call (562) 220-2018.
Summer Program Offers Kids Free Meals and Activities
Here’s a reminder that the Paramount Unified School District and the City of Paramount are providing a free Summer Nutrition and Activity Program (SNAP) for local kids.
The federally funded program offers meals and activities Monday through Friday for children 18 and younger at all elementary and middle schools in the District (except for Jackson). It runs until August 4. It’s a walk-in program with no registration. Children can participate any time during operating hours.
Breakfast is served from 9:00 a.m.10:00 a.m. Staff members lead sports, arts and crafts, and physical fitness activities from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Then lunch is served from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
SNAP gives the kids of Paramount a place to have fun and some delicious meals during the summer break, all at no cost to them or their families.
For more information, please call (562) 220-2121.
“Don’t find fault, find a remedy.”
Mayor, Peggy Lemons
Fireworks Alert Reminder
Talking or Texting on Cell Phones
• Only Safe and Sane fireworks are allowed in Paramount. All others – like bottle rockets, firecrackers and M80s – are illegal.
• On July 3 and July 4, only Safe and Sane fireworks can be set off anywhere in the City. Setting them off on any other date can result in a $250 fine.
There are plenty of facts, figures, and details about distracted driving, but the California Office of Traffic Safety wants you to know the plain and simple ones:
• You must be 16 years or older to buy Safe and Sane fireworks.
• If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it.
• Violation of the above restrictions, and use of illegal fireworks, can result in a fine up to $1,000.
• 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders
Please clean up after the fun so the streets of Paramount aren’t left a mess. For more information please call (562) 220-2002.
• Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
Alerta Fuegos Artificiales
• Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of driver distractions.
• Solo los fuegos artificiales “Safe and Sane” son permitidos en Paramount. Todos los otros – como cohetes que vuelan al aire, o cohetes tronadores y M80s – son ilegales.
• Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph. Most crashes happen with less than three seconds reaction time.
Paramount has its own dedicated District Attorney – Kelly Tatman – who works out of the Sheriff’s Station. Her duties include making sure that criminal investigations and prosecutions in town receive full attention and don’t fall through the cracks at the larger County D.A.’s Office.
• En los días 3 y 4 de Julio, solo los fuegos artficiales “Safe and Sane” pueden ser encendidos. El encenderlos cualquier otro día puede resultar en una multa de $250.
• Deberá tener 16 años de edad o más para poder comprar fuegos artificiales “Safe and Sane.”
• La violación de cualquiera restricción, o el uso de los cohetes ilegales, puede resultar en una multa de $1,000.
Para más información, favor de llamar al (562) 220-2002.
Tatman has been visiting a class of 36 students at Jefferson School as part of Project LEAD. The program, which goes into the classroom once a week for 20 weeks during the school year, uses volunteers like Tatman from the D.A.’s Office to teach fifth-graders about the law and help them recognize the social and legal consequences of criminal behavior.
Phone App Can be Used to Report Public Safety Issues, Too
• The act of talking on a cell phone, even hands free, can give you “inattention blindness,” where your brain isn’t seeing what’s right in front of you. You aren’t even aware that you are driving impaired. If you think you can handle both driving and talking on a cell phone or texting, you are kidding yourself and putting us all at risk.
Did you know that, in addition to reporting potholes, stray shopping carts, burnt-out street lights, and abandoned furniture you can also alert the City to public safety issues with a snap of your smart phone?
Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or your hands off the steering wheel – especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. Who’s doing it? Most of us. It has been estimated that, at any one time, more than 10 percent of drivers are using a mobile device.
Sadly, too many young people first become acquainted with the justice system as delinquents. Project LEAD is designed to avoid that scenario.
If you haven’t done so already, download the free app “Paramount Works” to let City staff know about issues around town so they can be dealt with in a timely manner. The app is available for free downloading from the App Store or Google Play.
A ticket for $159 for texting or talking on a cell phone is a major distraction to your wallet.
What can you do? Most important, obey the law. It’s there for a reason. Also, do your best to eliminate distractions:
• Never text and drive.
• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.
The class from Jefferson recently went on a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance. (They will also go to a local courthouse). In addition, Project LEAD’s curriculum includes speakers connected to the criminal justice system and a mock trial involving either drug selling or gun possession on campus. Students are assigned roles and argue a criminal case to a jury consisting of other students. Teachers and parents attend, too.
Here’s a real-world example of how it can work. A resident submitted a traffic concern using the app that dealt with motorists failing to obey a stop sign at an intersection in town. In response, a traffic motor deputy was later dispatched to the intersection to provide traffic enforcement, which resulted in 16 citations issued for failing to obey/yield at a stop sign.
At one point during the traffic enforcement detail, a nearby resident contacted the traffic motor deputy and thanked him for his services to their neighborhood. In addition, City staff members worked with neighborhood residents to address this concern.
• Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.
At the end of the program, the kids will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive a certificate of completion from the D.A.’s Office at a meeting of the Paramount Public Safety Commission.
Always, though, remember to call 911 to report crimes in progress.
• Make a pact with your family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone with kids in the car.
• No eating or drinking while driving.
Summer Vacation Home Checks
CONGRATULATIONS!
• Don’t program your GPS, MP3 player, or
With summertime approaching, remember that if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, you can schedule a home check.
6:00 – 8:00
INCLUdES: 2 HOURS OF SKAtING, SKAtE RENtAL, HOt dOG, CHIpS ANd dRINK.
FUNdRAISER FOR tHE ELKS’ CHARItIES SUCH AS: CHILdREN WItH CEREBRAL pALSY, VEtERANS ANd LOCAL FAmILIES IN NEEd
Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property
Life-long resident Denise Lee Daniels just graduated with honors and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State University Dominguez Hills, congratulations Denise!
Clubs & Organizations
Paramount Women’s Club 2017 Scholarship Awards
Over 150 members of the Stater Bros. “Family” of Employees, friends, suppliers and representatives from Operation Community Cares (a local organization that supports our troops) gathered to prepare over 1,000 care packages for local military members currently serving overseas.
The pack event took place in June on the campus of Stater Bros. Corporate Offices and Distribution Center in San Bernardino, California.
“We at OCC are so excited to work together with Stater Bros Charities to continue the mission to boost morale for our men and women overseas. The feedback we continue to get has been overwhelming as to how much a care package can do,” said Ryan Orr, Founder/President of Operation Community Cares. “To think some simple items, sent with love, can lift spirits and bring smiles! We are told it saves lives! God Bless Stater Bros. and all they do for our community,” Orr further added.
“The Stater ‘Family’ is grateful to our supplier friends – Frito Lay, Hershey, General Mills, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Mondelez International – who donated product for this event,” stated Pete Van Helden, President and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets. “Stater Bros. has a longstanding commitment of unwavering support for our country’s veterans and service members, and I can’t think of a better way to show that support than by preparing and sending care packages from the Heartland for our local military members to let them know we’re thinking of them and praying that they come home safe . . . and come home soon,” Van Helden continued.
The care packages are sent to local servicemen and women currently deployed. In addition, a total shipment of 500 care packages is being sent to two U.S. 7th Fleet Aircraft Carriers, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan.
following Paramount High School students received scholarships from the Paramount Women’s Club; Academics (Vivian E. Rodriguez and Karina Rayon), Vocational (Yesenia S. Diaz), and Music/Art (Eduardo Quirate).
Top-Performing Students Recognized at Heritage Festival
At this year’s Heritage Festival in Paramount Park, the annual tradition was continued of recognizing the Paramount High School students with the highest GPAs this past year.
Members of the City Council and the Board of Education, along with PUSD officials, were on hand to congratulate the ten students from each of the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Here is the list of those accomplished young people and their impressive GPAs.
10th Grade
Nicole Reyes, 4.45
Raul Plascencia, 4.44
Daphne Colin, 4.42
Maximillian Chau, 4.42
Jaime Perez, 4.42
Gisselle Rios, 4.42
Joana Romero, 4.38
Jaqueline Lopez, 4.38
Daisy Santiago, 4.38
Mariela Zaragoza, 4.38
11th Grade
Fernanda Corona, 4.52
Maricarmen Ayala, 4.51
Bryanna Paz, 4.44
Karla Navarro, 4.44
Alexis Torres, 4.44
Edward Mendoza, 4.43
Jocelyn Meraz, 4.43
Angel Macias, 4.42
Cesar Arzate, 4.42
Guadalupe Marquez, 4.41
12th Grade
Arlene Aleman, 4.5
Jesus Salazar, 4.5
Gabriel Garcia, 4.48
Judith Murillo, 4.46
Wendyl Gotos, 4.46
Catherine Zaragoza, 4.46
Nayeli Vallecillo, 4.46
Nicole Garcia, 4.43
Ezequiel Novoa, 4.42
Jason Wong, 4.41
Congratulations are due to them all for their outstanding work, with best wishes for continued success in the future.
Futsal Courts Newest Amenity at Paramount Park
On June 3, the City held a “kick off” for its newest recreational resource for the community, two futsal courts at Paramount Park. Futsal is a game similar to soccer that is played on a smaller space than a regular soccer field. It has become extremely popular in recent years. The courts will be open seven days a week for youth and adult leagues, day camp, and open use during various hours. After the ribbon-cutting by the Paramount City Council, members of the Paramount High School soccer team, this year’s Southern California CIF champions, put on a futsal demonstration for the attendees.
Compton College Receives Accreditation
Compton College granted initial accreditation
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) granted initial accreditation status to Compton College during its June 7, 2017 meeting. The action establishes Compton College as an accredited college.
“This accomplishment is a huge success story for the entire Compton Community College District community,” said El Camino Community College District Superintendent/President Dena P. Maloney. “El Camino College and Compton College faculty, staff and students are all to be congratulated for their hard work in achieving accreditation directly from eligibility status.”
Accreditation consists of several steps, including eligibility, candidacy, initial accreditation, and reaffirmation of accreditation. The ACCJC granted accreditation eligibility status to the institution in March 2015. The application for candidacy was the next step and a Comprehensive Institutional Self-Evaluation Report was submitted in January 2017.
A four-day visit from the ACCJC External Evaluation Team was completed this past March. In its report, the visiting team commended the El Camino Community College District for entering into this partnership to ensure the Compton community had access to higher education. The team noted that ECCCD’s willingness to enter into this unique relationship “is an excellent model of col-
legiality, dedication and commitment.” The team also commended the Center on the high level of student engagement in the participatory governance process and campus initiatives.
Typically, the ACCJC process would require accreditation candidacy to immediately follow accreditation eligibility. However, the Commission was so impressed with the progress made during the past two years, they determined that moving directly to initial accreditation was in order.
Granting initial accreditation indicates that the ACCJC has determined that the institution is in substantial compliance with its eligibility requirements, accreditation standards, and ACCJC policies. Compton College is required to submit a Quality Focused Essay as a special report within one year.
“We look forward to continuing to provide comprehensive educational programs and support services to our diverse communities,” said Compton College President Keith Curry. “Thank you to all of our community leaders – at the federal, state and local levels – for your steadfast support. Thank you to the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees for your leadership. Thank you to all of the Compton District students and employees. And last, but not least, many thanks to our partner, El Camino College, for taking this journey with us to an accredited college.”
I nstallat I on & a wards l un C heon
Sponsored by: Weber metals, Inc., an Otto Fuchs Company
Newly elected 2017-2018 Paramount Chamber of Commerce President, Brenda Olmos.
Mayor’s Award recipient Mike Ferrero (Cinta Azul Homes).
President’s Award recipient Brenda Olmos with award presenters. From left; Peggy Lemons (Mayor, City of Paramount), Gary Johnson (Chamber President), Veronica Ledesma (representing Assemblyman Anthony Rendon), Genesis Coronado (representing Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard), and David Frownfelter (representing Senator Lara),
Award of Excellence recipient, Tony Manos (Domino’s).
Ambassador of the Year, Erika Estudillo De Ponce (Wavefront Technology).
Event sponsor Metals Weber Metals, Inc., an Otto Fuchs Company.
I nstallat I on & a wards l un C heon
Sponsored by: Weber metals, Inc., an Otto Fuchs Company
Directors
President Gary Johnson (ACE Clearwater) receives recognition for his year as President. From left; Brenda Olmos (Paramount Chamber President), Peggy Lemons (Mayor, City of Paramount), Veronica Ledesma (Office of Assemblyman Anthony Rendon), Gary Johnson, Genesis Coronado (representing Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard), and David Frownfelter (representing Senator Lara),
Outgoing
Platinum Sponsor awards from left; Gary Johnson (ACE Clearwater) Darin Teevans (Weber Metals), Eddie Marquez (AltAir Paramount), and Ron Olko (Carlton Forge).
Chamber President Gary Johnson presents Gold Sponsor awards to; Dr. Allen (Dusk to Dawn Urgent Care), Christina Alosi (AppleCare Medical Mgt.), and Bill Kalpakoff (CalMet Services).Gold Sponsor not pictured SC Fuels.
President Johnson presents Silver Sponsor awards to Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications), Alicia Valadez (Northgate Gonzalez Market), and Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar USA), Silver Sponsors not pictured are Fenico Precision Castings and Southern California Edison.
Paramount Chamber Ambassadors receive service awards. From left; Erika Estudillo De Ponce (Wavefront Technology), Annina Brown (AltAir Paramount), Matt Wagner (GM Properties), Dr. Linda Timmons (Advocates for Family Unity), Tim Hickok (Penta Pacific Properties), Margaret Garcia (PUSD Teacher), and Veronica Sanchez (Sanchez Professional Services).
Incoming
for 2017-2018 take the Paramount Chamber of Commerce oath of office. From left; Alicia Valadez (Northgate Gonzalez Market), Leonard Crespo (Total-Western), Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications), Brenda Olmos (AppleCare Medical Mgt.), Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar USA), Dr. Max Martinez, Gary Johnson (ACE Clearwater), Bill Kalpakoff (CalMet Services), Chris Rich (Wavefront Technology), Gloria Gamino (Casa Gamino Restaurant), and Eddie Marquez (AltAir Paramount). Incoming Directors not shown are; Paul Dennis (Weber Metals), Daniel Griffith (SC Fuels) and Tony Manos (Domino’s).
Are you considering internships at your company this summer?
By audrianne adams lee HR Network, Inc.
Internships can be mutually beneficial for both students and employers. Students get the chance to gain experience in an industry they’ve selected for a future career, and employers get to assess the interns’ future aptitudes as potential employees down the line. However, if you aren’t up to date on crucial laws and regulations such as FLSA
Ask The Expert
(Fair Labor Standards Act) and California regulations on this issue, you could find yourself in legal hot water.
There are specific requirements that must be met before an internship can be classified as unpaid.
Generally, if the intern is performing tasks for the benefit of the employer, he/ she should be paid.
There have been recent news reports about the legality of unpaid internships and the Labor Department’s plan to crack down on employers’ who use unpaid interns. According to the US Department of Labor (DOL), “If you’re a forprofit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there aren’t going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law.”
The U.S. Department
of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has developed the five factors below to evaluate whether a worker is a trainee (intern) or an employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to what would be given in a vocational school or academic or via academic educational instruction:
1. The training is for the benefit of the trainees;
2. The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under their close observation;
3. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees, and on occasion the employer’s operations may actually be impeded;
4. The trainees are not
Real Estate Investment Questions
Matt Wagner GM Properties (562) 696-0200
When you are deciding what to do with your money, depending on how much you have, investing in commercial real estate has always been a very good option. As no investment vehicle comes without risks, investors need to evaluate the level of risk tolerance they are willing to accept as well an overall assessment of their financial goals. While making these investment assessments and decisions, investors usually ask themselves many questions. The below questions are the basic initial questions one should ask themselves before entering the world of commercial real estate investing.
What are your goals? Understanding and your investment parameters is most likely the first step in understanding your investment goals. Brainstorm with yourself or other likeminded individuals in order to gather up a relevant list of goals you are trying to obtain. Write them down. Are you looking to buy and hold, thus collecting rents and performing landlord duties or are you looking to buy and flip? Buy and flip is tricky and requires local knowledge and patience. However, if you can buy right, this can be a very profitable option. However, this is also one of the riskiest adventures in real estate investing. Are you interested in residential multifamily investment property or entering the commercial (Industrial, retail or office) investment world? One could also enter the passive investment world by investing in trust deeds. This type of investing deals with the financing of other people’s real estate. Collecting
interest payments over time and not having any maintenance or ownership responsibility in the actual real estate.
What is the current and future local real estate market outlook? Market outlook plays a major role in positioning yourself for a successful real estate investment. Are goods coming into the USA through local port activity? Are manufacturing jobs being sent overseas to locations with much cheaper labor? Is the property located next to a major college that will always have a need for student housing? Are banks’ lending investment money at good terms? These type questions will help steer you into the best possible scenario for your specific requirement.
Can you handle being a landlord? From marketing & leasing to maintenance & management, investing in real estate means you will most likely be engaged with these type activities at some point in your investment, even if you are going to enter the flipping investment world. Preparing a budget and interacting with the rent paying tenants are responsibilities that need to be addressed. One will need to determine if you are going to be willing to perform these activities on your own or to hire a property management company or brokerage firm who can help you with these type activities. Understanding the local markets as well as being able to adjust to changing situations are key factors in successful real estate investing.
If you are interested after reading this short article, contact one of your local professional commercial real estate agents or firms to begin your real estate investing game plan! Good Luck!
necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period; and
5. The employer and the trainees understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training.
If ALL of the factors listed above are met, then the worker is a “trainee,” an employment relationship does not exist under the FLSA, and the FLSA’s minimum wage overtime provisions do not apply to the worker.
Because the FLSA’s definition of “employee” is broad, the excluded category of “trainee” is necessarily quite narrow. Moreover, the fact that an employer labels a worker as a trainee and the worker’s activities as training, this does not make the worker a trainee for purposes of the FLSA unless the previously mentioned five factors are met.
California Labor Department revises guidelines on when interns must be paid
As the number of internships has risen sharply, many interns have complained of being placed in unpaid positions doing largely unskilled work. If considered employees, interns must be paid at least minimum wage. Overall, the guidance from the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) was emphatic that for internships to be unpaid, they must be educational and predominantly for the benefit of the intern, not the employer.
California and some other states require that interns receive college credit as a condition of being unpaid. But federal regulators say that receiving college credit does not necessarily free companies from paying interns, especially when the internship involves little training and mainly benefits the employer.
California has embraced the DOL’s established five criteria to determine when internships can be unpaid. The criteria include that the internship should resemble training given in a vocational school or academic institution, that the intern does not displace a regular
paid worker and that the employer “derives no immediate advantage” from the interns activities and that all five criteria must be satisfied for interns not to be paid. But the DLSE’s guidance embraced a less strict test, saying the “totality of the circumstances” should be assessed, a standard adopted by the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
In the new guidance, the DLSE noted that it had previously concluded that interns should be paid if they did any work normally done by a regular worker. But in showing more leeway, Mr. Balter, acting chief counsel for the DLSE, recently wrote that interns could do occasional work done by regular employees, as long as it “does not unreasonably replace or impede the education objective for the intern and effectively displace regular workers.”
While this is a rare case where CA is more lax than the Federal standard, we recommend you follow the DOL’s Five Intern/Trainee Classification Factors. If you have an intern answer a phone or you bring in grunt work for the intern to go through, you are at risk of an off-the-clock claim.
The best option is to pay interns at least minimum wage to avoid potential time and expense of defending a potential off-theclock claim.
audrianne adams
C I ty C oun CI l a wards P resentat I ons U.S. Army Birthday Celebrated
The Paramount City Council marked the 242nd birthday of the United States Army at its June 6 meeting. In doing so, the Council paid tribute to all of the residents of Paramount who, over the years, have proudly served in all branches of the nation’s military. Three members of the Army brought a special birthday cake to be shared with those in attendance at the meeting. From left, Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Councilmember Tom Hansen, Sergeant Jose Funes, Staff Sergeant Tom Glover, Sergeant First Class Matthew Morlock, Mayor Peggy Lemons, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, and Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer.
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard Art Winners
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard holds an Annual Art Competition for students throughout her congressional district, which includes Paramount. This year, out of 136 entries, three top awards went to Paramount High School students. Those who could attend were recognized at the June 6 City Council meeting. First place went to senior Rebeka Martinez for her graphite, charcoal, and acrylic piece entitled “Light That Never Goes Out.” Noah Endo, a junior, won second place for “The Monster of Many Forms,” created with ink pen, marker, and Prismacolor pencil. And Léana Perez, a senior, won the honorable mention for her charcoal and chalk piece entitled “Behind the Art.” From left: Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Councilmember Tom Hansen, Mayor Peggy Lemons (holding a poster of the first-place art piece), Ms. Genesis Coronado from the Congresswoman’s office, Endo, the students’ art teacher Juan Navarro, Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer, and Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez.
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Rep. Roybal-Allard Attends Citizenship Workshop in Paramount
On National Citizenship Day of Action, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard gave greetings to attendees and volunteers at a citizenship workshop held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. The workshop, which was held by COFEM (Council of Mexican Federations in North America) in cooperation with the congresswoman’s office, offered free assistance with citizenship applications to those who have been legal permanent residents of the United States for five years or more. Pictured: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (center) joins office staff and workshop volunteers at citizenship workshop.
