Paso Robles Press • January 8, 2020

Page 1

Hometown News Since 1889

Good News Real News Making Communities Better Through Print. VOL. CXXX, NO. XXX

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY

2020 Brings New Laws to California New Year ushers in changes in the workplace and beyond By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com CALIFORNIA — The New Year brings with it a host of new laws for Californians. These new rules range in categories from the not surprising — laws such as the smoking ban on state parks and beaches (SB 8) — to the buzzkill laws like making it illegal for passengers to partake of cannabis in vehicles such as buses, taxicabs or limos (AB 1810) to the just plain weird laws where it is now illegal to eat roadkill without a permit (SB 395).

WORKPLACE LAWS

North County’s First Baby of the New Year Born at Twin Cities The first baby born in the North County was delivered on Thursday, Jan. 2, at Tenet Health Central Coast’s Twin Cities Community Hospital to parents Katrina and Jack Persons. Brooklyn Persons was born at 6:41 p.m. on Jan. 2. She weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces and 20.5 inches long. She is the third baby Katrina and Jack have had at Twin Cities. Photo courtesy of Twin Cities Community Hospital

Frace Sisters Remembered at ‘Chicken Run’ By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@pasoroblespress.com

The second annual Brynn and Brittni Frace Memorial Chicken Run was filled with spirit and community as 420 registered runners took to foot for 10K, 5K, and a shorter fun walk/run. The races wound through the hills around Santa Margarita Lake on Sunday, Jan. 5, to celebrate the spirit and love of running that Brynn and “Bitti” shared during their lives. “Today is a celebration of who they were and the joyfulness they brought to everybody,” said coach Roger Warnes, “and the togetherness they really fostered among their teammates and everybody who was around them or with them.” Brynn and Brittni were more than running enthusiasts — they were life enthusiasts. The light they carried with them wherever they went continues to shine through the event that carries their namesake. Carrying the candle for their spirit, Brynn and Bitti’s parents Shari and Warren Frace took a family tragedy and turned it into a triumph. Several hundred people showed up, not just to run or walk, but to fellowship, share, and enjoy Brynn and Bitti’s joy. At 9 a.m., a flock of hundreds of runners charged off the starting line after coach Warnes signal and followed Keith Schmidt, who led the course on bike. After the race, runners and attendees were served breakfast by the Kiwanis, along with Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin assisting the grill. “It takes an entire village of people, and I’m already starting to think about next year,” Shari Frace said. “We have a group of talents who come together to plan it.” With all the work involved in the event, which takes all year to put together, it was not without a payoff for those who put in the hours. “I’m still flying off the happy high,” Shari said. “It was so emotional to me. Everyone knows what they have to do to get the event going, I just had to stop and appreciate the moment. I could hear the girls reminding us to take time to realize the beauty around us.” The event is more than just a chance to catch a runner’s high, but a chance to reflect and appreciate the people and nature around each other. “I find that people are refocusing and see everything a little brighter and seeing the beauty around them,” Shari said. “They

pasoroblespress.com

One of the more noteworthy changes coming to the state is the minimum wage increase (SB 3). In 2020 the new California minimum pay reaches $13 per hour for large companies (26 people or more) and $12 per hour for small businesses (25 or fewer employees). The increase is part of incremental steps to establish a base hourly pay of $15 by 2022 for large companies and 2023 for small businesses. The wage increase also affects salaried employees. California law dictates that exempt or salaried professionals must be paid double the minimum wage. With the 2020 hourly rate increase, the minimum annual income for a salaried employee increases to $49,920 for small businesses and $54,080 for larger businesses. The current exempt threshold is $45,760 for businesses with no more than 25 employees and $49,920 for those with more. Potentially one of the biggest changes coming to the workplace this year is the new rules determining what makes an independent contractor or a normal W2 employCONTINUED ON PAGE A10

Limiting opportunities for journalists inspires backlash against new law STAFF REPORT

BRITTNI, LEFT, AND BRYNN FRACE send me a little note, with a rainbow or a ‘Hiya’ or ‘eyes wide open.’ It’s really cool pushing the community and connectivity of it. [Brynn and Brittni] taught us to live and appreciate life around us.” The fundraiser provides scholarships to student-athletes in the cross country, track and field sports at Paso Robles and Atascadero high schools, and Chico State, and hopefully a bigger meaning. “It’s a reminder to live life to the fullest through kindness and happiness,” Shari said.

As the realities of California’s AB 5 set in, thousands of former workers across the state are feeling the impact of the law concerning the “gig economy.” AB 5 codified the “ABC” test for independent contractors, including freelance journalists that provide some of the content our readers enjoy weekly. Under the new law, freelance writers like Barbie Butz and Lee Pitts are restricted to 35 submissions per year or convert to employees for the publications they contribute to weekly. Unfortunately, the law meant to protect workers has created limitations for many instead. Reducing Mrs. Butz to 35 annual submissions is essentially cutting her regular contributions, and subsequent income, in half. “For someone like me, I have grown to depend on the little bit of income in addition to what we have coming in,” Barbie Butz said. “It happens. You begin to rely on [income] that started as a little hobby. It becomes very important.” For a retired teacher on a fixed income, her limited opportunities to make additional income are gouged even further by AB 5. “I can understand not taking us on as employees, because we are only doing one article per week. It really seems unfair,” Butz said. California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez purports to be “standing up for working Californians” while disregardCONTINUED ON PAGE A10

FUR BABIES

SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT

IN FOCUS

WOLF RESCUE Has Wolf Hybrid Pups Up For Adoption | A4

BOYS SOCCER: Atascadero’s Defense Shines | B1

CHICKEN SOUP: Local author contributes to Christmas anthology | B1

FIRST FRIDAYS: Event aims to bring shoppers to downtown Atascadero | B8

WEATHER

twitter.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress

5

67808 24135

7

The Paso Robles Press

TODAY’S WEATHER

Paso Robles. Real News.

Stay connected with your community.

Good News • Real News • Your Hometown News

pasoroblespress.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.