BERKELEY
The California Legislature on Monday passed SB 926 from state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, the “Workplace Protection Act,” which would protect participants in CalWORKs and CalFresh programs from losing benefits if they leave a job due to violations of their workplace rights. Skinner’s bill now awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.
“CalWORKS and CalFresh help low-wage workers keep food on the table and a roof over their heads when the minimum wage just isn’t enough,” said Skinner. “But the threat of losing those benefits can keep participants in jobs where they’ve experienced sexual harassment, discrimination or other workplace violations.”
A significant number of California’s low-wage workers are eligible for cash and food assistance through state and federal safety-net programs, including the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and CalFresh.
CalWORKs and CalFresh participation requires individuals to meet specified work-hour minimums. If a CalWORKs or CalFresh participant quits their job or reduces work hours, even in response to workplace abuse, their benefits can be taken away for months at a time. As a result, participants feel compelled to remain in unsafe, unreasonable or unlawful workplaces to preserve their program eligibility.
SB 926 addresses these issues by preserving CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits for participants who “voluntarily” leave a job or reduce their hours in response to a violation of their employee rights. SB 926 also requires county human services agencies to provide participants with information about their employment rights and how to file a complaint if their rights have been violated.
“In an economy as strong as California’s, no one should face the choice of going hungry or staying in an inhumane work environment,” said Skinner. “SB 926 will prevent California workers from having to choose between the well being of their families and their right to not be abused or harassed at work.”
Skinner, Anderson, advocates rally to change murder law
At a news conference on the west steps of the state capitol, Skinner and state Sen. Joel Anderson, R-El Cajon, were joined by the groups Re:store Justice, the NAACP and others in support of SB 1437, which would change California’s felony murder rule. SB 1437 passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee last week and awaits a vote on the Assembly floor.
Speakers included individuals who had been sentenced or had loved ones imprisoned under the felony murder rule as well as those who have lost loved ones to homicide but nevertheless feel strongly that the rule is unjust and must be reformed.
“Most people have no idea that you can be charged with murder and given a life sentence even if you didn’t kill anyone,” said Skinner. “The felony murder law irrationally treats those who did not commit murder the same as those who did.”
Under California’s felony murder rule, someone who participates in any portion of certain felonies that result in a death can be charged with first-degree murder. In practice this means that even if someone was unaware that a killing would or did take place, that person could still face a first-degree murder charge and receive a sentence that is equally or, in some cases, more severe than the one handed down to the person who actually committed murder.
SB 1437 would narrow California’s “felony murder” rule to ensure that individuals are charged appropriately for the crimes they committed. SB 1437 restricts the most serious murder charges to those who actually commit or play a major role in a murder. SB 1437 also establishes a process for those who were sentenced under the current interpretation of felony murder to seek resentencing.
SB 1437 would align California with states such as Arkansas, Kentucky, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan that have narrowed the scope of the felony murder rule and limited the application of their murder statutes.
“The vast majority of women serving life sentences for felony murder did not commit murder, yet they were charged and sentenced the same as the actual murderer,” said Skinner. “SB 1437 is a fair and just fix to California’s murder statute.”
— Eric Panzer, Sen. Skinner’s office
EL CERRITO
Suspect sought in two robberies on San Pablo Avenue
Police said Thursday they were asking for the public’s help in finding a man suspected in two robberies in recent weeks.
At 8:38 p.m. July 24, police responded to a report of a disconnected 911 call coming from the Chevron station at 11319 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito. After officers arrived, they found that a man had walked in and demanded money from a cash register. When the clerk refused, the man grabbed the register, threw it on the ground and took cash out of the drawer before fleeing.
At 6:26 p.m. Aug. 6, officers responded to Little Caesar’s Pizza at 11299 San Pablo Ave. on a robbery report. There, they learned that a man had walked in and demanded money from a cashier before walking away. On Aug. 16, officers posted video of the July 24 robbery to YouTube. El Cerrito police ask anyone with information to call Lt. Ian Wong at 510-215-4418 or email investigations@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.
— George Kelly, staff