California workers will be guaranteed five paid sick days a year starting Jan. 1, up from the three days that employers are currently required to provide, thanks to Senate Bill 616.

The bill, authored by Long Beach Democratic Sen. Lena Gonzalez, also extends protections against retaliation to workers who are in a union, but excludes provisions that would have granted railroad employees access to unpaid sick leave.

It was a significant, but partial victory for proponents, including advocacy groups for families and women and dozens of unions. They originally sought seven days, but the final version was reduced in negotiations during the legislative process.

The California Work & Family Coalition hailed the law — one of several measures last session aimed at improving work-life balance — as “a commonsense change.”

But trade associations representing various industries such as the California Grocers Association and California Hotel & Lodging Association, as well as chamber of commerce groups throughout the state, argued that the law would hurt small businesses that have not recovered from the pandemic, are now dealing with inflation and can’t afford the additional cost of covering for sick workers.

The National Federation of Independent Business lists the new law among its top five “compliance headaches” for California’s small business owners in 2024, along with SB 848, which makes it unlawful for employers to refuse as many as five days of “reproductive loss leave” for miscarriages, failed adoptions and other events.

The state Chamber of Commerce had the sick leave law on its “job killer” list and recently issued guidance for employers to navigate the law’s complexities.

There’s no federal law that requires employers to give workers paid sick leave. California became the second state in the nation to adopt a paid sick leave policy in 2014, but now provides less time than 15 states and many of its own cities, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley.

Upon signing the bill on Oct. 4, Newsom said too many people were still having to choose between skipping a day’s pay and taking care of themselves or their family members when they get sick.

“We’re making it known that the health and wellbeing of workers and their families is of the utmost importance for California’s future,” he said in a statement.

This isn’t the first time a sick leave expansion has been introduced, but the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need. In March 2021, a new law required larger employers to provide as many as 10 more days for quarantines or vaccine side effects. But that benefit went away, along with federal tax credits that paid for it, six months later.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Starting in the new year, California employers will be barred from asking workers about their use of cannabis outside of work, and from discriminating against them because of it.

Two bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in the past couple of years aim to strengthen the state’s legal cannabis industry by updating outdated laws. Assembly Bill 2188, which Newsom signed in 2022, will prohibit employers from using the results of hair or urine tests for marijuana — which can detect traces of cannabis for days or weeks — in their decisions to hire, fire or penalize workers.

When the governor signed AB 2188 along with other cannabis-related bills in 2022, he said in a press release that “rigid bureaucracy and federal prohibition continue to pose challenges to the industry and consumers.”

SB 700, which Newsom signed this year, clarifies AB 2188 by amending the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act to bar employers from asking job applicants about their prior use of cannabis.

California NORML, a nonprofit organization that advocates for consumer rights related to cannabis, sponsored AB 2188. In its argument supporting the bill, the organization said hair or urine testing for marijuana does not detect actual impairment, a fact the federal government has acknowledged. “Studies indicate that metabolite tests for past use of marijuana are useless in protecting job safety,” the group said.

The exceptions under the AB 2188 would be for workers in the building and construction industry and for job applicants and employees in positions that require a federal background investigation or clearance.

The National Federation of Independent Business lists the new laws among the top five “compliance headaches” for California’s small business owners in 2024. California Chamber of Commerce opposed AB 2188, though it removed its “job killer” label after some revisions, saying before the bill was signed that employers risk liability when they “take legitimate disciplinary measures” against employees. “Employers must be able to keep their workplace safe by disciplining employees who arrive at work impaired,” the group said.

But AB 2188 does not prevent employers from using other tests to detect impairment, such as blood tests.

SB 700 accounts for employers’ rights to ask about an applicant’s criminal history, but the employer may not discriminate against an applicant when it finds information about past use of cannabis related to criminal history unless otherwise permitted by law.

In 2016, California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, and the state’s voters legalized its recreational use in 2016. Recreational use of marijuana is now legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

The COVID-19 pandemic took a brutal toll on Danielle Miele’s family, but after two exorbitant ambulance bills she’s afraid to call 911.

Her teenage son attempted suicide in 2022, Miele said. His mental health deteriorated during the pandemic, and he needed an ambulance transfer from the Roseville emergency room where Miele took him to a treatment center in San Mateo. The ambulance company hit Miele with a $9,000 out-of-network charge, which was sent to collections “almost immediately,” she said.

The virus also left Miele with seizures that mimic the symptoms of a heart attack, she said. Miele called 911 the first time a seizure happened. The 15-minute ride to the hospital cost $4,000 without help from insurance.

“The last time I had one of my seizures I basically said, ‘I’m going to die here at home…I’m not getting another ambulance,’” Miele said. “I’d maybe rather die at home than have more medical debt.”

A new California law taking effect Jan. 1 targets the kind of “surprise” ambulance bills that put Miele’s family in debt even though they had medical insurance. These bills take the form of out-of-network charges for commercially insured patients who have no control over which ambulance company responds to a call for help.

Under the new law, patients will only have to pay the equivalent of what they would have paid for an in-network service. Health insurance and ambulance companies will have to settle the bill directly even if they don’t have an existing contract.

Supporters of the new law argue it will make a big difference for thousands of families like Miele’s. The second time that Miele’s son needed an emergency psychiatric hold, the ambulance company that arrived was part of the family’s insurance network. Their co-pay: $83.

Ambulance companies did not oppose the legislation, which includes assurances that health insurance plans reimburse them for services.

Californians hit with millions in surprise bills

The California Association of Health Plans, which represents insurers, opposed the bill before it became law because of its potential to increase premiums by $67.3 million statewide. In contrast, people with commercial health insurance stand to save approximately $44.5 million in direct charges for ambulance rides, according to a legislative analysis.

Katie Van Dynze, a legislative advocate for Health Access California, said the law closes a longstanding gap in California’s consumer protections against surprise medical billing for those with commercial insurance. Health Access California, a consumer advocacy group, sponsored the new legislation.

“It’s the last remaining gap, but it’s a really big one,” Van Dynze said. “You could be insured but it doesn’t matter.”

Approximately 14 million Californians with state-regulated commercial health plans will benefit from the law’s protections. According to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 73% of all ground ambulance transports in California resulted in an out-of-network charge in 2018 among people with large employer insurance. California also has the highest median surprise ambulance bill in the nation at $1,209, according to a study published last year by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

In a statement at the time of the law’s passage, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, the Democrat from Carlsbad who authored the measure, said people have no control over which ambulance company picks them up in a time of crisis.

“The last thing anyone should be thinking about when they call 911 is whether they can afford the ambulance ride,” Boerner said in her statement.

The law also protects uninsured people from receiving an expensive ambulance bill by limiting their out-of-pocket cost to the Medi-Cal or Medicare rate, whichever is greater. Medi-Cal is the state’s health insurance program for very low-income residents and already protects its enrollees from these types of bills.

About 6 million Californians enrolled in federally regulated health plans won’t be shielded by the law, but a national committee is working on a solution to the U.S. No Surprises Act, which protects Americans from many kinds of surprise bills, including air-ambulance transports, but doesn’t cover ground ambulance rides. Generally, those are Californians who work for large multi-state or multinational private companies with self-funded health plans. Californians can ask their employer what kind of health plan they offer.

$4,400 bill for newborn’s ambulance trip

Lainey Arebalo and her family are thankful that future emergencies will be covered in California. Her health insurance company doesn’t contract with any ambulance companies in San Luis Obispo County where they live, leaving them with no choice but to pay out of pocket.

In September, minutes after Arebalo gave birth to her son Brady, doctors made the decision to transfer him to a larger hospital about 20 miles away. Brady wasn’t breathing properly and needed to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. The ambulance came and whisked him away.

Over the next month letters started arriving from the ambulance company: Arebalo owed $4,400 for the transfer, she said.

“Here I am, you know, less than two months after giving birth being told I would be sent to collections,” Arebalo said.

Brady Arebalo playing in his grandparents living room in Templeton on Dec. 19, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Insurance covered nearly all of Brady’s five-day hospital stay, which totaled $109,000, Arebalo said, but wouldn’t pay for the out-of-network ambulance ride. Eventually, insurance paid about a third of the bill after Arebalo filed a grievance, but the remaining unexpected expense still cut into the family’s finances. She ended her maternity leave early to return to work as a special education teacher in order to help pay the bills. She’s on a payment plan of $200 per month.

“It was definitely a surprise bill, and one that I’m still paying,” Arebalo said.

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Paul Raymond Gierek joined his parents, Michael and Gertrude Gierek, as well as his brother Michael Gierek, and sisters Helen Scuri and Mary Hoffman, on 21 December, 2023. He is survived by one brother, John Gierek, Sr.

Paul was born on April 2nd, 1936. He lived his entire life in his Elk River family home. He attended Nazareth Academy as a child, and graduated from Eureka High School. He then graduated from Humboldt State College with both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. He immediately began teaching, the profession he loved. He retired later as Superintendent of South Bay Union School District.

He loved to travel, especially with his older sister Helen. In later years, the traveling centered on Reno and Las Vegas for the “monetary” opportunities as well as watching the bull riding at the National Finals Rodeo. Paul loved the ranch way of living.

He was an avid reader of history, especially scholarly work centered on the United States and the American West. He was a baseball fanatic - especially concerning himself with all things Los Angeles Dodgers.

He was never married, but befriended everyone he had the opportunity to meet. No one was a stranger, and he loved talking with them regularly up until the end of his life. Amazingly, he still corresponded with past students and those he met during his travels.

Paul was a devoted Catholic, and loved the Christmas season. In fact, he would decorate beginning in August, and maintain the season well into spring. He was adamant to be up and around to celebrate this season. It is fitting, I suppose, that his end happened when he realized he physically couldn’t do it.

His surviving family love and miss him.

The family wishes to thank Frye’s Care Home, Hospice of Humboldt, and Redwood Memorial Hospital. Especially, though, a big thank you to Tom and Pennie Gierek, who worked tirelessly on his behalf for years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2 at St. Bernard Church.

UPDATE, WEDNESDAY: Come to find out that Troop 47 is holding down tree-hauling duties in Fortuna. Here’s the skinny.

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Press release from Boy Scout Troop 15 and Cub Scout Pack 95:

Boy Scout Troop 15 and Cub Scout Pack 95 will again be picking up Christmas trees in the Arcata, Eureka, and McKinleyville areas and hauling them to green waste for the community. We will be doing this on Saturday, December 30 and again on Saturday, January 6 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Anyone who would like to schedule a pickup should text or call 707-273-1997 or email arcatacubscouts@gmail.com with their name, address, phone number and preferred pickup date (12/30 or 1/6).

This is a community service project for the Scouts and there is no fixed cost to pick up a tree - donations are accepted and appreciated but not required. All donations will help fund camping and other outings and summer camp for the Scouts.

“Put Christ back into Christmas!”

“Jesus is the reason for the season!”

And other seasonal phrases stitched onto throw pillows!

I grew up with these proverbial idioms, often melodically sung with a confident swagger or a passive-aggressive bite. Being religious from birth and raised without a TV influencing every moment of my life, Christmas always had Christ in it without any need to put him back. But like honey butter on hot cornbread, it wasn’t long before I was seeped in a consumerist culture of American materialism, eating a steady diet of glossy advertisements, loud commercials and scarcity fear-mongering.

And here I am, the day before Christmas, frustrated at how easily I got swept into that manic frenzy throughout December. Our American consumerist culture is a fizzy Red Bull, giving you wings and hype and diabetes. It might keep you going but it’s depleting you, stripping nutrients from your body and filling you with lies. We believe Christmas is about a ton of awesome gifts under the tree. We ask our kids what they want, spooning entitlement into their open mouths, and then get frustrated when gratitude isn’t their response. We fret we didn’t get the right things or we weren’t thoughtful enough or we could have done better. We spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need all for a day. For one day. One day of “joy” for months of debt, bank accounts and bodies anemic and starved.

I’m not wanting to cause you guilt — I truly believe most of us are doing our best under the circumstances of our lives. Many of us are barely hanging on in our families that we’ll gladly go into debt for a brief moment of “joy” and “peace” in our homes. But what if there was more to your life than brief moments? What if joy and peace became the steady diet you consumed, not based on your circumstances or the Red Bull swirling chaos around you, but on the simple truth that you’re not alone — God is with us.

When every third photo on Instagram and Facebook shouts the story of what I’m missing and lack and need, if I’m not careful I will believe the noise. The way I see myself and others subtly shifts, convincing me of something I never thought I would believe: I’m not enough, I’m alone, I don’t matter without This Amazing Product. I think Christmas takes the everyday onslaught of consuming materialism and, using a candy cane, shovels it over us until we can’t get another breath. And instead of stepping away from this chaos and gaining a bit of perspective, we put our hands out like a linebacker, put our heads down and pummel our way just trying to make it through this season.

But Christmas isn’t something we’re meant to get through. It’s something we’re invited to fully experience. Instead of high-fiving your spouse at the end of the day, like you just completed a marathon, what if you slowed down, like to an awkward and uncomfortable pace? What if you made your kids slow down (to their raging horror)? What if you invited a friend over for breakfast or, with your family, brought hot cocoa and a bagel to someone hungry? What if you read the Christmas Story out of Luke 2 and sang a carol together? What if presents were only opened after breakfast or just one gift per person per hour? What if you made out with your partner and rubbed their feet and brought them coffee while the baby screamed and the kids said they hate you — certainly not perfect, but maybe a little more present?

What if you became present to the gift that is your life and the lives of those around you this Christmas morning, breathing deeply and slowly? Might you begin to notice the reason for this season, the holiness of this day, the moment when God came near — as close as your very breath. Might you see this Happy Holy-day, this Merry Christ-mass, as an opportunity to rebelliously reorient your perspective away from consuming materialism and into real joy and peace?

It’s not something that can be stitched onto a throw pillow, but it’s definitely something that can be sewn into your heart.

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Bethany Cseh is a pastor at Arcata United Methodist Church and Catalyst Church. 

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was in prison when he created the character of the impoverished aristocrat Don Quixote. Ten years earlier, he’d fought — bravely, apparently — in the crucial Battle of Lepanto, the 1575 clash between the Ottoman Turks and the Christian “Holy League.” Hundreds of galleys and tens of thousands of sailors and troops had fought a bloody sea battle off the western coast of Greece. The result — the Turks lost — put a permanent stop to Islamic expansion into Europe, which had begun with the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

On his way home to Spain, while carrying a letter of commendation from the Holy League’s leader Don John of Austria, Cervantes and his brother were captured by Algerian pirates and ransomed. After years of captivity, including three failed escape attempts, Miguel returned home to Spain — only to be imprisoned again, this time accused of defrauding the state while working as a tax collector. His second incarceration turned out to be the western world’s gain, for it was during this time that he wrote what’s generally acknowledged as the first modern novel. (The Tale of Gengji, Murasaki Shikibu’s epic tale of shenanigans in the Japanese imperial court, “The Tale of Genji,” predates “Quixote” by 600 years.)

Cervantes’ genius was to recognize that the popular reading matter of his day, so-called “romance” literature, was getting hackneyed. Typical romances involved characters from (idealized) medieval chivalry, such as Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere, or Roland and King Charlemagne’s other knights. Monsters were slain and damsels saved while courtly love reigned. Thanks to Gutenberg’s printing press, the romance market was saturated by 1600. So, instead of writing romances in the popular fashion, Cervantes spoofed them, coming up with the brilliant idea of showing how reading too many of them could lead to madness.

His mad protagonist was El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha, to give his first (of two) set of tales its full title. Alonso Quijano was an hidalgo, the lowest class of nobleman. In his dotage, Alonso had immersed himself in every romance book in his library and started to believe he was an old-time knight-errant (caballero andante), “Don Quixote.” The rest is history: Quixote sets out on his old nag of a horse Rocinante (thinking she was a noble steed), persuades a farm worker, Sancho Pancho, to be his “squire,” tilts at a windmill (believing it to be an evil giant), and designates a slaughterhouse worker as his “lady,” renaming her Dulcinea. And much, much more as Quixote lives out “The Impossible Dream.”

Cervantes’ new (hence our word “novel”) style of writing was an immediate hit. It still is! It was voted “the greatest work of fiction ever written” 20 years ago in a 55-country survey. Don Quixote also enhanced our language: The pot calling the kettle black, Thou hast seen nothing yet, No limits but the sky, Tilting at windmills…and, of course, our word “quixotic.” If you’re reading it for the first time, start with Edith Grossman’s terrific translation.

I like to think that if Cervantes, who turned his own hardships into rollicking adventures, could see how his novels led to today’s madcap world of literary fiction, he’d be muy encantado.