December 24, 2020
By Quinci LeGardye
California Black Media
A difficult year for unemployed Californians is closing out with one more thing for them to worry about.
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) has asked at least 920,000 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) recipients to verify their income. Now, some of those Californians who lost their jobs because of the pandemic are concerned that an unclear question the EDD used to determine their income may be coming back to haunt them. Whether it was intentional or an honest mistake, if they received too much money in emergency unemployment payments from the department based on the amount of income they reported, they may now have to pay it back.
EDD began sending out notices on Nov. 21, and the agency has added a page to their website clarifying which documents can be used to verify income. The notice requires workers who received more than the PUA minimum benefit of $167 per week to verify their 2019 income using a copy of a 2019 federal or state tax return document. If they don’t have one, they can send business records, contracts, billing statements or similar records.
If the EDD determines that a person’s net income was less than the amount they reported on the initial PUA application, the person’s benefit will be reduced to reflect their net income, and EDD will seek repayment of the difference between their “current weekly benefit and the decreased benefit amount, for each week you were paid,” according to the notice.
There are now instructions regarding paying back overpayment on the EDD’s website, and repayment plans are available. According to the EDD, PUA claimants will not be required to pay back the $600 federal supplemental compensation or $300 lost wage assistance payments. However, even just paying back the state overpayment would mean a bill of thousands of dollars for some Californians.
According to some gig workers, the confusion comes from the type of income that the EDD requires self-employed workers receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to report versus unemployed people who qualified for regular unemployment insurance (UI). PUA, which was created to get COVID-19 relief to gig and contract workers as well as workers who do not qualify for traditional UI, calculates aid based on net income, or the income someone makes after deducting expenses. UI is based on gross income, or the amount one makes in total.
The difference between gross and net income can be wide for self-employed workers.
Expenses that can be deducted include gas, maintenance or mileage for vehicles used for work, equipment and office supplies, and a percentage of rent for a home office. The large difference between gross and net income can mean that people who reported their gross income for PUA may have received thousands of dollars more in benefits.
This development comes six months after there was widespread confusion and a series of mishaps during the initial rollout of PUA – a period marked by unclear information about how people could sign up for unemployment benefits, which online portal they could use to file their claims and even a state website that crashed. For months, beginning last Spring into the summer, contract workers did not know whether they were even eligible to receive unemployment benefits from the state or the temporary extra $600 per week the federal government provided to help bring relief to people left jobless by the pandemic.
Gig workers say there may have also been confusion among applicants who did not have accurate income information because they had not yet filed their 2019 taxes when the state started receiving PUA applications. This year, both the federal government and California extended their tax filing deadlines to July 15.
“If individuals reported gross wages instead of net income, which is an understandable mistake, it could lead to an overpayment. Under the CARES Act, a PUA overpayment currently cannot be waived,” According to a statement from the EDD.
Even if the California EDD, wanted to forgive the overpayments, they would not be able to. Only the federal government can make that decision because the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established PUA, does not allow states to waive repayment. There is currently a bipartisan bill moving through the U.S. House of Representatives that is proposing repayment waivers if the worker was not at fault for overpayment and if repayment would mean severe economic hardship for that individual.
Across California last month, the state unemployment rate stood at 8.2 % compared to 3.0 % at this same time last year. During the first two months of the pandemic, an estimated 2.6 million Californians lost their jobs.
December 24, 2020
LAWT News Service
MacKenzie Scott announced on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, her second major charitable contribution of the year, giving away nearly $4.2 billion to 384 organizations as part of a plan to donate a majority of her fortune.
Faye Washington said: “As we find ourselves at the height of a Global Pandemic that is ravaging marginalized and underserved communities of color, Mackenzie’s extraordinary gesture comes at a time desperately needed and serves as an endorsement of the incredible work we have done thus far to serve our community. The YWCA GLA is deeply humbled by this life-altering donation which will help us redouble our advocacy efforts, sustain the pivotal work we do as social justice advocates and create long-lasting transformative opportunities as a response to systemic inequities and racial injustice.”
Scott announced her pandemic-era philanthropy in a Medium Announcement-on Tuesday, Dec 15, 2020.
She described the coronavirus pandemic as “a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling,” and noted it has been worse for women, people of color, and those living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.”
Yesterday’s announcement brings Scott’s 2020 philanthropic investments to over $6 billion.
“Meanwhile,” Scott, who divorced Jeff Bezos in 2019, wrote, “it has substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.”
After donating $1.68 billion to 116 nonprofits, universities, community development groups, and legal organizations last July, Scott asked a team of advisers to help her “accelerate” her 2020 giving with immediate help to those financially gutted by the pandemic.
She said the team used a data-driven approach, identifying organizations with strong leadership and results, specifically in communities with high food insecurity, racial inequity and poverty rates, “and low access to philanthropic capital.”
Scott and her team started with 6,490 organizations, researched 822, and put 438 “on hold for now,” waiting for more details about their impact, management, and how they treat employees or community members.
In total, 384 organizations in 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., will share $4,158,500,000 in gifts, including food banks, emergency relief funds “and support services for those most vulnerable.” Other organizations address “long-term systemic inequities that have been deepened by the crisis,” such as debt relief, employment training, credit, and financial services for under-resourced communities and education for historically marginalized and underserved people. The money will also support legal defense funds “that take on institutional discrimination.”
Scott noted that she was “far from completing” her giving pledge, and urged others to follow her lead in whatever way they could: time, a voice, or money.
December 24, 2020
By Betti Halsell
Contributing Writer
Tyrei Lacy has a gift for triggering the release of serotonin through the human body; he knows how to make people feel good and create a memorable time. Known in the music world as ‘DJ Tee,’ he has traveled the globe with hip-hop legends, mixing sounds that forced the body to move involuntarily to his beat.
With his hypnotic tunes, DJ Tee has spun at all the hottest clubs and events Los Angeles had to offer, during a nostalgic time of massive crowds in shared spaces.
After he chopped and screwed his last beat, Lacy looked around for his next passion that pumps positivity through the collective community.
He found himself still in love with the atmosphere of heightened energy and shared memories.
Therefore, Lacy opened up a bar, the Game and Sports Bar & Grill (G&S), and more recently, The District by GS, a contemporary eatery for a luxury experience and fine dining.
Located at 5630 West Manchester Ave., the G&S bar has been a must-visit destination for over 10 years.
An explosion of cheers filled the venue as soon as the seal was broken; the red satin ribbon was cut in December of 2010. Celebrities from his musical journey and public officials of Los Angeles mingled and shared an unforgettable memory. Lacy reminisced over the beginning, “It started with a good time; the good time then of course rolled into our amazing food.”
The 10-year stretch in food and hospitality pushed Lacy to challenge his current reign in creating a lucrative stratosphere.
The District by GS has the aura of Black excellence, paired with crisp execution.
Located on 3888 Crenshaw Blvd., Lacy intentionally placed the restaurant in the pulse of the collective community.
Crushing the stereotype of having to travel outside the central hub of their neighborhood, Crenshaw natives can have a sense of luxury and Avant-Garde experiences locally created.
The eccentric DJ turned entrepreneur shared the snowball effect in the lively atmosphere and star-like quality transferred into every bite of food that is served. Lacy explained the focus has grown deeper within the taste of the restaurant.
He described the different shades he wanted to paint over The District by GS. Lacy said, “The reason it’s not named after the same—Game Day Sports Bar, is because I don’t want the same expectations.” He gave the example of franchised dining. It carries the same ambiance throughout their chain of locations, in turn, the patterns rush over the consumer’s mind, and they can predict their experience based on a preconceived notion.
The challenge found in branding for The District by GS was to demolish the status quo of elevated cuisine, and that it can only be found in one or two areas in Los Angeles. The essence of the business is rooted in the quality of its performance and The District by GS looks to supersede the wildest expectation.
A man of many hats, Lacy is no stranger to public service. He has dedicated his time and energy to the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce. As a representative of over 500 businesses in the area, Lacy worked closely with many local thresholds that shaped the economic structure of Los Angeles during that time.
In recognition of his imprint on the community and new bar opening, Dec. 20 is acknowledged as “Game Day” in Los Angeles, to commemorate his new venture and Lacy’s achievement in improving the community.
As a multi-faceted source of innovation, Lacy founded two other prominent ventures, One Nation Entertainment Inc. and West Coast Top Floor Entertainment Inc. Lacy can also recount a multitude of memories of him treading through the streets of the city, making those connections to promote public and private events. Those moments shaped his way of always finding a door to success, in any environment.
In an alternate timeline, before COVID-19 changed the reality of entertainment, The District by GS was looking to be a profound moment of opulence.
Starting with breakfast served on selected days: Saturday and Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., the menu offers "District Fruit" paired with imported sparkling champagne.
One could pair a glass of “Veuve Brut Yellow Label” ($146 per bottle) or “Moet Nectar Rose” ($262 per bottle) with tantalizing fruit picked at the peak of its season.
Keeping true to his cultural tastebuds, Lacy curated a menu of traditional dishes with an elevated home-style twist.
Found on the exclusive breakfast menu: Shrimp or Salmon and Grits, and The District Deluxe Breakfast, which includes finely prepared chicken breast strips fried to perfection over a soft freshly made waffle, sauteed country potatoes, finished with a generous serving of fluffy scrambled eggs.
At this present moment, COVID-19 was an unexpected variable that no one accounted for. Lacy, being a man that finds a way, has been maneuvering through this wave graciously and with his businesses adapting to the new age.
He credited his stability to the unwavering community support; the seeds Lacy planted as a public servant blossomed in a time of drought within the food and hospitality industry.
Lacy reflected on being minority-owned during this estranged time, “We don’t view that as an excuse, I can say that the focal point is quality in what we do—no matter what.”
One can still indulge in the decadence that's manicured at The District by GS. Outdoor dining is available at their Crenshaw location.
Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., one can enjoy the high altitude of flavor chased by the sensation of imported bubbly in an open-air setting.
With the previously noted breakfast experience, The District’s doors will open earlier, at 8 a.m., on Saturday and Sunday.
Lacy has an innate ability to set the tone. He has used his mind to focus on the betterment of the community, entertainment to achieve the spread of joy, and created thousands of great memories.
Lacy has divided his life's work between producing a worthwhile scene and rebuilding a community setting.
He continues to propel the impetus of cultural advancement and leads the collective community into a reality of higher greatness.
December 17, 2020
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Mellody Hobson, a Princeton graduate who in 2019 earned the Woodrow Wilson Award, the university's highest honor, was named Chairwoman of the Board of Starbucks.
With the promotion, Hobson becomes the only African American woman to chair a Fortune 500 company.
“I am thrilled and honored to take on the role of chair,” Hobson exclaimed. “Over nearly two decades, I have seen the company continue to elevate and transform its business – adapting to various market environments and evolving consumer trends.
“I look forward to working with the Board and talented leadership team on accelerating our strategy, supporting our valued partners, and continuing to create significant value for all of our stakeholders.”
Hobson, 51, also serves as chairman of After School Matters, a Chicago non-profit that provides area teens with high-quality after-school and summer programs.
Additionally, the Chicago-born businesswoman is vice-chair of World Business Chicago, co-chair of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and a board member of the George Lucas Education Foundation and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
She is a member of The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees and serves on the Investment Company Institute's executive committee.
Besides serving over 15 years on the Starbucks board of directors, Hobson is the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, LLC, a global value-based asset management firm.
In that role, she is responsible for the management, strategic planning, and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments outside of research and portfolio management.
Hobson also serves as Chairman of the Board of the company's publicly traded mutual funds. Before being named Co-CEO, Hobson spent nearly two decades as the firm's President.
“Beyond Starbucks, she has brought invaluable experience to boardrooms across the nation. She currently serves as a director of JPMorgan Chase,” the company wrote in a news release, noting that Hobson is also a past director of Estée Lauder Companies and served as Chairman of the Board of DreamWorks Animation until the company's sale.
In addition to graduating from Princeton, Hobson also received honorary doctorate degrees from Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, St. Mary's College, and the University of Southern California. In 2015, Time Magazine named her one of the “100 Most Influential People” worldwide.
“From the very beginning, I set out to build a different kind of company- one in which all decisions were to be made through the lens of humanity,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ modern day founder and chairman emeritus.
“Mellody has been a trusted advisor to me and the company for more than 20 years. She is a fearless leader defined by her grace and wisdom. She has long embraced Starbucks' purpose and, along with the leadership team, will continue to reimagine Starbucks' future through the foundation of its past. My heart is full and thankful that Starbucks will have Mellody's leadership as chair.”