Happening in Sacramento Q4 2021
California Doubles Down on Ending Organized Retail Crime Rings
In response to a recent increase in organized retail theft activities across California, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to increase their presence near major retail sites and announced a proposed increase in the 2022-2023 state budget to combat retail theft.
Business Impact
Retail crime has been on the rise. Since the inception of CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, there have been 773 investigations, leading to the arrests of 240 individuals and the recovery of over $18.9 million in stolen merchandise.
Governor Newsom Names New President of California Public Utilities Commission
California Public Utilities Commission President Marybel Batjer will be retiring, effective December 30, 2021 and Alice Reynolds, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Energy, will be appointed to serve as its next President. Alice Reynolds has been Senior Advisor to the Governor for Energy since 2019 and served as Senior Advisor for Climate, Environment, and Energy in the office of Governor Jerry Brown from 2017 to January 2019. To see the announcement, click here.
Jobs Report: State Employment and Unemployment
California and Nevada had the highest unemployment rates in October, with 7.3 percent each. However, the Jobs Report showed that California created 96,600 new jobs in October, more new jobs than any other state.
Here are some top takeaways from the jobs report:
- The state has now regained 1,828,500, or 67.4 percent, of the 2,714,800 jobs that were lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- California’s gain of 96,800 nonfarm jobs accounted for roughly 18.2 percent of the nation’s 531,000 overall jobs gain in October 2021.
- From February 2021 through October 2021, California has averaged more than 100,000 payroll jobs gained each month.
- Ten of California’s eleven industry sectors gained jobs in October, including Professional & Business Services (+39,500).
To see Jobs Report click here.
Teresa M. Young has been a consultant to entrepreneurs since 1986, in both retail and B2B sectors. In 1991, she became President of Sign Biz, Inc., a full-service business development company. Young sits on multiple boards, including as Past Chairwoman of both the International Sign Association (ISA) and California Sign Association. She is an accomplished code writer, web developer and contributor to the Git Repository. Young is also an in-demand speaker, engaging business owners with topical and powerful business insights and strategies in support of best business practices and modern marketing strategies under her MintyWorks and Coffee with T brands. 200 click-and-mortar enterprises were established under the Sign Biz business model with more than $19,000,000 worth of SBA-backed funding for these businesses.