July 28, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: State health department recommends masks for everyone indoors
All Californians are recommended to wear masks indoors — regardless of vaccination status — as case rates across the state and Orange County have been steadily increasing since the statewide reopening last month.
County of Orange: Health Care Agency urges precautions as COVID-19 cases increase
Currently, there are no plans to implement a new mask mandate in Orange County; however, those who are not fully vaccinated must continue wearing a mask indoors in accordance with guidelines from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
OC Register: County supervisors earmark $20 million to push veterans cemetery project ahead in Anaheim Hills
The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the allocation, which would come from the county’s general fund, and they declared their support for using the county-owned property in Gypsum Canyon for developing the first official state-backed veteran’s cemetery in Orange County.
Voice of OC: Irvine residents rail against Great Park special tax while Council changes the park’s name
The change will drop “Orange County,” from the park’s name at a cost of $360,000 to taxpayers, which public commenters almost unanimously opposed, saying it was unnecessary. Despite those complaints, the council voted 4-1 to approve the project, with Councilman Larry Agran serving as the sole no vote.
OC Register: Federal prosecutor in Santa Ana alleges U.S. Attorney’s Office discriminates against minority employees
Charles Pell, who is white, contends in a federal whistleblower lawsuit filed last week that his less-than-outstanding performance review in 2020 stemmed from his associations with Black and Latino female prosecutors in his office. He also was disciplined by his supervisors.
Daily Pilot: Coalition holds press conference in opposition to controversial O.C. Board of Education ethnic studies forum
The event was held just a few hours before the first forum, but for weeks the heavily conservative board has faced criticism for organizing a one-sided panel of speakers for their two forums on Tuesday night and Aug. 24
Labor
OC Register: Hundreds of Blizzard employees walk off job, fans boycott games
On Tuesday, Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sent an all-staff letter in response to the walkout, calling the company’s recent actions “tone deaf.” In his email, Kotick said he hired the law firm Wilmer Hale to conduct a review of its policies and promised “swift action” to stamp out harassment.
Labor 411: Union lawyer sworn in as new NLRB general counsel replacing a “union buster”
What a difference a presidential election makes. The NLRB’s General Counsel position has gone from a former partner at a union-busting firm nominated by Trump to a union-side lawyer today.
Capital & Main: How unions and their allies are trying to hold Amazon accountable
Warehouse conditions don’t make as splashy an Amazon story as a space flight, but the reports are out there about the relentless work that lead to injuries and an employee turnover rate of 100% within a year.
Publication Date: July 28, 2021
