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- Written by: Contractors State License Board
Devastating wildfires have destroyed thousands of structures in California and many survivors must now clear property and start the rebuilding process.
The Contractors State License Board, or CSLB, urges wildfire survivors to hire only California-licensed contractors to avoid being victimized by unlicensed persons and transient criminals.
Additionally, wildfire debris removal should not be done without first reviewing federal and state options or before consulting local officials. More information is available on the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website under “debris removal.”
"Disasters bring out the very best in people, with strangers and neighbors helping each other," said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. "Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals are drawn to these areas and try to take advantage of vulnerable home and business owners. Wildfire survivors need to be especially cautious about hiring reputable, licensed contractors to repair, rebuild, or clear property."
A CSLB-issued license is required for any construction job totaling $500 or more in labor and materials.
Additionally, it is a felony to contract without a license in a declared disaster area. Licensed contractors have met experience and testing requirements, carry a license bond, passed a criminal background check and carry workers’ compensation insurance for employees.
To help survivors, CSLB’s Disaster Help Center webpage offers publications and videos. These include an After a Disaster, Don't Get Scammed brochure, and a Rebuilding After a Disaster video and fact sheet.
All information is also available by calling CSLB's Disaster Hotline, 800-962-1125, which is staffed Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by calling the automated assistance line at 800-321-CSLB (2752).
"CSLB will aggressively seek those trying to take advantage of wildfire survivors by partnering with local and state agencies to conduct sweeps and undercover enforcement operations in disaster areas," Fogt said.
Tips for hiring a contractor
Hire only California-licensed contractors. Ask to see the license. The number must be on all advertisements, contracts and business cards.
Check the license number on CSLB’s website or by phone at 800-321-CSLB (2752). Confirm the contractor has workers’ compensation insurance for employees.
Create a personalized list of licensed, area contractors using the Find My Licensed Contractor.
Get three bids, check references, and get a written contract.
Don't rush into decisions and don't hire the first contractor who comes along.
Don't pay more than 10 percent down or $1,000—whichever is less.
Don't pay cash, and don't let the payments get ahead of the work. Only pay for work as it is completed to your satisfaction
Keep a job file of all project papers, including correspondence and copies of all payments.
Avoid making the final payment until you’re satisfied with the job.
In most cases, in a disaster area, consumers have up to seven business days to cancel a contract without penalty.
For more information, visit CSLB’s website, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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- Written by: Editor
Speedy Bear Courier & Delivery offers food delivery from restaurants and grocery stores.
They also run errands, such as picking up mail and dry cleaning.
Package, gift delivery and florist delivery also are available.
For more information, email
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- Written by: California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate
“Small business is big business in the state of California and to that end, my department is meeting the needs of the more than four million small business owners by making resources easier to find, access, and use. Our new website can be thought of as a gateway to opportunity,” says Tara Lynn Gray, director of CalOSBA.
Highlighting programs that help historically underserved small business groups is an important component of the CalOSBA website.
“Small businesses make up 99.8% of businesses in California and it is part of our mission to meet all small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovative startups where they are and be the bridge to critical programs and resources available to meet their needs,” said Michelle Radmand, deputy director of CalOSBA.
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups can access the following information:
— Small business technical assistance centers that offer specialized support for no-cost or at a low-cost;
— Financing information including state and federal capital programs and tax/credit incentive programs;
— Business Learning Center that helps business owners navigate the varying stages of the business development process;
— Permits, licenses, and regulations;
— Access to new markets, including e-commerce, international trade, and procurement and supply chain programs.
For more information, visit http://calosba.ca.gov.
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- Written by: Editor
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), establishes clear guidelines for how companies from the olive oil industry can use the term “California.”
AB 535 requires companies in their product labeling and marketing to disclose the minimum percentage of California olives on the front of the container in the same font and size as the term “California.”
This measure will protect consumers and farmers by providing clear information about the source of the olives and olive oils in the products they buy.
“California has the best agricultural products, and the highest environmental and labor standards, in the world. Consumers look for California-grown foods because they associate California with quality. Allowing companies to trick consumers into thinking they’re buying a California product because they slap ‘California’ on their package undercuts everything we’re trying to accomplish as a State,” said Aguiar-Curry.
“This bill will ensure that consumers know exactly what they are buying, and it will help to support our local farmers who are producing world class oils from olives grown here in our State. These folks may try to confuse my colleagues, but they’re making a profit off our state, and the price we ask for that is to actually disclose what they are producing,” she said.
California has had a thriving olive oil industry since the mid-19th century. The state produces approximately 4% of the world’s olive oil from over 75 varieties of olives.
Due to California’s well-established reputation for producing high-quality olive oils, the demand for California olive oil is steadily increasing.
Because of this spike in demand, there has been an increase in branding of olive oil with the term “California” or a California regional designation when the product on shelves is actually blended using oils sourced from other regions of the world, including Spain, North Africa, and Argentina. Such blends have been found to contain as little as 14% of Californian olive oil.
As a result, a bottle of olive oil may be advertised and branded as “California” or a specific California region, but actually come from other countries. This has led to consumer confusion, and places California olive farmers and oil producers at a competitive disadvantage.
“To us, it’s really quite simple,” said Peter and Debbie Hunter from Longview Ranch in Winters. “If a bottle is labeled as ‘California Oil’ it should be just that: 100% California produced olive oil. If a packer wants to blend non-California oils, then the bottle should not have the California moniker front-and-center. We adhere to strict regulations and labor practices in California, and consumers are beginning to recognize that. We must make sure that the trust in ‘California’ brands is not eroded.”
AB 535 builds upon previous legislation from Senator Wolk in 2014, who created the California Olive Oil Commission to distinguish the purity of California olive oil from imported alleged to contain counterfeit ingredients, and thereby penetrate the U.S. market.
The California Olive Oil Commission has found several brands of California olive oil who are currently misleadingly using a California-related name on their labels that deceptively imply only olive oil grown in California is contained within the product.
By establishing stronger guidelines for how olive oil producers follow in their branding, labeling, packaging, and advertising, AB 535 provides consumers with clear information about what they are purchasing.
AB 535 does not restrict blending oils from different sources and destinations, but it makes clear through establishing standards that when “California” is used, the disclosure label will tell the truth. This bill strengthens the integrity of the world-renowned California olive oil brand.
Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa Counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma Counties, and all of Yolo County except West Sacramento.