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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
These resources are available on www.oag.ca.gov/consumers.
There, consumers can find a variety of helpful consumer tips:
Money, credit and debt: Consumers can learn how to protect their hard-earned money and watch out for financial scams, including how to deal with banks, credit card issues, loans, debts and other financial issues.
Housing and vehicles: Consumers can find resources for landlords, tenants and other housing-related issues, as well as learn about auto-related issues including auto repair, insurance and car rentals.
Sales offers, purchases and returns: Consumers can discover how to protect themselves from scam sales offers, from checking a company’s background to spotting the warning signs for scams related to credit cards, zero-interest financing, crowdfunding, trial products, junk mail, magazine scams, sweepstakes, online purchases, and online privacy threats.
Contractors, consultants and other companies: Consumers can learn how to vet – or report complaints about – contractors, immigration consultants, financial advisors, attorneys, investment professionals, estate planners, tax preparers and tax scams, tech support scams, travel agents and health care providers.
Commonly targeted groups: Unfortunately, scammers often target certain groups of consumers, including immigrants and limited-English consumers, seniors, veterans, students and children. In addition, helpful information on military consumer protection issues including scam alerts, and resources and tips for financial readiness, is available on the Attorney General’s Military Consumer Protection page.
Common scams: Consumer can learn how to protect themselves from common scams, including charity scams, identity theft, living trust mills, loan modification fraud, and pyramid schemes.
Attorney General Becerra urges consumers to report complaints if they suspect misconduct. Complaints regulated by other government agencies should be reported directly those regulating agencies.
Consumers can find the appropriate agency and contact information using the complaint referral table offered on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.ca.gov/consumers/complaint-referral-table .
Consumers seeking to file a complaint against a business not regulated by another agency may file directly with the Attorney General’s office by calling 800-952-5225 or visiting www.oag.ca.gov/complaint.
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The workshops, being held in Clearlake and Laytonville, are ideal for cannabis cultivators, consultants and anyone interested in the topic.
CDFA will provide an overview of the state’s cannabis cultivation licensing program and review the requirements for a cannabis farming license.
CDFW will cover notifications in the permitting process, Lake and Streambed Alteration agreements and how to limit environmental impacts.
The State Water Resources Control Board will review policy and permitting, and other important information. Computers will be available for applicants to apply for permits.
Attendees will have time to talk with state agency staff about individual projects after the presentations.
The free workshops are slated for the following dates and times. In the coming months, additional workshops will be scheduled throughout the state.
Wednesday, March 13
3 to 7 p.m. (presentations begin at 3:30 p.m.)
Clearlake City Hall – the Council Chambers
14050 Olympic Drive
Clearlake
Tuesday, March 26
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (presentations begin at 10:30 a.m.)
Harwood Hall
44400 Willis Ave.
Laytonville
CDFW encourages cannabis cultivators to obtain all necessary state licenses and county permits, as well as implement best management practices to reduce environmental impacts.
Following these recommended actions can help cultivators avoid common pitfalls that may lead to enforcement actions.
To learn more about CDFW’s role in cannabis cultivation, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/cannabis or email
To report environmental crimes or a black market grow, please call the CalTIP hotline at 888- 334-2258 or text “CALTIP” followed by a space and whatever the desired message, to 847411 (tip411).
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This week, a joint hearing of the Senate Governance & Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Budget & Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 will be held to evaluate the current operations at the Board of Equalization, discuss the current strengths and weaknesses of the BOE and have a conversation about what its future looks like.
“There have been some real challenges at the Board of Equalization over the past several years,” Sen. Mike McGuire said. “As the reorganization and shift of responsibilities and staff to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration has taken hold, it’s time the state evaluates its current operation and has an open dialogue with all sides about what the future looks like.”
The hearing: “140 Years Young: What is the Future for the State Board of Equalization after the Taxpayer Transparency and Fairness Act” will be held this Wednesday, March 6, at 9 a.m.
“As the new chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee 4, I am looking forward to the discussion about the future of the Board and the appropriate level of resources for the BOE, the new Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and the Office of Tax Appeals. I hope that this informational hearing will provide some important context for upcoming budget discussions,” Senator Maria Elena Durazo said.
State Controller Betty Yee as well as BOE Chair Malia Cohen and the BOE Executive Director will be testifying during this week’s hearing. Each will be discussing the current duties of Board of Equalization members and will be asked to discuss the future direction of the Board.
Also testifying during Wednesday’s hearing are:
– Calaveras County Assessor Leslie Davis, President, California Assessors Association;
– Rich Benson, Assessor, County of Marin (retired);
– Therese Twomey, California Taxpayers Association;
– Samantha Corbin, California Tax Reform Association.
The hearing will be livestreamed at www.senate.ca.gov. More information about the hearing can be found at https://sgf.senate.ca.gov.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CDFA will fund energy efficient refrigeration units in corner stores and small businesses in food deserts throughout the state to stock California-grown fresh produce, nuts, and minimally processed foods – improving access to healthy food choices in the small retail environment for underserved communities, while promoting California-grown agriculture.
The Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program was made available through the Budget Act of 2018 and will be administered by CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork.
The program will disburse up to $4,500,000 by March 2022. There may be multiple funding rounds if all funds are not awarded in the first round.
“This is an important program for food access in California,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The objective is to provide as many food sellers as possible with the equipment necessary to offer fresh and healthy foods to customers who may not have access to them otherwise.”
One of the initial supporters of this program was Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), who said, “Your address shouldn’t determine your diet. The state is stepping in to ensure more people have access to healthy and nutritious foods, no matter where they live.”
A range of applicants are eligible to apply for these grants, including corner stores (or their equivalents, such as bodegas or neighborhood stores), small businesses, cities, counties, and nonprofits with healthy retail programs. There are two different proposal forms – one for corner stores and small businesses, and one for cities, counties and nonprofits.
The Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program builds on the success of the California Nutrition Incentive Program, or CNIP, which offers nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers at certified farmers’ markets and mobile markets throughout the state.
With the Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program, CDFA will improve access to California-grown produce in the small-retail sector – and help pave the way for greater participation in CNIP, creating even more value and access for shoppers with low incomes.
More information on the Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program, including the request for proposals and application template, can be found at http://cafarmtofork.com/hsrgp.html.