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- Written by: California Department of Insurance
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones urges wildfire survivors to be aware about the dangers of hiring unlicensed contractors as they begin the recovery process and to be on the lookout for scam artists trolling the area.
"A wildfire leaves more than burned homes and uprooted lives in its wake," said Jones. "These catastrophes also can blow in fly-by-night unlicensed contractors and door-to-door scam artists eager to capitalize on the misfortunes of innocent and traumatized wildfire survivors."
The most common fraud schemes that occur in the aftermath of a disaster generally involve price gouging, offers of debris removal, and fraudulent charitable solicitations.
Because property loss from a disaster can be so traumatic, victims of disaster can become easy targets for fraud. It is important to keep a sharp lookout for people who try to play on the emotions of those stricken by disaster.
Public adjusters are prohibited from soliciting business until seven days have elapsed since the conclusion of a disaster unless the public adjuster is contacted directly by the insureds or the insured's representative.
Consumers that have any difficulty with their insurer or concerns about a potential scam artist are urged to contact the Department of Insurance's Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357.
Tips from the Contractor's State License Board (CSLB) for hiring a contractor:
– Don't rush into repairs, no matter how badly they're needed;
– Don't hire the first contractor who comes along, or sign over any payment checks from your insurance company;
– Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see their plastic CSLB pocket license and a photo ID;
– Get bids from at least three licensed contractors, and don't necessarily take the lowest bid, especially if it's much lower than other bids;
– Always check the license number on CSLB's website at www.cslb.ca.gov or www.CheckTheLicenseFirst.com , and contact the business directly if you have any questions;
– Get three references from each bidder, and view their previous work in-person;
– Get your contract in writing;
– In most cases, in a disaster area you have up to seven business days to cancel your contract without penalty;
– Get more tips at www.cslb.ca.gov or www.CheckTheLicenseFirst.com.
Tips for hiring a public adjuster:
– Consider trying to settle your claim directly with your insurance company before hiring a public adjuster or an attorney. Your insurer provides an adjuster at no charge to you.
– Ask your insurance agent or company representative to help you with your claim and don't be afraid to ask questions.
– If you hire a public adjuster to help you with a claim, make sure they are licensed. You can check their license status by calling our toll-free consumer hotline or checking the department's Web site.
– Public adjusters usually require a percentage of the claim settlement for their services. Make sure you understand what they charge and the services you are paying for before you sign a contract.
– Public adjusters are not allowed to solicit business or initiate any contact with a policyholder between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
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- Written by: California Treasurer’s Office
“President Trump may dial up his efforts to mislead the American people into believing climate change is a hoax created by the Chinese, but we Californians laugh at such lunacy because we know – without doubt or reservation – that the fate of the planet is at stake. Building critical public infrastructure and a future that does not depend on fossil fuels is now deadly serious business,” California Treasurer John Chiang said to a gathering of policymakers and top-level executives at the Milken Institute California Policy Summit in Sacramento on Tuesday.
While speaking with attendees, Chiang signed the “Green Bond Pledge.” A declaration with broad and far-reaching impact, states and cities across the nation are being urged to take the pledge that would commit them to a strategy that will finance infrastructure and capital projects that meet the challenges of climate change with “green bonds,” or green financing.
“Treasurer Chiang is taking smart action to strengthen the market for climate-friendly bonds,” said California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., who is hosting the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco in mid-September. The summit will showcase actions – including the Green Bond Pledge – states and regions, cities, companies, investors, and individual citizens are taking to realize the goals of the historic 2015 Paris Agreement.
Those signing the green bond pledge agree that climate change poses an existential threat and that the rapid growth of a green bonds market will not only meet the unique challenges the world faces, but will do so while making communities more economically competitive, prosperous, and productive.
“As the world’s fifth largest economy, California will lead the way and help finance as much new clean infrastructure as we possibly can,” said Chiang. “While Washington continues to deny the irrefutable science that proves climate change, the Golden State has embarked on an unstoppable path to reduce the dangerous effects of greenhouse gases and build a future that is climate resilient.”
Next, the governor and treasurer are establishing a working group to develop and implement a green bonds strategy to fulfill the commitments outlined in the Green Bond Pledge.
Green bonds may be sold by governments, as well as by private entities, to finance projects that have positive environmental or climate attributes. The projects can range from clean transportation to renewable energy.
The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates the U.S. currently has a multi-trillion dollar shortfall in funding its infrastructure needs in the coming decades. In California alone, independent reports estimate the shortfall will exceed $400 billion over the next 10 years.
The green bond market started in 2007 with bonds issued by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. By 2017, both California and New York had issued more than $4 billion in bonds to finance such things as clean water projects, green schools, mass transit, land preservation, and green housing. The state is now looking to build on that start and help grow a much more robust market for green bond financing.
The Green Bond Pledge aims to help establish the market and accelerate its growth. The pledge was developed and designed by international climate finance and environmental groups.
Treasurer Chiang has devoted considerable energy and time to unlocking the potential of the green bond market. His office has handled more than $2.2 billion in green bonds for mass transit, clean water, and pollution control projects, as well as for Kaiser Hospital green buildings, and a rice-straw fiberboard plant. The treasurer’s senior team will also be discussing green bonds with Chinese provincial government officials in the fall.
In 2016, Treasurer Chiang conducted a five-city, national listening tour, meeting with market experts and investors to identify barriers and challenges to growing the green finance market. In February 2018, he convened a green bond symposium with the Milken Institute and tasked its blue-ribbon Financial Innovations Lab® with developing actionable paths to creating a more robust green bonds market. The result was two ground-breaking studies. The first, issued in 2017, identified the barriers and challenges to growing the green bond market. The second was unveiled today.
Chiang added, “Today’s report provides strategies and solutions aimed at turbocharging a new and growing financial market that can help provide more affordable capital to not only meet California’s growing infrastructure needs, but also steel ourselves against wildfires, rising sea levels, and extreme weather.”
The report issued today includes, among its suggestions, improving market standardization, defining what is green, and streamlining pricing. It concludes that, “Because California is widely recognized as a leader in environmental sustainability, pioneering efforts to streamline the green bond market can serve as a model for other states and countries.Building public infrastructure with future generations in mind is a must, not just in California, but everywhere on the planet.”
A copy of the Green Bonds Pledge can be found here.
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- Written by: AAA
California's average price for a gallon of unleaded, regular gasoline was just under $3.62 on Monday. Prices in the Golden State have been steadily falling since June 3, when the state's average price for fuel was at $3.74 – the highest price of 2018.
And while some analysts predicted $4 average gas prices for California, gasoline demand flattened in July for the first time since 2012, causing pump prices to drop. But at 9.88 million barrels per day, U.S. gasoline demand last week was still hovering near an all-time record high, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
"Gasoline demand flattened in July, and that brought some price relief to motorists, but demand for gasoline is still incredibly high in the U.S. due to the country's booming economy — especially on the West Coast," said Michael Blasky, spokesman for AAA Northern California. "More people are working and traveling, and that means more cars on the road and higher fuel prices."
For the San Francisco Metro region, the average price for unleaded gasoline was $3.77 on Monday, down from the post-Memorial Day peak of $3.85. San Jose drivers paid about $3.66, and Sacramento drivers paid $3.53.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The program was first activated on July 27 and included the Shasta County region.
To accommodate increasing needs of those impacted by the Northern California fires, the program was extended through Aug. 17 and expanded to include parts of Butte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Siskiyou, Solano, Tehama and Yolo counties as well as into parts of southern Oregon.
The company wants to ensure those who are impacted and need temporary shelter are aware of the program and the expanded areas of activation, as well as spread the word to those who have the capability to be a host and open their homes.
Airbnb is encouraging hosts across Northern California and Southern Oregon to consider opening their homes and providing free temporary accommodations to those in need if they have the capacity to do so.
Under the Open Homes Program, Airbnb waives all booking fees and charges for those that sign up for the program.
In the event of major emergencies like this one, Airbnb's Open Homes Program connects local residents who have been displaced – as well as emergency relief workers and volunteers who are coming in to assist – find temporary accommodations with local Airbnb hosts who are opening their homes free of charge.
This concept began organically back in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and has since grown into a global disaster response initiative that makes it easy for Airbnb hosts to provide space for people in need when disasters strike.