questions

Uber and Lyft faced tough questions from California judges as they seek to keep classifying drivers as contractors

Dara Khosrowshahi, Logan Green are posing for a picture: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Lyft CEO Logan Green Laura Buckman/Reuters; Carlo Allegri/Reuters

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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Lyft CEO Logan Green Laura Buckman/Reuters; Carlo Allegri/Reuters

A California appeals court heard arguments on Tuesday from Uber and Lyft as they appeal a recent ruling that would force the companies to reclassify drivers as employees.
A lower court determined in August that Uber and Lyft drivers are employees, not contractors, under the state’s gig work law, AB-5, but delayed enforcing the ruling while the companies appeal it.
Uber, Lyft, and other gig companies have fought AB-5 aggressively, pouring more than $180 million into a ballot measure aimed at California voters that would permanently exempt them from the law.
The companies argue reclassifying drivers as employees will reduce their flexibility, while proponents of AB-5 say Uber and Lyft’s business models rely on underpaying drivers and skirting labor laws.
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A California appeals court heard oral arguments Tuesday from Uber, Lyft, and the state over whether a lower court reached the right conclusion in August when it ruled that the companies’ drivers are employees under the state’s gig work law, AB-5.

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Judges from California’s first district Court of Appeal pressed lawyers for Uber and Lyft over drivers’ wages and autonomy, and questioned the companies’ arguments that AB-5 would require them to reduce drivers’ flexibility, according to The Washington Post and The New York Times reporter Kate Conger.

The judges also asked a lawyer for the state about potential harms to Uber and Lyft and drivers’ preferences around their employment status, according to reports.

The landmark case could fundamentally alter the contractor-based business model that Uber and Lyft have relied on, and the companies are aggressively fighting the law in court and via a ballot measure that California voters will decide on in

Hospital’s takeover of 2 care homes praised, but questions linger

The decision to give The Ottawa Hospital oversight of two Ottawa long-term care homes is being praised by some connected to the homes — but there are also questions about why it didn’t happen sooner.

On Friday, Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term care announced that voluntary agreements had been signed with home operator Extendicare to help with the COVID-19 outbreaks at the West End Villa and Laurier Manor.

As of Saturday, there had been 85 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at West End Villa since Aug. 30, with 11 deaths.

Laurier Manor only has had 19 confirmed cases, but the home was hit hard in the spring, with more than 100 cases and 25 deaths.

“It’s about time that there was some kind of action,” said Melissa Acheson, whose long-time partner, Shawn Hill, has been living at West End Villa after suffering a traumatic brain injury in 2018.

Hill was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sept. 14, Acheson said, and so far only has mild symptoms.

Patients confined to rooms

In an email, a ministry spokesperson told CBC that The Ottawa Hospital would “manage resident care in both homes” in response to the outbreaks for at least 90 days — and possibly longer.

Acheson said Hill had been confined to his room for the past 27 days, without a proper shower — and that has her worried his condition could deteriorate.

“It’s just awful to think about being alone and confined to your room for that long for anybody. Like, just terrible,” she said.

“When he is able to be around people, they can kind of bring him back into the present and remind him of where he is and how he got there and what’s happening.”

Union on board

Acheson said she hopes the current situation sparks changes to long-term care in

Kettering costs for police headquarters renovation rise $550K, draw questions

The “additional funds related to furniture, fixtures and equipment, as well as the actual renovation or construction,” Schwieterman told council last week. “During the construction Phase I, we encountered additional existing conditions that needed to be remedied” for the two-phase project.

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Kettering City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night for the $550,000 in supplemental appropriations in an approval that came without questioning Schwieterman’s explanation. That money will come from the city’s reserve fund, officials said.

The city “made the decision to spend additional dollars to make those necessary repairs for the renovation,” Schwieterman told council. “We also had items related to furniture, fixtures and equipment – a couple of major items being the decision to go ahead and reconstruct and remodel the detective section as opposed to utilizing the pre-existing facility.”

However, resident Sterling Abernathy told council members he thought they should ask more questions as to why the additional money was needed or if there were any other options.

ExploreEARLIER: Court ‘abused’ discretion, Kettering man claims with appeal in fatal shooting of Fairmont teen

Council members are “the ultimate decision makers on this project,” Abernathy said. “Citizens expect our elected officials to be good stewards of taxpayer money. Good stewards are active. They get informed and ask questions about spending decision they approve.”

Earlier this year, the city approved issuing bonds to finance the project in what Assistant City Manager Steve Bergstresser said would be a 20-year note.

The renovation to the existing police facility will add an additional floor for office space for the chief, captains and administrative staff, city officials have said. It will also modernize that facility with new HVAC and mechanical equipment.

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Before You Rent A Snow Contractor, Right here Are 6 Questions To Ask

Depending on the character of your house venture you might need to determine a payment schedule with your contractor. Skilled contractors provide the supplies and do their predefined work within the specified time and value as agreed upon. Since any monies paid out of pocket are cash taken away out of your paycheck, see if you will get these costs reimbursed. Always keep in mind to rent the best contractor near your locality because they’ll perceive the native market and the trend of that area.

Remember this fundamental truth – Most definitely a general contractor built your home or business, and so their own business overhead prices and revenue costs, along with the individual specialty commerce contractors business overhead and revenue prices, are woven into the roof and each different piece of the construction.

For instance, Common Contractors will usually hire plumbers, electricians, roofers, foundation specialists, and so on, to cover these elements that require specific experience. If the contractor used shoddy supplies and those inferior materials cause a problem, the house owner has every proper to anticipate things to be made right.

If you recognize anyone who has had construction work done recently, they are often helpful sources of references for good contractors. There isn’t any question that money is the most important motivating issue to doing a challenge yourself versus hiring knowledgeable.

There’s additionally this nice product called Adhesive Mats used for building dust control, which you can lay around the perimeter of the work space, and catches the mud that would stroll out of the jobsite with the individuals going out and in. It additionally serves as motivation for the contractor to complete their work in a well timed trend.…

Earlier than You Rent A Snow Contractor, Here Are 6 Questions To Ask

For many people their most useful asset is their house. Nevertheless, let us be clear as to what we are gaining or losing once we rent a contractor versus doing the job by ourselves. I get the decision when the opposite contractors won’t respond. But if you don’t have a set funds then it’s always recommended to have a specialized contractor because these specialized individuals make justice to your property and might design the perfect fashionable house in your locality.

But it is always recommended to hire skilled contractors because their experienced providers are more worthwhile than your self service. Most general contractors, who have been in business for some time, have a bunch of sub-contractors they work with frequently.

Knowledgeable demolition contractor usually possesses their very own tools and equipments and also manpower to perform their jobs. One: Contractors have to supply at least a one year warranty on materials and workmanship. The contractor also agrees to verify that the subcontractor, customer, particular person and every other particular person has the proper have to know and possesses the safety clearance essential to access labeled information.

Your painting contractor will possess the mandatory gear and coaching to safely take away all traces of lead based paint from your private home, while you don’t. In case your roof needs to be repaired immediately, you better be prepared to seek out your roof restore contractor charging you a premium for the job.

The sort of common contractor may be referred to as a “handyman,” although if he’s licensed and extremely experienced, he is doubtless a lot more than just that. Some millwork firms holding active Basic Contractor license and solely few have enormous experience in specializing in building and renovating restaurants.…