Supes vote on Living Wage; remembering Mike Hyland; Arnold, hot dogs and more
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of a “living wage” of $15/hour for county employees. Exempted, though, were the 4,884 home health care workers now earning under $12. Why? The board decided that IHSS is a collective bargaining agency, so including its members might violate their right to a fair wage. The vote was more symbolic than substantive – it covers fewer than 150 county employees now earning less than $15 per hour, and employees of certain county contractors. Still, an important victory for North Bay Jobs for Justice and the many advocates speaking at the standing-room only, marathon session. Board Chair and First District Supervisor Susan Gorin said the wave of public comments were persuasive: the panel authorized a figure well above the $13 per-hour number recommended by the hired consultants… So how much did those folks make an hour?
Mike Hyland was a great guy, and like all great PR men, a great story. A legendary figure in the music industry, his recent passing was headline news in Nashville, where he lived before moving to Sonoma in 2009. Hyland, as a New York teenager into the rock scene, was hired into public relations. A contemporary of his clients – he likened the experience that of the young writer in “Almost Famous” — he represented Cat Stevens, Humble Pie, Traffic, Leon Russell and many more top acts before becoming Vice President of Public Relations for Capricorn Records. All of 25, he was one of America’s youngest record label executives. He moved to Macon, then Nashville, working with a label roster including the Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker Band and Elvin Bishop. Eventually he opened his own PR shop, one of the Nashville’s most influential. Far, far down the resume was his stint as a music writer for The Sonoma Valley Sun. Nobody could get more facts into one paragraph, and keep it singing, like Mike Hyland. I will miss him.
Awkward transition to the June 28 Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race, where Arnold Schwarzenegger will drive the pace car. The former governor and alleged actor is promoting his new “Terminator” film. Granted, he will look good behind the wheel, and if character holds, will push the car to the limit. After all, that may be Maria’s lawyers in the car behind him… Race weekend will also feature a big-time hot dog eating contest, with the top male and female finishers earning a spot at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island on July 4. On hand for the Sonoma event, though not competing, will be San Jose’s Joey Chestnut, who holds the current world record for eating 69 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes… For a professional eater, what would be a performance enhancing drug? Rolaids? Ipecac? Mustard?
Which brings us to Jose Canseco, the most beleaguered big leaguer ever to hit 462 home runs. He admitted to using performance-enhancement drugs, wrote a tell-all book (“Juiced”), tried acting, competed in boxing and mixed martial arts, fought Danny “Partridge Family” Bonaduce for money, and, in 2014, accidentally shot off part of a finger while cleaning his gun. Now barnstorming the minor leagues as a cameo player, Canseco comes to Sonoma June 12-3 for two games with the Sonoma Stompers. His two-day contract will have him playing a variety of positions on field and signing autographs after both games. There will also be a pre-game home run derby, where two lucky fans will compete against Canseco… The first 250 fans at each game will receive a foam hand souvenir — missing a portion of the middle finger. At least his sense of humor is intact.
–Val Robichaud.
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2013 superior court ruling…ihss is an employer….the entire states careproviders are no longer exempt as claimed.
see the ihss facebook page mamaged by volunteer recipients and care-providers, for more info..,as we prepare to be interviewed by nbc bay area…..investigation. please tell the real story! Union and ihss fraud!
We seek legal reps! Asap!