San Francisco First US City To Mandate Paid Sick Leave For Nannies, Cleaners
The city's board of supervisors passed the regulation Tuesday, assuring around 10,000 domestic workers would have paid sick leave. State child care issues in Rhode Island, debate over Georgia's health proposals, a dangerous synthetic marijuana in Florida and more are also in the news.
San Francisco Chronicle:
San Francisco Becomes First City To Require Sick Leave For Nannies, Cleaners, Gardeners
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously passed ground-breaking legislation to provide paid sick leave for cleaners, nannies, gardeners and other domestic workers. The measure — the first of its kind in the country — would affect some 10,000 people in San Francisco who work in private homes to clean, cook, tend children, garden, do personal organizing, or provide non-medical care for disabled people or seniors. This workforce is typically low-paid with many women and immigrants, supporters said. (Said, 12/14)
In other news from across the U.S. —
The Boston Globe:
R.I. Child Advocate Sounds The Alarm, Saying ‘It Has Never Been This Bad’
Rhode Island’s child advocate sounded the alarm Tuesday, telling a state Senate committee that children in state care are not getting the services they need and are often being shipped out of state. Jennifer Griffith noted that she and others had come before the Senate oversight committee two months ago, warning about a mounting crisis within the state Department of Children, Youth and Families. “When I tell you that the situation has become much more dire and frankly dangerous in the last 60 days, I am telling you the truth,” Griffith said. “I am telling you that we are at an extreme level of desperation.” (Fitzpatrick, 12/14)
Georgia Health News:
Georgia Health Proposals Hang In The Balance As Biden Official Visits
A top federal official in charge of negotiating with Gov. Brian Kemp on Georgia’s high-stakes health care proposals visited Atlanta on Tuesday to talk about maternal health and other topics. But Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, had no answers for when any of the half-million adults uninsured under current Georgia Medicaid rules might have a pathway to coverage. (Hart and Miller, 12/14)
Billings Gazette:
Commissioners Vote To Send Recreational Pot Question Back To Voters
Yellowstone County residents will get another vote on recreational marijuana. County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to take the question of whether to allow recreational marijuana businesses to operate within the county back to voters in June. (Rogers, 12/14)
WUSF Public Media:
Hillsborough Health Officials Issue A Warning About Fake Pot That Causes Severe Illness
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is warning people about a form of synthetic marijuana that is causing severe illness. The agency has received multiple reports of people who smoked the drug, also known as spice, and then developed a condition known as coagulopathy, which impaired their blood’s ability to clot. Symptoms include bruising, nose bleeds, bleeding gums and vomiting blood. (Ochoa, 12/14)
In news about the housing crisis in Idaho and Maine —
Idaho Statesman:
Boise Org Releases Plan To House Hundreds Of Homeless People
Boiseans may be familiar with “housing first” programs, which provide housing to homeless individuals regardless of their background, sobriety or mental health status. Now, local officials are planning to establish even more of these living units in the next five years. More than 500 people and families need these kind of living spaces in Ada County, according to a plan released by local shelter organization. The organization, Our Path Home, is now leading a charge to create the living units to meet this demand — but it’s going to take a lot of community involvement and a lot of money to make it happen. (Land, 12/14)
Bangor Daily News:
Bangor Residents Demand Change In Homeless Policy After Deadly Fire
The tragedy has drawn attention to the growing homeless problem in Bangor, with the hour-and-a-half public comment period drawing in activists, non-profit employees and current and former members of the city’s homeless community. (Marino Jr., 12/14)
