July 2020 Working from home used to be a flexible option provided to employees by some employers, but was definitely not a mandate. With the current coronavirus pandemic, a shift has been made that makes remote working not only an option, but in some cases, a requirement. As businesses reopen, employers and employees are reevaluating [...]
June 2020 The California legislature has spent the last four years passing sweeping housing bills in an effort to make a dent in the State's severe housing shortage and 2020 may prove no different. Here are the housing bills to watch for the remainder of this legislative session: SB 902 (Weiner) - This bill would [...]
April 2020 California landlords are facing a host of issues caused by the Novel Coronavirus, two of which directly impact California's robust fair housing framework: Due to either medical risks or economic conditions, young adults are moving back in with their parents at unprecedented rates. Does a landlord have to allow parent-tenants to add [...]
March 2020 On March 16 Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-28-20, which provided both guidance and enforcement mechanisms for local municipalities to prevent a possibly rapid increase in evictions and foreclosures arising out of the economic damage caused by of COVID-19. Most importantly, the Executive Order gave authority to California cities and counties to [...]
March 2020 Following up on our recent client alerts about SARS-Cov-2 disaster relief for small businesses, one of the brightest spots for small businesses in the latest (third if you're keeping score) federal stimulus package, which was enacted March 27 as the 'CARES Act," are emergency Small Business Administration 7(a) loans. These "payroll protection [...]
On March 19, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom issued an order directing: "all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors...." The order includes potential misdemeanor penalties for violating the restrictions, and raises [...]
COVID -19 Guidance The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has become an evolving and uncertain public health issue affecting people globally and close to home, we recognize that all of us will certainly be impacted. Circumstances are changing seemingly by the hour, creating uncertainty for business and the public alike. While we are focused on the safety and [...]
March 2020 With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus around the globe, even companies outside of the impacted areas have been forced to prepare for the worst. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed hundreds of cases across the United States, including here in California. Public health officials have suggested [...]
Hospitality Santa Barbara recently hosted an Elected Officials Reception. This event introduced new city officials to hospitality business owners and the Santa Barbara community. BFAS Partner, Trevor Large is Board President of Hospitality Santa Barbara. He and the board invited elected officials to come and talk about legislation that impacts the Santa Barbara community. KEYT [...]
Social Media at Work: New Laws and Updates Presented by: Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram - all have become valuable tools to business owners. But how much can you control your employee's social media activity? How do you balance an employee's privacy rights with your rights as an employer, and what [...]
