KPBS Midday Edition

Lorena Gonzalez Proposes Changes To California's New Gig Economy Law

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, John Carroll / General Assignment Reporter & Anchor

Published March 5, 2020 at 8:53 AM PST

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez rallies workers for the passage of Assembly Bill 5 she authored that would limit when businesses and companies could classify employees as independent contractors, Aug. 29, 2019.

Lorena Gonzalez Proposes Changes To California’s New Gig Economy Law

After intense criticism, Asm. Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, is seeking exemptions for certain freelance journalists, writers and musicians.

California's new labor law known as Assembly Bill 5 limits when businesses can classify workers as independent contractors.

The bill's author, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, said it was meant to rein in companies like Uber, and strengthen worker protections.

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But the law received pushback from freelance journalists, musicians and a host of others who said the law would hurt their livelihoods.

In response, Gonzalez has announced changes that will soon come before the legislature. She said exemptions are being made for certain freelance musicians, writers and journalists.

Gonzalez joined Midday Edition on Thursday to discuss the proposed changes.

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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John Carroll

I'm a general assignment reporter and Saturday morning radio anchor for KPBS. I love coming up with story ideas that aren't being covered elsewhere, but I'm also ready to cover the breaking news of the day. In addition, I bring you the local news headlines on Saturday mornings during NPR's Weekend Edition.

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