Uncommon Knowledge
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Hours earlier than Activision Blizzard discovered that the Federal Commerce Fee goals to dam its $69 billion sale to Microsoft, the online game big filed a lawsuit Thursday in opposition to two California state companies which have probed allegations of sexual harassment and pay discrimination on the firm.
Activision’s criticism, filed in Sacramento Superior Courtroom, accuses the California Division of Honest Employment and Housing of interfering with a separate settlement that the corporate was pursuing with the federal Equal Employment Alternative Fee.
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses the DFEH of waging struggle within the courtroom of public opinion in opposition to the company. The criticism belongings that state regulators have “orchestrated a complete media marketing campaign in an try to bullrush the Firm into settling its lawsuit utilizing allegations that the company knew have been unsustainable at trial.”
The 29-page criticism options copies of e-mail correspondence between DFEH officers and journalists from distinguished publications together with the Wall Avenue Journal, New York Instances and Washington Publish. The criticism asserts that “company Director Kevin Kish and its then-Chief Counsel Janette Wipper who, revealed reviews stated was subsequently fired by CRD throughout the pendency of this case — engaged in a systemic marketing campaign of off-the-record media briefing and leaking to the media, all in violation of its personal said company coverage to not communicate to the media about ongoing issues.”
The bureaucratic battle between state and federal regulators round Activision investigations has been properly documented and has added to the bags across the firm that produces the wildly standard “Name of Obligation” and different high video games. Activision maintains that the DFEH broke the phrases of an settlement between the state and EEOC officers that the federal company would examine the sexual harassment claims with the state company would give attention to pay discrimination claims. The DFEH filed a lawsuit in opposition to Activision in 2021 that concerned each points.
Activision asserts that the DFEH has sought to intrude with the $18 million settlement that the comapny reached in March 2022 with the EEOC.
One other key element of the brand new lawsuit swimsuit is Activision’s claims that the DFEH and California Civil Rights Division (CRD) have dragged their heels in violation of courtroom orders on producing paperwork and different discovery sought by Activision attorneys.
“When Activision Blizzard sought, pursuant to California’s Public Information Act. (“PRA”), to unearth extra particulars about this concerted effort to unfairly tarnish Activision Blizzard’s fame, CRD unlawfully refused to offer communications that it is aware of will verify its malicious actions,” the criticism states. “In some cases, CRD slow-walked responses, insisting that easy
info requests, that ought to have been supplied promptly, as required by legislation, would take many
months, and even years to finish. In different cases, CRD produced paperwork, however unlawfully
redacted key parts in an try to cover info that may be embarrassing to the company.
In some cases—together with communications relating to its collusion with labor unions—CRD has
fully refused to supply any paperwork, despite the fact that they’re required to take action by the legislation,” the criticism states.
Representatives for the CRD and DFEH didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Activision has confronted public scrutiny of its enterprise practices for the previous few years, even for the reason that state and federal probes have been initiated by complaints from workers and former workers with reviews of stunning allegations of frat-house habits being tolerated on the firm.
In March 2022, as a part of the $18 million settlement, Activision signed a three-year consent decree that entails an out of doors auditor inspecting how the corporate handles harassment and discrimination claims and the appointment of a third-party arbiter for equal employment alternatives.
On the time, EEOC officers offered Activision as an organization commited to alter in an business that’s notoriously insular and dominated by white males.
“We acknowledge Activision Blizzard for agreeing to a considerable injunctive aid that displays its dedication to being a change agent in an business that struggles with harassment within the office,” Anna Park, regional legal professional for EEOC’s Los Angeles District Workplace, stated in March. “We encourage others within the business to look at their practices to make sure a office freed from harassment and retaliation.”
A one-bedroom, one-bathroom property with less than 400 square feet in Cupertino, California, has been listed for $1.7 million.
But the property has generated considerable interest, according to listing agent Faviola Perez, with about eight buyers raising their hand to acquire the property.
Perez told SFGATE that the unit is already under contract for “considerably over asking.” She would not reveal what that price was. The Zillow estimates puts the potential value at about $1.825 million.
Newsweek contacted Perez for comment via email on Wednesday.
The property is at 10036 Carmen Road in what its Zillow listing says is the “heart of Cupertino” with 384 square feet of residential space.
“Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac, this property presents a rare blend of charm, potential, and premier location within a district renowned for its top-tier Cupertino schools,” the listing said. “While compact, this property is a powerhouse of possibilities. Whether you envision constructing your dream home, expanding the existing structure, or embracing a minimalist lifestyle, the potential is boundless.”
Perez told SFGATE that part of the “possibilities” the property offers is due to the size of the lot it sits on. The Zillow listing points out the total size of the property is 7,841 square feet.
“[The] lot itself offers ample space to bring your vision to life, surrounded by $4M-$5M homes, highlighting the exceptional value and investment potential at hand,” the listing said.
“It is more than likely that the structure will come down and a new home will be built in its place,” Perez told SFGATE.
Typical home values in Cupertino are about $3 million, according to Zillow, which is up close to 11 percent from a year ago.
One key selling point for the property appears to be that it is close to some of the area’s tech companies, which may explain why its valued so highly.
“Enhancing its appeal, the property boasts close proximity to major commute routes, making it ideal for professionals seeking easy access to Silicon Valley’s tech hub,” the Zillow listing said.
It also promises a plethora of hiking trails for nature lovers.
“Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the nearby trails and parks, offering abundant opportunities for recreation and relaxation amidst nature,” the listing added.
The unit, described as a single-family residence, was built in 1948 and is a one-story home.
“This property is more than just a home; it’s a canvas waiting for your personal touch,” the listing said. “Don’t miss out on this exceptional opportunity to own a piece of Cupertino’s highly sought after real estate market.”
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Torah scrolls, once belonging to Jewish temples throughout Czechoslovakia, were reunited at Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton as the synagogue celebrated its 60th anniversary.
On loan to 19 Southern California temples, the scrolls were displayed after a ceremony that offered congregants from each synagogue messages about hope, history, and heartache.
The one-day event also commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Memorial Scrolls Trust, which serves as the guardian to more than 1,500 Czech Torahs that survived the Nazi occupation of the region and later the shuttering of synagogues under regimes that stifled the Jewish faith.
“What a wonderful celebration to share,” Jeffrey Ohrenstein, a London resident and chairman of the Trust, said at Sunday’s event showcasing the collection.
In 1964, the scrolls, each containing five handwritten books of the Hebrew bible, were donated to the Westminster Synagogue in London where the Trust was formed.
“Since then we have been distributing (them) to communities, organizations and synagogues around the world,” Ohrenstein said. “We’ve allocated some 1,400 scrolls to 1,300 communities and 1,000 of those are in North America.”
The Fullerton temple has three such scrolls, but only one of them is “kosher,” or in perfect condition to be used in an official manner, Temple Beth Tikvah Assistant Rabbi Miriam Van Raalte said.
Most of the Czech Torahs are from the 18th and 19th centuries, she said, “But there are some that are much older.”
“The use of these scrolls, either for reading in public or for using symbolically for show, evokes memories of Jewish history, the struggle for survival, and the continuity of the Jewish people,” said Van Raalte. “We let the congregation know that this is a scroll that faced extinction.”
During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the scrolls and other Jewish artifacts were taken to the Jewish Museum in Prague, which had been established in 1906 and became a warehouse of treasures collected by the Germans. The vast inventory “was catalogued by Jews who were deported to concentration camps once the work was finished,” according to the Trust. “Unfortunately very few of them survived.”
Ohrenstein told the story of an art dealer who was looking to buy a gift for his wife nearly two decades after World War II. The dealer was brought to a destroyed synagogue outside of Prague. There he was shown a damp warehouse “full of Torah” scrolls.
Philanthropist Ralph Yablon bought the scrolls after learning of their existence from the art dealer. He then donated them to the Westminster Synagogue in London.
The synagogue’s rabbi addressed dozens of congregants at Temple Beth Tikvah via recorded video on Sunday.
Following the ceremony, the gathered Torahs were displayed on long bridge tables. People looked closely at the Hebrew lettering and gently ran their fingers over the worn wooden dowels holding the scrolls. The wooden pieces are call the atzei chayim, meaning “tree of life.”
Pedro and Laura Alamilla of Downey visited with their three children.
As they observed the Torahs, they were overcome with emotion, Pedro Alamilla saying, “We’re at a loss for words.”
SACRAMENTO — A California bill that pushes for harsher penalties against people who buy sex from children moved forward Tuesday, but not without a fight between members of the public safety committee and the bill’s author Senator Shannon Grove.
The original bill, authored by Senator Shannon Grove, would make soliciting a minor for sex, agreeing to engage or engaging in any form of commercial sex with a child a felony offense with a sex offender registry required on repeat offenses.
However, Democrats on the public safety committee amended the bill to exempt 16- and 17-year-olds from the penalties and reduce the punishment from two years in prison to up to a year in county jail.
Grove got emotional while addressing the committee about the changes made to the bill.
“You have a committee forcing amendments in front of survivors that are advocating for this bill,” Senator Grove said. “I’m incredibly disappointed that not only did my colleagues reject my proposal to make the buying of children for sex a prison felony, but that I was blindsided when they amended my bill without my consent.”
Those against the bill including Senator Scott Wiener said they fear it could target the wrong people by punishing young adults in consensual relationships with minors.
“This bill goes well beyond human trafficking. I think human trafficking, we should throw the book at them. This bill would sweep in a lot of people who are not trafficking. This bill will send people to state prison, on the sex registry, which is basically in many ways the end of their life,” Sen. Wiener said.
Shane Harris, President of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates, joined alongside Sen. Grove in a press conference before the committee hearing to express support for the bill. As a criminal justice advocate, Harris said this would protect the most vulnerable Californians.
“Part of the reason that I’m supporting the bill and what, and have been supporting it, is because 60% of trafficked victims are actually fostered youth, or have been in foster care,” Harris, who is a former foster child himself, said.
He also disagreed with the move to make amendments.
“I think it is just completely delirious that these senators who sit on this committee, some of them decided to go the way of amending the bill without the author’s consent,” Harris said. “It explains where we are in this state when it comes to how we view our children and our most vulnerable children.”
The author, along with advocates, accused the committee of watering down the bill to the point they may not support it moving forward.
“It does not roll the clock back on criminal justice reform. If you think that it does, you cannot tell time and it’s time to hold these perpetrators of child sex trafficking accountable in this state,” Harris said.
In a statement responding to changes made and the future of the bill Senator Grove’s office said:
“Senator Grove is actively discussing the next steps with her joint authors, coalition of survivors and advocates who are deeply invested in the outcome of this bill.”
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