Women have traditionally played a small role in the construction industry. Now, they are filling a gap in an occupation that’s short on workers while also building opportunities for young girls who are interested in lucrative and fulfilling careers. According to the National Association of Women in Construction, 9.1 percent of the industry is comprised…
We’ve all heard the stories. Maybe even been a victim. An unscrupulous or unlicensed contractor hired to give you your dream home, landscape, kitchen or bathroom starts the project, collects payment, then disappears leaving the job unfinished or done improperly. Before you invest in any home improvement project, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) reminds…
Learn more about your consumer rights and ways to make well-informed decisions about your money during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) March 4–10. Presented by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the week-long campaign is a coordinated effort by federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to provide consumers with information and resources to protect themselves…
From making California into a sanctuary state to banning marijuana use while driving, hundreds of new California laws were signed by Governor Brown last year. Here’s a sampling of laws that became effective January 1. Optometrists’ scope of practice: AB 443 alleviates pressure on the health care system and makes eye care more accessible by…
With the recent spate of wildfires in Northern and Southern California and other catastrophes throughout the country, many people need to repair or rebuild their homes and properties. However, now more than ever, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) urges consumers to be extremely cautious and do your homework before hiring any contractor. “While fire…
Tiny houses, flu shots, backpacks, and water conservation—what do they all have in common? They’re all the subjects of articles in the fall 2017 issue of the Consumer Connection magazine! The fall issue offers information on: A new office created specifically to help students in need after private school closures Your right to your prescription…
Home improvement season is here and many people are considering sprucing up their homes or repairing damage caused by this past winter’s torrential rainstorms. While the record-setting levels of rainfall has eliminated the drought throughout most of the state, the excessive amount of water has resulted in crumbling roads/driveways, flood damage to homes, toppled…
Turning down the temperature on your air conditioner isn’t the only solution for keeping your house cool. Here are some easy ways, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the U.S. Department of Energy, to stay comfortable during the warm months, while also reducing your home energy bill. Draw your shades. Simply closing…
When we were kids, the only thing we had to worry about during summer vacation was what to do with all of that time off. As adults, we have other summer-related things to worry about—like how to keep our pets cool, how to protect our homes when we are away, how to prep the car…
Bark beetle tunnels beneath the bark of an American elm. (Photo by Deborah Bell/Smithsonian Institution) Dead and dying trees across California are a grim reminder of five years of devastating drought. The southern parts of the state were hit hardest by the drought and have the heaviest tree losses. Most of the affected trees were stressed…
