California’s Chief Innovation Officer Isn’t Concerned About Tech Companies Fleeing – California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed former Google executive Rick Klau as the state’s new chief technology innovation officer. Klau is not concerned about tech companies fleeing to Texas or Florida and he was reluctant to wade into criticism of California’s chaotic rollout of COVID vaccine distribution, which is how he first got involved in state government. On one thing, Klau wants to be absolutely clear: He has no intention to Googlefy California’s state government and its vast workforce of 210,599 full time employees. dot.LA 4/7/21
31% of Californians don’t have high-speed internet, state says. How Newsom can change that – Broadband expansion advocates are pushing California Gov. Gavin Newsom to use $2 billion in federal money to not only bring high-speed internet to communities without access, but also to have the state provide low-cost or free broadband access to low-income households. The Sacramento Bee 4/7/21
California state workers told to continue working from home as Newsom signals reopening – State employees should keep working from home even as the California reopens from its yearlong coronavirus restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration directed Tuesday. Newsom told reporters in the morning that the state will fully reopen June 15 if it still has enough vaccines to meet demand and hospitalizations are low. That would include a return to office work for private employers. The Sacramento Bee 4/7/21
Amid California’s unemployment crisis, a tech gold rush – The state’s unemployment agency has signed $236 million in private contracts as jobless workers await benefits. EDD says it needs the outside help. CalMatters 4/5/21
