|
|
The wildfires burning across Southern California are nothing short of devastating. Sadly, amidst the emergency, many families and businesses have been further hurt by price gouging, predatory property buyers, scams, and looting.
It’s unfathomable to think that there are greedy individuals who look at this terrible disaster, who look at Californians in pain, and see dollar signs.
This week, I opened active investigations into reports of price gouging; set up the DOJ Disaster Relief Task Force to uncover, investigate, and prosecute crimes targeting victims; and sent letters to hundreds of businesses, rentals, and hotels underscoring our intent to enforce price gouging laws.
At California DOJ, we are doing everything we can to support and protect families and businesses impacted by the fires. If you or someone you know has been victimized during this emergency, please report it to us at oag.ca.gov/lafires or call our hotline at (800) 952-5225.
Stay safe,
Rob
|
|
Protecting Californians Affected by Los Angeles Fires
 In response to complaints of price gouging, my office has sent more than 200 warning letters – and counting – to hotels and landlords who have been accused of illegally raising prices. We have also opened criminal investigations into price gouging as we continue to ramp up the deployment of resources to Los Angeles County to investigate and prosecute price gouging, fraud, scams, and unsolicited low-ball offers on property during the state of emergency. And we've issued multiple consumer alerts, most recently reminding landlords in the state that rental bidding wars resulting in unlawful price increases are prohibited under California's price gouging law. Preying on people during such a vulnerable time is not just fundamentally wrong, it is illegal. We will hold those accountable who are attempting to exploit Californians and profit from their pain.
|
|
Providing Guidance to California Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Immigrants
 As California prepares for new threats to its immigrant communities, I issued a package of updated bulletins and new guidance to assist state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and defense counsel in complying with state law. When someone witnesses or is the victim of a crime, it is important that they feel that they can turn to law enforcement for help. Through these new and updated guidances, we are ensuring that law enforcement remains a partner and a resource for the California communities they serve, and that our legal system upholds the guaranteed rights of California immigrants under state and federal law.
|
|
Celebrating the Discharge of Student Loan Debt for Ashford University Borrowers
 Ashford University made false promises to students about the value of an Ashford degree and the opportunities it would create and instead left students worse off: with mounting debt and searching for a job. This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced a group discharge for former Ashford University students, impacting 261,000 borrowers and discharging $4.5 billion of debt. I am proud that California's work taking this case to trial paved the way for the U.S. Department of Education to provide relief for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who were deceived by Ashford.
|
|
Defending California's Clean Cars Waivers
 Transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Any attempt to undermine California’s Clean Air Act waivers puts our state at risk of falling further behind in our fight against climate change and environmental harm. This week, my office, along with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), led a multistate coalition in seeking to defend the U.S. EPA's actions granting two Clean Air Act waivers that authorize enforcement, respectively, of CARB’s Advanced Clean Cars II and Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus regulations.
|
|
Issuing Legal Advisories to California Businesses on AI
 California is an economic powerhouse built in large part on technological innovation. And right alongside that economic might is a strong commitment to economic justice, workers’ rights, and competitive markets. Artificial intelligence (AI) might be changing, innovating, and evolving quickly, but the fifth largest economy in the world is not the wild west; existing California laws apply to both the development and use of AI. This week, I issued two legal advisories, reminding consumers of their rights, and advising businesses and healthcare entities who develop, sell, or use AI about their obligations under California law.
|
|
Make a Difference at California DOJ
 Apply today to help DOJ protect the health, well-being, and public safety of Californians. Check out our featured jobs below and visit oag.ca.gov/careers for a full listing of available positions:
Deputy Attorney General IV, Police Practices Section
Deputy Attorney General IV, DMFEA Facilities Enforcement Team
Deputy Attorney General IV, Worker Rights & Fair Labor
Deputy Attorney General Supervisor, Capital Coordination Team
Deputy Attorney General IV, Healthcare Rights and Access Section
Director, Office of Native American Affairs
Information Technology Manager II, Enterprise Services Bureau
Legal Support Technician, Legal Support Operations
IT Project Oversight Supervisor, Project Management and Procurement Branch
Assessment Consultant, Assessment Consultation Team
|
|
Post of the Week
 My office formed a Disaster Relief Task Force to investigate and prosecute price gouging and other crimes targeting disaster victims.
Let me be crystal clear—I do not take these crimes lightly.
If you try to profit off Californians’ pain, we will hold you accountable.
|
|
FLASH BRIEFING
Attorney General Bonta Secures Victory Defending California's Abortion Accessibility Act
Attorney General Bonta, CARB Announce Nearly $237 Million Settlement with Heavy-Duty Engine Manufacturer
Attorney General Bonta Files Legal Action to Defend Dreamers’ Access to Healthcare
Attorney General Bonta Issues Medical Debt Consumer Alert
Attorney General Bonta, Secretary of State Weber Confirm that Three Defeated Orosi Public Utilities Board Directors Will Leave Their Seats
|
|
Video of the Week
|
 Los Angeles has experienced a tremendous amount of suffering in the last few weeks, but we’ve also seen a tremendous amount of hope.
It’s a long road to recovery, but we’ll get there, together.
|
|
Resource Corner
|
|
|
|
|
