In today’s US construction news, learn about California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who stated today that he has brought 31 felony charges of tax evasion and wage theft against a construction company that he claims cost the state and its employees $2.6 million. Meanwhile, being the sole woman in a male-dominated setting, the young woman faces social and emotional obstacles in addition to physical ones, given her weekly workload of 56 hours and income of $900. Finally, the US Census Bureau said Monday that the seasonally adjusted rate (SAAR) for October construction spending was $2,174.0 billion, which was 0.4% higher than the revised September estimate of $2,164.7 billion.
Construction Firm Charged With Felony Pay Theft and Tax Evasion by CA AG
Original Source: California AG charges construction firm with felony wage theft and tax evasion
California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated today that he filed 31 felony wage theft and tax evasion charges against a construction company that cost the state and its workers $2.6 million.
Bonta filed the criminal complaint on Aug. 26 charging that US Framing West evaded more than $2.5 million in state payroll taxes and underpaid workers on a Cathedral City, Riverside County, public housing project Bonta said the company, which creates wood framing for hotels, apartments, and housing developments, underpaid workers at least $40,000.
“For some reason US Framing West seems to think it can operate outside the prevailing wage laws of California,” Bonta stated today at a Los Angeles press conference. My message is simple: They cannot. No corporation can.”
Cal Matters tried to contact US Framing West executives listed on their website but got no response.
Bonta charged the corporation and two officials, Thomas Gregory English and Amelia Frazier Krebs, with wage and tax crimes in Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Contra Costa counties.
Political watchers expect Bonta to seek for governor, so a high-profile labor case may help him get union support. Wage theft actions brought by the state are usually administrative or civil.
Bonta stated US Framing West recruited unlicensed subcontractors and underreported salary to the state Employment Development Department from 2018 to 2022. He charged the corporation of grand theft, payroll tax evasion, prevailing wage theft, and state document fraud.
Bonta stated US Framing West bypassed personal income tax withholding, state unemployment and disability insurance premiums, and provided fake payroll documents for Cathedral City project Veterans Village workers. The 60-unit veteran housing and services facility debuted in 2022.
The complaint alleges the firm took 19 Riverside County workers’ salaries in 2021 and 2022. Employers can be charged with grand theft if they steal more than $950 in earnings or tips from one employee or $2,350 from two or more employees within a year in California.
Bonta said the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council alerted the state Department of Justice to Oakland building project wage theft in 2019. The department investigated US Framing West’s other state projects.
After the agency brought charges in August, the two defendants surrendered and were arraigned this month.
Supporting crime
Matthew Miller, senior field representative for labor compliance for Nor Cal Carpenters Union, said California’s prevailing pay applies to most public-funded projects. At least four tax-credit-financed home developments were underway at US Framing West.
Miller: “California taxpayers are subsidizing criminal activity in affordable housing.
Developers should avoid organizations that violate employment and tax regulations, he stressed.
Wage theft occurs when companies don’t pay for all hours worked, the minimum wage, overtime, or legally necessary breaks. Bonta’s office estimated wage theft costs California workers $2 billion a year, mostly in low-paying industries. Workers claimed almost $300 million in lost earnings in 2020 and 2021.
Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation, termed wage theft “the number one crime” in burglary and theft and said corporations should not be able to pay off wage theft violations.
A Young Latina Works 56 Hours a Week in the U.S.
Original Source: “Being a woman in construction is not easy”: The story of a young Latina who works 56 hours a week in the U.S
The 19-year-old Nicaraguan Rosita explains, “Being a woman in construction is not easy,” in one of her recent TikTok videos about her experience in US construction.
As the sole woman in a male-dominated environment, the young woman tackles physical, social, and emotional obstacles with a 56-hour workweek and $900 pay. “There are always disparaging looks; many have questioned me, but here I am proving that I am strong and that I can do it,” she says.
The popular video uncovers the truth behind those $900 a week. It says little remains after rent, food, gas, insurance, and other essentials: People may believe $900 is a lot and a fair pay, but when they do the math, they find it’s not.
The responses were swift. Many individuals commented on Rosita’s job struggles. In addition to “You are a warrior, I admire you” and “God bless you, Rosita, you are a brave young lady,” criticism and disagreements emerged. One user said, “You should be grateful because many people wish they could be there and can’t,” to which she replied, “Everyone has their complaints; in the end, you’re not the one giving me the money to pay or spend it however I want.”
Others said their pay isn’t bad for the hours worked. One user remarked, “With 900, at least 400 is what remains,” while another said, “I work 48 hours a week and earn $700; that’s a fair wage.” Some supported Rosita’s view. “Yes, we earn and spend monies. God bless “another user wrote.
Rosita also resonated with many construction women. “I am also the only woman in my group, and I know how hard it is to work alongside them,” said one. One said, “I am the only woman among nearly 100 men in my company, and I understand how tough it is to deal with macho attitudes, but we don’t back down.”
Rosita’s tale shows her bravery as a young lady and immigrant and opens a discourse about the true cost of living in the U.S. and the daily sacrifices underlying the American dream. Rosita, known as “the powerful,” proves that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible, even under the hardest conditions.
Common Questions concerning Immigrant Women in Construction in the U.S.
The biggest problems Rosita faces as a U.S. woman in construction?
As the sole woman in a male-dominated environment, Rosita endures physical, social, and emotional problems. She also faces scornful looks and job performance questions.
Does Rosita’s pay cover U.S. living costs?
Rosita earns $900 a week, but rent, food, gas, and insurance take up most of it. This is prevalent among immigrants seeking the American dream.
Rosita’s TikTok video: how did people react?
Rosita’s video received praise and criticism. Many praised her courage, but others questioned her meager wage. Most agreed that the U.S. cost of living is excessive and that people spend what they earn.
How does Rosita’s tale affect other construction women?
Many women in Rosita’s sector have related their stories of being the sole woman in their work groups and facing machismo. This has started a conversation regarding women in male-dominated fields.
Rosita’s message to American Dreamers?
Rosita proves that anything is achievable with effort and tenacity in the worst conditions. Her tale shows the strength needed to face the hardships of being an immigrant and young lady abroad.
October US Construction Spending Rises 0.4%
Original Source: US Construction Spending Increases 0.4% in October
On Monday, the US Census Bureau projected October construction spending at $2,174.0 billion, 0.4% higher than September’s revised $2,164.7 billion. It exceeds the October 2023 forecast of $2,071.1 billion by 5.0%.
The first ten months of this year saw construction investment of $1,814.8 billion, up 7.2% from 2023’s $1,693.2 billion.
Private construction spending rose 0.7% to $1,676.4 billion in October from $1,664.7 billion in September. Residential construction SAAR was $934.0 billion, 1.5% higher than September’s revised $920.3 billion. Nonresidential construction SAAR was $742.3 billion, 0.3% below the revised September forecast of $744.4 billion.
Seasonally adjusted public construction spending was $497.6 billion, 0.5% lower than September’s revised $500.0 billion. Educational construction SAAR was $105.3 billion, 0.4% lower than September’s revised $105.7 billion. Highway construction SAAR was $141.1 billion, 0.7% lower than September’s revised $142.1 billion.
Summary of today’s construction news
To put it simply, according to the complaint, between 2021 and 2022 the firm misappropriated the wages of 19 employees in Riverside County. California’s criminal code may charge employers with grand theft if they steal more than $950 in salary or tips from one employee or $2,350 from two or more employees in a single year.
Meanwhile, Rosita shows that anything is achievable with perseverance and hard work, even in the most trying circumstances. Her narrative exemplifies the bravery required to face the difficulties of being a young woman and an immigrant in a strange nation.
Finally, the revised September estimate of $500.0 billion for public construction spending was 0.5% higher than the expected seasonally adjusted annual rate of $497.6 billion. The revised September estimate of $105.7 billion was 0.4% higher than the SAAR of $105.3 billion for educational buildings.
