Latest news with #ChrisWard
Business Journals
01-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
D.C. business owners may not be as financially prepared as they believe
Nearly all (94%) of small business owners (SBOs) across the country report they believe their company is financially prepared for the next 12 to 18 months. Digging deeper in Washington, D.C., SBOs are concerned about their ability to sustain operations, with 81% saying it would take just two quarters or less of revenue shortfall before they became worried about their company's future — higher than the national average at 72%. This is according to TD Bank's inaugural Financial Preparedness Survey: Small Business Owners Report, which surveyed U.S. SBOs' current confidence in their financial preparedness. A core survey sample was conducted in the D.C. metro area. In D.C., the majority of SBOs (82%) are the sole person responsible for managing their company's financial preparedness. When asked about the top barriers to better determining their financial picture, local business owners indicated their top gaps are a lack of financial education and/or previous business experience and having trouble adapting to customer preferences. Long-term preparedness of D.C.-area business owners also is in question, with just 26% indicating they have a retirement or succession plan in place. There are several reasons why these have not been developed, with 39% reporting they don't believe their business is mature enough yet to warrant a succession plan, 32% of SBOs expressing concern about the cost involved and 22% worrying about potential family conflicts when discussing the future. Nearly a quarter (21%) of D.C. SBOs stated they have no plans to ever develop a retirement/succession plan. "Small business owners often act as the whole executive team of their enterprise —CEO, CFO, marketer, HR and more — which means they frequently are focused on day-to-day operations," said Chris Ward, regional president of the Mid-South Metro, TD Bank. "SBOs don't have to do it all alone and accessible resources such as their banker can offer financial check-ups and guidance on how to create a business and financial plan that spans several years." Local business' outlook mixed Looking to the next 12 to 18 months, 76% of D.C. SBOs expect their business to meet or exceed profit expectations and 75% anticipate they will hire additional staff. Survey respondents also noted they are taking steps to improve their business' outlook over the next year and a half, including using digital and AI budgeting tools (51%), getting a loan or line of credit from their bank (48%) and hiring a financial advisor (41%). Still, economic conditions remain a top external concern for SBOs in D.C., with inflation and interest rates ranking as their biggest worry in the year ahead. Survey participants also indicated they have operational concerns for their companies, with investing in marketing, needing to reduce their workforce and labor shortages topping the list. "Owning and operating a small business is a rewarding but stressful enterprise," Ward said. "Indicators show that SBOs are still feeling positive but are closely watching external factors. Just as individuals create a 'rainy day fund,' SBOs should aim to build up their cash on hand to better withstand the unexpected." TD Bank's Financial Preparedness Survey: Small Business Owners Report surveyed business owners with more than $100,000 in annual revenue and 100 or fewer employees. A representative sample of 150 business owners in D.C. participated. Among these, 75% had fewer than 20 employees and more than half had annual revenues between $100,000 and $500,000. TD Bank is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. Find out more at
Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Is California Pushing for Noncitizens to Oversee Elections? What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Despite claims by Republican lawmakers, California has not made any moves to allow noncitizens to oversee elections. Why It Matters Earlier this month, AB 930, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, passed the State Assembly. The bill aims to modernize California's election procedures, but some Republican lawmakers in California have opposed it, claiming that it would allow illegal immigrants to count state election ballots. Under California state law, only United States citizens are allowed to serve as election officers or oversee elections. The bill received a favorable vote of 59 in favor, 16 opposed, and four members not voting. What To Know AB 930 seeks to modernize and clarify aspects of the state's election procedures. One of its primary provisions extends the window for counting mail-in ballots from three days to seven days after Election Day, provided that the ballots are postmarked by Election Day. The bill also revises rules governing election recounts. It grants recount requesters more control over how recounts are conducted, including the order of ballot batches to be recounted and the method of recount, either by hand or using voting system technology. The legislation outlines clearer standards for appointing and compensating recount board members and mandates county elections offices to follow updated notice requirements. It also stipulates that, when multiple recount requests are made, if any requester opts for a paper ballot recount, that method will be used for all ballots in that race. But the main point of contention in the bill stems from its decision to replace the phrase "voters of the county" with "individuals" when outlining the criteria for those eligible to serve on recount boards. Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, California, on March 12, 2024. Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, California, on March 12, 2024. Trân Nguyễn/AP Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio argues that this would eliminate citizenship as a factor for appointees of recount boards. He said in the State Assembly this week: "I think most Californians would wonder how it can be a modern election if noncitizens are serving on an election board overseeing the election. That's not an insult, that's common sense." Other Republicans have adopted the same argument. Former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Burton Brink said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "Folks, illegal immigrants counting our election ballots?? What could possibly go wrong!?!? #AB930 Must be defeated!" Conservative commentator and social media influencer Paul Szypula accused Governor Gavin Newsom of enabling noncitizen participation in elections. He called for federal defunding of California, while also demanding Newsom's arrest for "treason." But Anthony Reyes, legislative assistant to Ward, told Newsweek that it is "inaccurate" to say that AB 930 would allow undocumented immigrants to sit on recount boards. "The term 'individual' used in AB 930 refers to people who may be involved in certain election-related tasks; however, only U.S. citizens with legal work authorization can be hired for these county positions. Counties are required by law to verify employment eligibility and maintain personnel records in compliance with federal immigration laws," he said. In a letter to Ward this week, the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO) confirmed that AB 930 would not allow noncitizens to oversee elections. "AB 930 does not allow undocumented immigrants to sit on recount boards," the letter read. The letter also stated that while it's possible that documented noncitizens could be hired for other election-related roles, counties are prohibited from hiring undocumented immigrants for such positions, as all employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. "However, it is possible that separately a documented non-citizen could be hired for other election-related work," the letter said. "Counties cannot hire an undocumented immigrant for a county extra help position, as all such employees must be legally cleared to work. Additionally, counties maintain personnel records necessary to comply with federal immigration laws; however, these records are exempt from disclosure. "Moreover, if AB 930 becomes law, the people serving on a recount board tallying ballots and those supervising the recount boards would have to be a registered voter." DeMaio responded to attempts to shut down his allegations this week. "Democrats are claiming AB930 doesn't allow noncitizens to count ballots– but we have proof in plain English from bill itself. It inserts word 'individuals' where words 'voters of the county' used to be – eliminating citizenship as factor for appointees of recount boards," he wrote on X. California law generally mandates that poll workers—those assisting with the conduct of elections, including staffing polling places—must be registered voters. This requirement effectively limits poll worker eligibility to U.S. citizens and excludes most noncitizens, with a few exceptions, such as high school students serving as student poll workers under supervision. And while AB 930 inserts the word "individuals" in place of "voters of the county" for those eligible to be appointed to recount boards, theoretically broadening eligibility, federal laws, such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), require all employees, including those serving on recount boards, to undergo I-9 employment eligibility verification. This process confirms that workers are authorized to work in the U.S., effectively excluding undocumented immigrants. While this may permit legally authorized noncitizens (e.g., green card holders) to be considered for roles in election recount boards, undocumented immigrants are still barred from being appointed. Though some local jurisdictions in California have considered or enacted measures allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, these do not extend to overseeing or administering elections. For instance, Santa Ana voters were set to decide on a measure that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, but this pertained solely to voting rights, not election administration. In November, voters rejected the measure, with about 60 percent opposed and about 40 percent in support. Had it passed, Measure DD would have made Santa Ana the first city in California to permit noncitizen voting in all local elections. While cities like San Francisco and Oakland have approved noncitizen voting for school board elections, Santa Ana's measure aimed to extend this right to broader municipal contests. The measure faced significant opposition from local officials and conservative groups, who argued that it would be costly, lead to legal challenges, and undermine the rights of citizens. Supporters contended that noncitizens contribute to the community and deserve a voice in local governance. Despite the defeat, proponents have indicated that they will continue to advocate for expanded voting rights in the future. What People Are Saying Anthony Reyes, legislative assistant for Assemblymember Chris Ward, told Newsweek: "If AB 930 is enacted, only registered voters can serve on recount boards that are tallying ballots or supervising the process, per existing California Elections Code §12302. In other words, non-citizens—documented or undocumented—are prohibited from performing duties related to vote tallying or supervising recounts." Representative Carl DeMaio, at a State Assembly debate: "Most third-world countries have something called an election day, not an election month. We're actually on track to having an election quarter here in California because our elections actually start 30 days prior to election day through mail-in ballots. "So a month out people can vote and then of course they are able to count ballots for 30 days after an election. That's a 60 day period. What this bill does is it would allow ballots to be returned up to 7 days after election day." Conservative commentator and social media influencer Paul Szypula, on X: "California Democrats recently passed AB 930 which allows illegals to count ballots in California elections. The bill specifically says election officials can 'appoint any individual to a recount board.' Instead of deporting illegals, @GavinNewsom wants them handling elections. "Assemblyman @carldemaio spoke in opposition to AB 930. Every real American should be outraged by what California is doing. They spend countless billions luring illegals into the state, give them free housing, healthcare, and other benefits. And now even want illegals handling American votes. "This is ridiculous. The US Government needs to defund California immediately. Not a single federal dollar should go to subsidizing the illegals who continue to dominate California's landscape. Arrest Gavin Newsom while you're at it and try him for treason. He's the traitor behind all of this anti-American evil." What Happens Next Following its passage in the Assembly, AB 930 was introduced in the Senate on May 20 and subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments on May 28, where it will now be considered for a vote.
Daily Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Triple Crown chasing third Doomben 10,000 victory on Saturday
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mazu can enhance Triple Crown's remarkable run of success in the Group 1 $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday. Triple Crown boss Chris Ward revealed his sprinters had finished 'top three in five of the last 10 runnings' of the feature Doomben sprint. 'We have had two wins with Mazu (2022) and Redzel (2017) – Charlie Boy ran a second (2015) and a third (2016) and Mazu also ran third (2023),'' Ward said. 'It would be unreal if Mazu could win it again on Saturday'' The Joe Pride-trained Mazu is at $9.50 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the 10,000 behind favourite Sunshine In Paris at $4.40. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Mazu returns to Doomben in winning form after retaining his 'title' in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick last start. With the Doomben track bordering on the heavy range and more showers forecast overnight, Mazu gets his preferred rain-affected track conditions for the feature sprint. Mazu has won nine races and earned just over $9 million prizemoney during his 36-start career with eight of his wins on slow-heavy tracks. • EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony's race-by-race tips and analysis for Scone on Saturday Triple Crown also has the very consistent Firm Agreement as the $4.40 favourite to finally break through for a deserved win in the Group 3 $250,000 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) in the Doomben closer. Firm Agreement, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, has reeled off a hat-trick of second placings this autumn in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes, Group 1 ATC Australian Derby and Group 3 Frank Packer Plate. 'He has been racing so well and so consistently,'' Ward said. 'It looks likely to be a heavy track and we know he handles that well so hopefully he can get that win. 'He has been bouncing out of his skin and should be hard to beat.'' • Ray & Duff's Scone Saturday tips: $8.50 value bet Miss Hellfire ($18), a stablemate of Firm Agreement, gives Triple Crown representation in the Listed $160,000 Bright Shadow Stakes (1100m). 'This is Miss Hellfire's swan song, she will go to the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale after this race,'' Ward revealed. 'It would be nice if she can have a fairytale finish.'' At the Scone stand-alone meeting, Triple Crown and the Archibald stable also team up with Kujenga in the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes while Kadall is in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). Ward conceded the barrier draw had made it more difficult for both horses with Kujenga coming out of 15 and Kadall from 11. 'They have both drawn wide, unfortunately, but we feel they are chances,'' Ward said. 'If they get a bit of luck they have the ability to run well.'' Originally published as Mazu chasing Triple Crown's third win in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mazu chasing Triple Crown's third win in Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday
Mazu can enhance Triple Crown's remarkable run of success in the Group 1 $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday. Triple Crown boss Chris Ward revealed his sprinters had finished 'top three in five of the last 10 runnings' of the feature Doomben sprint. 'We have had two wins with Mazu (2022) and Redzel (2017) – Charlie Boy ran a second (2015) and a third (2016) and Mazu also ran third (2023),'' Ward said. 'It would be unreal if Mazu could win it again on Saturday'' The Joe Pride -trained Mazu is at $9.50 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the 10,000 behind favourite Sunshine In Paris at $4.40. Mazu returns to Doomben in winning form after retaining his 'title' in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick last start. With the Doomben track bordering on the heavy range and more showers forecast overnight, Mazu gets his preferred rain-affected track conditions for the feature sprint. Mazu has won nine races and earned just over $9 million prizemoney during his 36-start career with eight of his wins on slow-heavy tracks. Mazu makes it back-to-back TAB Hall Mark Stakes! ðŸ'� @PrideRacing | @jamieleekah07 | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025 Triple Crown also has the very consistent Firm Agreement as the $4.40 favourite to finally break through for a deserved win in the Group 3 $250,000 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) in the Doomben closer. Firm Agreement, trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, has reeled off a hat-trick of second placings this autumn in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes, Group 1 ATC Australian Derby and Group 3 Frank Packer Plate. 'He has been racing so well and so consistently,'' Ward said. 'It looks likely to be a heavy track and we know he handles that well so hopefully he can get that win. 'He has been bouncing out of his skin and should be hard to beat.'' Miss Hellfire ($18), a stablemate of Firm Agreement, gives Triple Crown representation in the Listed $160,000 Bright Shadow Stakes (1100m). 'This is Miss Hellfire's swan song, she will go to the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale after this race,'' Ward revealed. 'It would be nice if she can have a fairytale finish.'' At the Scone stand-alone meeting, Triple Crown and the Archibald stable also team up with Kujenga in the Listed $200,000 Woodlands Stakes while Kadall is in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). Ward conceded the barrier draw had made it more difficult for both horses with Kujenga coming out of 15 and Kadall from 11. 'They have both drawn wide, unfortunately, but we feel they are chances,'' Ward said. 'If they get a bit of luck they have the ability to run well.''
Fast Company
13-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
California's location data privacy bill aims to reshape digital consent
Amid the ongoing evolution of digital privacy laws, one California proposal is drawing heightened attention from legal scholars, technologists, and privacy advocates. Assembly Bill 1355, while narrower in scope than landmark legislation like 2018's California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)—which established sweeping rights for consumers to know, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal information—could become a pivotal effort to rein in the unchecked collection and use of personal geolocation data. The premise of the bill (which is currently undergoing analysis within the appropriations committee) is straightforward yet bold in the American legal landscape: Companies must obtain clear, opt-in consent before collecting or sharing users' precise location data. They must also disclose exactly what data they gather, why they gather it, and who receives it. At a glance, this seems like a logical privacy upgrade. But beneath the surface, it questions the very structure of an industry built on the quiet extraction and monetization of personal information. 'We're really trying to help regulate the use of your geolocation data,' says the bill's author, Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, who represents California's 78th district, which covers parts of San Diego and surrounding areas. 'You should not be able to sell, rent, trade, or lease anybody's location information to third parties, because nobody signed up for that.' Among types of personal information, location data is especially sensitive. It reveals where people live, work, worship, protest, and seek medical care. It can expose routines, relationships, and vulnerabilities. As stories continue to surface about apps selling location data to brokers, government workers, and even bounty hunters, the conversation has expanded. What was once a debate about privacy has increasingly become a concern over how the exposure of this data infringes upon fundamental civil liberties. 'Geolocation is very revealing,' says Justin Brookman, the director of technology policy at Consumer Reports, which supported the legislation. 'It tells a lot about you, and it also can be a public safety issue if it gets into the wrong person's hands.' For advocates of the new legislation, the concern goes beyond permission screens. It's about control. When location data is collected silently and traded without oversight, people lose agency over how they move through the world—and who's watching. A power imbalance at the heart of location tracking To understand the urgency behind proposals like AB 1355, look at how current data practices operate. The core issue isn't merely that companies collect information—it's how relentlessly and opaquely they do so, often without real accountability. Consent, when obtained, is typically buried in lengthy and confusing policies. Meanwhile, data brokers operate with minimal regulation, assembling detailed behavioral profiles that may influence credit decisions, hiring, and insurance rates. Most people have little knowledge of who holds their data or how it's used. For example, a fitness app might collect location data to track your exercise routes, but then sell that information to a data broker who assembles a profile for targeted advertising. This same information, in the wrong hands, could also be used to stalk an individual, track their movements, or even determine their political affiliations. 'A lot of people don't have the luxury to know that they should opt out or that they need to know how to find out how to opt out,' Ward says. Equally troubling, Ward argues, is who benefits. The companies collecting and selling this data are driven by profit, not transparency. As scholar Shoshana Zuboff has argued, surveillance capitalism doesn't thrive because users want personalized ads. It thrives because opting out is hard, if people even realize they've been opted in. AB 1355 proposes a shift: Consent to collect and share data must be given proactively, not retracted reactively. Rather than requiring users to hunt through settings, the burden would fall on companies to ask first. That rebalances the relationship between individuals and data collectors in a way that could set new norms beyond California. 'It's designed to take a lot of the burden off of consumers, so they don't have to worry about micromanaging their privacy,' Brookman says. 'Instead, they can just trust that when geolocation is shared, it's being used for the reason they gave—if they agreed to it in the first place.' Industry groups, unsurprisingly, have raised concerns about operational impacts and innovation costs. In particular, critics warn that the burden on businesses could stifle innovation, particularly in sectors reliant on data-driven services. The California Chamber of Commerce wrote in an opposition letter that was shared with Fast Company that AB 1355 would create 'confusion in operability for businesses' and impose costly new compliance burdens. 'Changing the rules has real economic cost to businesses and consumers,' the letter states. 'Constantly doing so without adequate justification or need is irresponsible at best.' A state bill with national stakes The bill is part of a larger trend among states moving to fill the federal vacuum on privacy regulation. Since the CCPA's passage, several states—including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Texas—have enacted their own data privacy laws. These measures vary in scope and strength, forming a state-by-state patchwork that complicates compliance but signals widespread concern. While most of these laws are general-purpose, a handful—such as recent efforts in Maryland and Massachusetts —have begun to zero in on specific risks like geolocation tracking, mirroring some of AB 1355's core protections. Broadly speaking, California's evolving legal framework, from the CCPA to its 2020 update via the California Privacy Rights Act (which expanded privacy protections in part by establishing the California Privacy Protection Agency) and now AB 1355, often sets informal national standards. Many companies adopt California's rules across the board simply to streamline operations. That precedent-setting role isn't lost on Ward. 'I would hope that this could be model language that others could be able to adopt as well,' he says. But location data adds urgency. In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022, digital trails have taken on new weight. GPS data near abortion clinics or health apps tracking reproductive health are no longer abstract risks—they're flashpoints in the national conversation about privacy, autonomy, and the role of technology in our most personal decisions.
