Business
AP-GfK Poll: Most Americans Favor a Higher Minimum Wage
In this Nov. 20, 2014, file photo, supporters of legislation that will raise the minimum wage in Illinois rally outside the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield Ill. Most Americans support increasing the minimum wage, as well as requiring employers to provide paid sick leave and parental leave, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Proposals to increase the federal minimum wage, as well as to require employers to give paid leave to their employees, find few objections among Americans as a whole. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
EMILY SWANSON, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans support increasing the minimum wage, as well as requiring employers to provide paid sick leave and parental leave, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
All three were proposed by President Barack Obama during his recent State of the Union address as ways to increase protections for American workers. But the poll also found that most Americans don’t approve of the job Obama is doing helping the middle class.
Here are five things to know about public opinion on Obama’s workplace proposals:
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PAID SICK LEAVE AND HIGHER WAGES GET STRONG SUPPORT
Proposals to increase the federal minimum wage, as well as to require employers to give paid leave to their employees, find few objections among Americans as a whole.
Six in 10 Americans favor raising the minimum wage, including nearly half who are strongly in favor, the AP-GfK Poll shows, while only 2 in 10 are opposed. Six in 10 also favor requiring all employers to give paid time off to employees when they are sick, while two-thirds favor requiring all employers to give time off to employees after the birth of a child.
Among Republicans, about half support requiring employers to give paid sick leave and 55 percent support a requirement for paid parental leave.
But the minimum wage divides Republicans more closely, with only 4 in 10 in favor, 31 percent opposed and 27 percent not leaning either way. Half of moderate-to-liberal Republicans, but just a third of conservative Republicans, favor a minimum wage increase.
About 8 in 10 Democrats and a majority of independents favor each of these workplace proposals.
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MOST DISAPPROVE OF OBAMA’S HANDLING OF MIDDLE CLASS, POOR
Obama’s workplace proposals were part of a set of measures he says will help strengthen the middle class. Most Americans see that as a valuable goal, with 72 percent saying the government does too little to help the middle class. Slightly fewer — about 6 in 10 — say the government does too little to help the poor, and more than half think too little is done to help the unemployed.
(Two-thirds say the government is doing too much to help the wealthy.)
Those who think the government isn’t doing enough to help the middle class or the poor are especially likely to support raising the minimum wage and requiring companies to offer paid leave.
But the poll finds most Americans disapprove of how Obama is handling helping both groups. Still, the poll finds Americans tend to trust Democrats over Republicans to help the middle class by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, and trusted Democrats over the GOP to help the poor by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.
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FEWER SEE NEED FOR NEW GENDER EQUALITY LAWS
Forty-eight percent of Americans think current laws to ensure that men and women are treated equally in the workplace are about right, more than the 41 percent who think the government needs to enact more laws to ensure equal treatment. Another 7 percent would repeal existing laws.
Nearly half of women (48 percent) say the government needs more laws to ensure workplace equality between men and women, but only 35 percent of men say the same.
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GENDER DIVIDES DEMOCRATS, MODERATES
Among Republicans, men and women are about equally unlikely to support additional workplace equality laws, with more than 6 in 10 Republicans of both men and women saying current laws are about right.
But among Democrats, women are more supportive of new workplace equality laws than men, 66 percent to 49 percent. Overall, about 6 in 10 Democrats say new laws are necessary.
Among those who consider themselves political moderates, too, there is a gender gap on the issue, with 53 percent of moderate women and only 32 percent of moderate men saying new laws are necessary.
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MAJORITY FAVOR FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
More than half of Americans — 56 percent — favor a plan put forward by Obama for the government to pay for community college for any student who maintains a certain grade point average and makes progress toward earning a degree, the AP-GfK poll shows. Three-quarters of Democrats, half of independents and a third of Republicans favor the proposal.
Nearly half of moderate and liberal Republicans, but only 3 in 10 conservative Republicans, are in favor of the community college proposal.
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans think the government doesn’t do enough to help students, the poll found.
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The AP-GfK Poll of 1,045 adults was conducted online Jan. 29-Feb. 2, using a sample drawn from GfK’s probability-based KnowledgePanel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Respondents were first selected randomly using phone or mail survey methods, and later interviewed online. People selected for KnowledgePanel who didn’t otherwise have access to the Internet were provided access at no cost to them.
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Online:
AP-GfK poll: http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Black History
IN MEMORIAM: Marcia Ann Gillespie, Editor of Essence and Ms. Magazines, Dies at 82
Marcia Ann Gillespie, the trailblazing journalist who served as the first editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, has died at age 82. After joining the publication at its inception in 1970, Gillespie spent a decade elevating the beauty and voices of Black women during a pivotal era of self-love and cultural revolution. She later broke barriers as the first Black woman to lead Ms. magazine, further solidifying her status as a titan of the publishing industry. Her expansive career also included authorship and teaching, leaving a profound impact on American media. Read more.
Marcia Anna Gillespie, the first editor in chief of Essence magazine, has died. She was 82.
Born in Rockville Centre, New York, in 1944. The daughter of a church sexton/small business owner and domestic worker/caterer, Gillespie parlayed her degree in American studies from Illinois’s Lake Forest College into a research job at Time-Life Books, Inc. in New York.
There she advocated for fairness and inclusion of Black life in its publications. When the owners of the standard bearer of Black life, Ebony magazine, ventured into creating a special publication for young, Black women, Gillespie was hired as managing editor in 1970, and became editor-in-chief a year later at the young age of 26.
At the time, the venture by the Johnson family – the owners of Ebony magazine and Jet – into creating a publication for young Black women met the growing revolution of self-love in the Black community.
In other words, the battle cry of the late 1960s, “Black is Beautiful,” had a place to be seen and not just heard.
Thousands of young women who had already abandoned straightening combs and European aesthetics learned more ways to wear their natural hair from Afros to cornrows. Young Black designers got a place in the spotlight not just in clothing but jewelry that expressed neo-African ideals. But one of the most important impacts was the magazine’s unapologetic elevation of the beauty of the dark-skinned Black female to the status she deserved.
Under Gillepie’s tenure, Essence championed storytelling that celebrated Black women’s identities, experiences, and contributions at a time when their voices were often overlooked in mainstream media,” Essence wrote in a statement posted to Instagram
For 10 years she steered the fledgling publication before joining Ms. Magazine as a contributor in 1980 later becoming the first Black woman to edit a mainstream American magazine when she took charge in 1992.
In 1998, she helped secure the publication’s future through a women-led ownership group. She stayed at Ms. In various capacities until 2001, during which time the magazine had the most diverse readership in its history.
She also mentored future Essence editor Susan L. Taylor and taught young journalists at SUNY Old Westbury.
Emmy-winning actor Sheryl Lee Ralph took to social media to honor Gillespie’s life.
“Rest in peace, dear Marcia Gillespie,” she wrote on Threads. “Your voice, your brilliance, and your commitment to lifting up Black women leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire me and so many others.”
A professor at SUNY Old Westbury and Bennett College, she also co-authored the authorized biography “Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration” in 2008.
According to Wikipedia, she also served on various boards as a director or advisor, including: “…the Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health, the Black & Jewish Women of New York, the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., Aspen Institute, …and the Studio Museum of Harlem. Gillespie is a member of the National Council of Negro Women and the American Association of Magazine Editors.”
She was the recipient of several awards, including: the Lake Forest College Outstanding Alumni Award (1973), the New York Women in Communications Matrix Award (1978); a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Association of Black Journalists for print journalism (1982); a ‘Top Ten Outstanding Women in Magazine Publishing’ recognition by the March of Dimes.
In later years she was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame (2002); the NAACP President’s Award (2006) and the Barbara Graves Legacy Award at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit in 2017.
The conclusion for her online obituary reads: “She leaves behind a legacy written not just in the pages she edited, but in every editor, journalist, and reader who found themselves — finally — in the stories she chose to tell.”
Online sources for this report include “The History Makers,” The Washington Informer, Wikipedia, Essence magazine, Ms. Magazine and her obituary.
Business
Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce Hosts Statewide Convention, Generating $3 Million in Economic Impact
The Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the 47th Annual California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Statewide Convention, drawing more than 1,000 attendees to the city. The event generated an estimated $3 million economic impact, benefiting local retailers, hotels, and small businesses throughout the region. Organized in partnership with Visit Oakland, the convention featured a marketplace for local entrepreneurs and focused on advancing economic prosperity for Latino-owned businesses. Several innovative features were introduced during the summit to provide lasting resources for the state’s business community, read more.
The Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce (OLCC) recently served as the Host Chamber for the 47th Annual California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) Statewide Convention, held in Oakland in August 2026.
The Convention welcomed more than 1,000 attendees from throughout California and generated an estimated $3 million economic impact for the City of Oakland, providing significant support to local hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, retailers, and small businesses.
In conjunction with Visit Oakland, OLCC brought in various local sponsors and worked closely with the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to make the Oakland Convention a success.
The success of the 47th Annual CHCC Statewide Convention demonstrates what is possible when business leaders, entrepreneurs, community organizations, and public partners work together with a shared vision, said Aliza Gallo, president of the OLCC.
“By welcoming more than 1,000 attendees and generating an estimated $3 million economic impact, we not only showcased Oakland as a premier destination for business and innovation but also created lasting opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Gallo, who also served as co-host of the event.
She adds that the “convention elevated Oakland’s visibility, strengthened statewide and local partnerships, and reinforced the Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to advancing economic prosperity for our members and our community.”
As part of its leadership role, OLCC introduced two innovative features designed to extend the convention’s impact beyond the event itself. Conference workshops were recorded and made available for continued learning and professional development.
These recordings will be shared with OLCC members and made available for broader public access, expanding educational opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs throughout California. The workshop content will also be distributed to the 85 Latino Chambers and Affiliate Members within the CHCC network, which collectively is 135 member organizations statewide.
In addition, OLCC created and managed the Oakland Mercadito, a vibrant marketplace showcasing local Latino and Latina entrepreneurs. The Mercadito provided small business owners with an opportunity to market their products and services, connect with new customers, and gain exposure to business and community leaders from across the state.
The initiative highlighted Oakland’s entrepreneurial talent and demonstrated OLCC’s commitment to supporting small business growth and economic opportunity.
“Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the United States” commented Peter Gamez, president & CEO of Visit Oakland. “Our city’s celebration of culture makes everyone feel they belong here and allows for truly authentic experiences.
“Our diversity is a powerful draw for groups and individual visitors. We are extremely proud of this and continue to cultivate and grow this message as we welcome conferences and conventions to The Town,” Gamez said.
For more information, see the Visit Oakland video about the CHCC Convention In Oakland: https://lnkd.in/p/eRpe2sYD
The Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce is the source of this story.
About The Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce (OLCC) www.oaklandlatinochamber.com is dedicated to advancing economic opportunity, strengthening business capacity, and elevating the visibility of Latino-owned businesses throughout Oakland and the East Bay. Through advocacy, partnerships, technical assistance, and community engagement, OLCC works to ensure that Latino entrepreneurs have the resources and support necessary to thrive.
Black History
Five Hospitals Said No! Who Will Help Annette Henry Recover?
Annette Henry, a 67-year-old Oakland woman, is struggling to access essential medical care after a devastating stroke left her with a rare neuropathic pain syndrome. Despite medical documentation confirming her need for inpatient rehabilitation, five different Bay Area hospitals have denied her admission, often citing her inability to meet rigid therapy thresholds. Her family’s efforts to seek intervention from state and federal lawmakers have yielded no results, leaving Henry at home without a clear path to recovery. To see how these systemic failures are impacting her health, read more.
A tangle of red tape and contradictions between health providers and Medicare rules have impeded an Oakland woman’s ability to recover from a stroke she had last year.
Her family – who are her caretakers – have reached out to various professionals and state and federal lawmakers for help to no avail.
At 67, Annette Henry needs inpatient stroke rehabilitation after a devastating stroke in May 2025. Since then, multiple Bay Area hospitals have denied it. She was accepted into a rehabilitation facility in June 2025 but discharged prematurely in July, in essentially the same condition.
Three hospitals where she was a patient pushed skilled nursing over inpatient rehabilitation. Two more declined referrals.
Now at home, Henry is caught in a system that measures her need for treatment against the limitations treatment should address.
Medical professionals have documented her need for a higher level of care.
In August 2025, a Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) overturned Henry’s discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF).
The QIO’s independent physician reviewer found she had not received the “intensive therapy program outlined on admission,” according to the Aug. 30, 2025, determination letter. Yet the decision did not secure her readmission or guarantee continued rehabilitation.
Henry has central post-stroke pain, a rare neuropathic pain syndrome that can make movement and touch intensely painful. Her pain specialist recommended inpatient rehabilitation alongside pain management.
Nevertheless, facilities have cited her inability to tolerate three hours of daily therapy as a reason to deny inpatient rehabilitation.
That practice raises questions about Medicare coverage policy. In Hooper v. Sullivan, No. H-80-99 (D. Conn. 1989), the court recorded the parties’ agreement that denials based on numerical utilization screens, diagnostic screens, treatment norms, the “three-hour rule,” or other “rules of thumb” were not appropriate.
CMS subsequently cited Hooper in its Aug. 7, 2009, final rule (74 Fed. Reg. 39762, 39794). The policy is also addressed in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 1, Section 110, and CMS’s June 1 Review Choice Demonstration for IRF Services: Operational Guide.
These authorities underscore the need for individualized assessments rather than rigid numerical thresholds.
The central contradiction is stark: the pain and disability that make rehabilitation necessary have been cited as reasons to deny it. UCSF Stanyan’s April 7 discharge summary for Henry states that acute rehabilitation unit (ARU) placement was declined for “inability to tolerate three hours of therapy daily.” Without appropriate treatment, Henry risks further decline.
Her records document complications associated with prolonged immobility.
Orthopedics documented flexion contractures of the small and ring fingers on March 19.
Chest imaging on April 1 showed bibasilar dependent atelectasis, a condition involving reduced inflation of the lower portions of both lungs. These concerns can be examined through her medical records and photographs.
“What does a ‘not reasonable’ discharge look like?” her family asks. For them, it looks like an appeal decision recognizing a problem without ensuring a remedy: repeated referrals, denials and a patient still without the rehabilitation her treating professionals have recommended.
The family has sought help from the California Department of Public Health and the federal Office for Civil Rights to no avail. They contacted U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon in June 2025, while Henry was in rehabilitation; Senator Alex Padilla in May 2026; and Senator Adam Schiff in September 2026.
DeCuir says the family received no meaningful assistance and was redirected to the QIO or advised working with a social worker after Henry had already been discharged.
The consequences extend beyond rehabilitation. The family reports that Henry has struggled to attend in-person specialist or any appointments and needs in-person evaluation and treatment for complications, recommended evaluations, health screenings and preventive care.
Her mobility limitations have become barriers to broader medical care. Every office tells her their office is not set up to accommodate her. This has happened with specialty care, out-patient services, screenings and physical therapy.
Henry is a Black woman on Medicare, and her family believes her experience raises concerns about unequal access to intensive rehabilitation. Research has documented disparities in discharge to inpatient rehabilitation rather than skilled nursing, underscoring the importance of individualized review.
CMS, state regulators and healthcare providers should examine Henry’s records, assess her needs on their clinical merits and explain how the applicable coverage standards were applied, and whether they are being enforced.
Rehabilitation is not a reward for patients who can already tolerate treatment. It is care intended to help people recover function. Henry’s case asks whether a system designed to support recovery can leave a patient without a path to it.
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