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%VO DENTAL" www.AavaDental.com S.O.S. - We NEED Employees NOW! June 1, 2021 Dear Council Member Penaloza, I am writing to you on behalf of myself and fellow small business owners of California. We are extremely concerned about the state and future of our small businesses. I am a dentist, and own or have partnerships with other dentists in a few dental practices. Now more than ever, we need the help and support of our representatives to rethink the policies that are forcing many of us to closing our doors and unfortunately, truly consider leaving California. My businesses cannot survive if things do not change soon. I am asking for leadership from you, my representative to help reform and make sense of those receiving for benefits through EDD illegally. EDD SHOULD stop paying illegitimate claims. You need to be aware of a huge issue affecting our small businesses that I am asking for your help in addressing. We are suffering from a lack of workers due to the extra money being offered to individuals for the COVID-19 pandemic. As healthcare workers, we know that there are industries that have yet to fully reopen, and those workers desperately need and deserve assistance from EDD. However, dentistry is NOT one of those industries. Our industry and many others are open and are deemed essential. We have attempted to bring workers back or to hire new workers. However, we are encountering many people that openly ask to be paid, cash or under the table, so they can continue to receive benefits from EDD. the Federal government's extra $400 per week, has worsened the situation tremendously. People are making illegal requests such as asking to be paid in cash, and because of the dire need of employees, businesses reluctantly pay. Moreover, these same workers are asking for much higher wages than the average. Workers should not be able to hold business owner's hostage, if you can work, you should and you should be expected to pay your share of taxes. Additionally, we have had employees leave without notice because they have seen others being paid while staying at home since EDD has been approving all claims whether they have merit or not. This is one of the many reasons that businesses are leaving California. While we support laws that benefit workers, they must make sense and not bankrupt business owners trying to do the right thing and survive in such difficult times. This is an issue that has many repercussions and is a bipartisan issue. I know that I will now be voting for those that help my businesses. I proudly pay my taxes because I want to do my part to help our economy to rebound but I am begging you to consider the needs I have as a small business owner as well. Lastly, I will say that EDD needs strong reform. EDD must do a better job of ensuring that legitimate claims are paid and helping to push workers back into the workforce and not reward workers for staying home when there are many opportunities available, otherwise, many small businesses will be crushed by the end of this pandemic, and CA will lose a large portion of its tax -paying businesses. PLEASE HELP US, SAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES FROM BANKRUPTCY!!! Respectfully, -CAIra�amGhorbanian, DDS MS drgA,aavadentaLcom 949-350-2113