#fightab5

This change is already ruining lives and will continue doing so. 

I don’t live in California, but this just gives me another HUGE reason not to move there. I stand by every single freelancer and independent worker, and support them in this devastating, awful time.

Freelancing is freedom for countless people who chose to shape their lives around what they believe in and work damn hard in achieving those goals. 

People who claim freelancers aren’t working real jobs or have contributed nothing worthwhile to the economy are ignorant and need to open their ears, instead. And that includes every single person on the legislative board who allowed this to pass. 

Freelancers are self-made people, through and through, and they deserve everything that they’ve earned. 

Every. Single. One.

I’m furious beyond belief and have only disappointment, anger and shame to share with the state of California and the passing of AB5.

Why do this? What’s the benefit? Because it should be more “fair?” Because independent contractors aren’t allowed to do what they want because other people are upset about it? Because freelancing somehow doesn’t classify as “real work”? Because you think that it will somehow help the gig economy when California THRIVES off of this system? 

You know why people go to California? Why freelancers, especially, go to the state of California? 

To get connections. To start small and dream big. To dream big and start small. To hustle, hustle, hustle, and build and build and build. 

California is the home of entertainment and tech. It’s a kingdom of freelancers. People who have MOVED there to dream and live and do exactly what they want and never in a million years would have expected something like this to happen.

There are many people who have zero idea how damn hard freelancers work and how MUCH they contribute to the economy.

California’s legislation claims to be “protecting” workers by establishing this law, and all I see is the harm that it will do. 

Shame on Vox Media for cutting out thousands of freelance journalists ahead of the bill’s passing. 

Shame on people who supported this and allowed it to happen. 

Shame on people who support the idea of relinquishing FREEDOM for copywriters, photographers, journalists, videographers, and so many more.

Shame on you, Lorena Gonzalez. 

Shame on you, Governor Gavin Newsom.

There is nothing well-intentioned about this at all. 

And frankly, nothing intelligent.

Disgusting. Awful. Shameful. Horrific.