ALT “One day she told him that she was not going to pay him,” the order said. No one from Caliente Cantina, including Sandoval, attended the 2015 hearing or provided written responses to the allegations, according to the state’s order. The hearing dealt with civil, not criminal, violations, Laverde said. Asked about the workers’ claims, Sandoval told The Times that she fired some of her employees for engaging in theft and drug use, but did not provide names.
ALT The Times could not determine if she was describing the employees in the wage theft cases. Sandoval also said the issues faced by Caliente Cantina — such as taxes, permits and “red tape” — show that small businesses “get the short end of the stick.”
ALT Her spokesman, Rick Thomas, disputed Narro’s description of events, saying Sandoval’s lawyer took “immediate action” after learning of the workers’ claims. Thomas said Sandoval’s lawyer learned of the allegations in late July and contacted the Wage Justice Center, which is retained by the state’s labor commissioner, by early August. The lawyer is now working on a “swift resolution,” he said. “Victor Narro is not accurate in his assumption Sandoval did not take action or responsibility,” he said, “and it is irresponsible on his part to make such a statement.” Full LAT article: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-29/supporters-of-council-candidate-danielle-sandoval-pull-their-endorsements-following-wage-theft-claims
