For information on the initiative to repeal AB 5, visit LetUsWorkCalifornia.com.

Californians are asking Governor Newsom to exercise his authority under the Emergency Services Act to suspend AB 5 during the COVID-19 lockdown. At a time when most people can’t work outside the home, the new law is stopping many from working inside the home.

Asaf: How would canceling AB 5 help us during the coronavirus crisis? I think it’s rather simple…It would allow us to work from home. As a musician, I could do online concerts and charge people to see/participate in them.

Zenab: Thank you Governor Newsom for your leadership in dealing with the state’s response to the Corona virus crisis. AB 5 completely eliminates my ability to find work on the front lines in dealing with the Coronavirus crisis, as I serve the Arabic speaking community as a medical and legal Interpreter. I am a wife, a mother with a young daughter at home and I am the sole provider of my household right now. I am an immigrant and I came to this country seeking more freedom to choose how to “pursue my own happiness.”

Robin: I am an ASL Interpreter. Last October I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. I am currently on my 4th of 12 sessions of Chemotherapy. With the Coronavirus stuff shutting everything down, I am now self-quarantined in my house. A couple of days ago, I answered a Facebook posting looking for Interpreters to work remotely from home. They replied, “California laws…well…they are CA laws!” I won’t be working for this agency. It’s frustrating to not be able to work to provide for my family.

Barbara: Until very recently I was a freelance transcriptionist living in Van Nuys. I could get work from companies TODAY if I were a resident of any other state but this one. I I have zero interest in filing for unemployment — I just want to work — now more than ever!

Michele: I have been a freelance writer since 1987 and I also occasionally work as a freelance chef. If AB 5 was suspended, the immediate result would be a welcome decrease in my anxiety. Anxiety at our current level is dangerous and we really need all our energy and resources to focus on the impact of the virus.

Helen: AB 5 has virtually ended our freelance music careers in production. Now the corona virus has stopped all performance opportunities. A repeal of AB5 will allow us to see some light at the end of the tunnel …that we could be going back to our lives as the crisis passes. In the immediate future we can at least start production activities (writing, arranging, recording)for our clients…if they will use our services as they once did before AB5. A repeal of AB5 will have a positive psychological effect on our lives.As public life returns, a repeal will encourage live performances by those entities that once used live musicians.

Scott: I work in the music industry and hire many others in the music industry that, until now, I have treated as independent contractors. With AB5 I am now needing to treat them as employees, which is raising my costs by 25%. Our business is touch and go, and I basically just make ends meet on a month-to-month basis, and this extra cost could eventually put me out of business or cause me to leave CA. With the cancellations happening now due to COVID-19, I am starting to lose gigs, which puts further strain upon my business, so certainly at least suspending AB5 for the time being would be quite helpful!

Diane: Although it is too late for my husband’s business, as he had to close and sell his truck, because he was unable to get work due to AB 5, which was purchased to help the fire victims in our area clear fire burned lots and help reconstruct our neighborhoods and businesses. Now he is unemployed not only because of AB5, but also because of the COVID-19 virus. Mr. Newsom, do the right thing for all those who choose to be self employed and help their fellow Californians get through the hardships of the last 3 years of fire damage, and now, in delivering much needed goods to all of us due to the COVID-19 virus.

Vicki: Suspending AB5, especially during the COVI-19 shut-down, would help me tremendously as an independent interpreter to be able to offer my services to health care facilities or other places in need of Spanish interpretation services. My work has come to an almost complete standstill for medical interpreting since Jan. 1. Now my work as an immigration interpreter is about to stop completely and I am suddenly left with ZERO income. Help us please.

Kelly: I’m a full-time teacher, but I also teach dance on the side. This would allow me to tutor online and not only help those students who may need it, but also make-up for the extra income I get from dance. As a diabetic my options are limited during this time of self-quarantining and this would be very helpful!

Lauren: An AB 5 suspension would really help my current situation. Finding another job isn’t really an option right now and AB 5 took my steady income as a freelance writer away. If I had that income I could also use it to help others who can’t work right now

Shiela: Since I’m in the age demographic forced to self isolate I have nothing but time available that could be spent earning whatever I can transcribing for general, medical and legal industries.

Ildiko: I have 20 years of experience in translating medical docs plus communication on corporate governance, policies and procedures, employee training programs & notifications, safety flyers, posters, etc. I know there is currently a higher demand to provide workers with timely information related to #COVID19 in various languages other than English. In California translators and interpreters are not permitted under #AB5 to assist with this need currently. During a pandemic this goes beyond individual translators and interpreters losing their livelihoods; multitudes of those who would enjoy their services are potentially left in the dark and put in harm’s way.

Megan: I am a nurse practitioner. Prior to AB 5 I had my own company where I contracted myself to many different privately owned physician offices to fill in gaps andcontracted one or 2 days out of the week to provide rural health coverage. Currently in this Covid-19 pandemic, ER staff and local urgent cares WILL need help with coverage. To do W2 help takes months to get the appropriate credentialing, etc to start. It’s quicker for them to use contracted help that are ready to jump in to fight the corona virus. Our community is at a huge disservice if Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Nurse Anesthesists are not exempt from AB 5.

Karen: It will help me. I know of companies that are looking for contractors to provide video interpreting for telehealth because of the coronavirus. Our health care system is going to be taxed to the limit and even break down, and interpreters are needed to fight this pandemic.

Colleen: I know hundreds of other musicians and gig workers who have straight-up said that between AB5 and the coronavirus, they already know they can’t pay rent come April 1st. I could hire some people to work from home if AB5 were suspended and get money into their hands NOW. I run a Christmas Caroling company, and only about half our repertoire is recorded. Many singers I know have the ability to record from home (with equipment they bought).

Annamaria: I will be able to continue working from home as an English to Hungarian translator. Besides that I am supporting my family as a main money maker, I will be able to continue offering services to clients who work for healthcare and pharma companies and conduct clinical trials between the US and Europe. This is the way I can contribute and serve in public health sector and AB5 makes this very difficult and complicated if not completely impossible.

Molly: The job I finally found to replace my freelance work that I lost in January closed due to COVID 19. In the last month, my wages decreased drastically as business gradually slowed and more people stayed in. I spent January looking for work and felt relieved to finally find a job only to have all of this happen. Overall my earnings have tanked this year. If AB5 were to be suspended, I could resume my freelance work and make up for lost time as a writer. Having this over turned would make a drastic difference for so many people who’s years started off on a rough note when we lost our jobs the first time. Please suspend AB5.

Julia: I’m a certified court reporter who has chosen to work as an independent contractor for more than 15 years. Now that COVID-19 is here, our industry is in a complete upheaval. Like everyone, we’re having to figure out how to proceed and protect everyone’s health, while also figuring out how to satisfy the politicians in Sacramento who have decided to deprive California workers of their choices in the workplace. As I contemplate months of drastically cut or absent income, I implore the government in California to suspend AB5. There has never been a more important time for California workers to have choices about what they do and when and how they work.

Jeremy: I’m the CEO of a 200 person company in San Diego. Suspending AB5 would have a dramatic, life-saving impact on our business.

Nikki: I am an independent contractor who’s livelihood has been cut drastically due to Covid-19 (my business is mostly working with the elderly performing ultrasounds..so they aren’t coming in for routine appts). My pay is going to drop at least 3k a month and now my manager is asking if I fall into this AB5 mess. Although I am not sure as of yet because it’s confusing but if I do, I cannot lose the last little bit of money I will get. This will devastate me and I’m watching it devastate others. Please suspend it until you can fix it. This is an expensive state to live in and some of us are doing all we can to make it…which includes working multiple jobs.

Joseph: I need AB5 repealed because I’ve lost $1000 worth of work per month because of it, and now that the coronavirus has slowed down opportunities for other work, I’m in danger of losing my housing and not being able to pay for my health insurance. I have less money than ever and not one of my clients has made moves to bring me on as a full-time employee, contrary to AB5’s intentions. And I’m not alone. Several friends have reached out to me this week saying they’ve lost out on work opportunities because the client is explicitly stating they won’t hire California-based freelancers.

Gitta: I am an IT consultant for small businesses. I am in isolation currently and was just tested for the coronavirus today. I need to work with a subcontractor to go to my clients’ offices and do the part of the IT support that cannot be done remotely. I have a 4 hour job right now for a client that needs to be done in that client’s office, so they can start working from home when it is done. According to AB5 I would have to hire someone as an employee to do a four hour job. The job is very important because it will allow that small business to start working remotely.

David: With the Covid19 shutdown of our economy, the harsh reality of the plight of business owners is about to become painfully apparent. They will still have to pay their bills, but with many businesses being shut down, many business owners will struggle to survive. And, unlike employees, who can file for unemployment insurance, most business owners do not have that option. They are the ones taking all of the risks, and yet, they are not able to enjoy even the basic protections they are required to provide for employees. Imposing AB5 on many business has been a horrible burden for many. Enforcing it during this Covid 19 crises will simply result in the deaths of many businesses, the loss of work for their workers, the loss of goods and services for their customers, and the loss of tax revenue for the state.

Jeanette: As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I can no longer provide independent services, including in the health care field.

Karen: If I could get my freelance income back, it would make a huge difference in peace of mind in this crisis. We are on lockdown in Orange County now and I fear for my future. Coronavirus-AB5 is a double whammy of putting people out of work right now.

Abby: My friend Jeff Sherman lives in Petaluma. His main source of income is as a medical transcriptionist — a gig job. He was fired from that job because of AB 5. His second job is also a gig job — as a musician. He has no gigs right now because of COVID-19. He’s also a cancer survivor and must have insurance, which is crazy expensive. His adult daughter is an opera singer, and she is not working either because of the Virus. He is in desperate straits, and suspending AB5 might at least get him his medical transcription job back. I am so worried for him.

Irina: It would help me maintain more clients during this time because my W2 jobs are now on hiatus and one of them (the corporate-run one) is giving us a leave of absence with only minimal pay at the moment (originally the decision had been with no pay).

Linda: My contract with an out-of-state tutoring agency was not renewed because I live in California. People need tutors now that their courses are online and they aren’t going on campus to tutoring centers.

Kymberrly: I work at a tribal casino in San Diego, well, at least until we close on Sunday. As I juggle applying for unemployment (via my phone because I have no internet at home) and the library’s computers are not accessible right now due to concerns over CV), figure out which bills I can juggle or postpone, what businesses will work with me and who won’t, I would normally add picking up side jobs just to make ends meet but now I have to worry about all of this bureaucratic red tape of AB5. I don’t even know what jobs I can even pick up now, and most gigs that were available will no longer do business with Californians because of AB5.

Karen: I am a self employed house cleaner 65, not able to retire yet and when I do I will have to supplement my income. The cleaning industry is a necessity right now to keep peoples home sanitized and disinfected. I need to use help for cleaning and can’t afford workmans comp to hire an employee.

Kelly: I provide real time CART Captions for the deaf and hard of hearing. I lost all jobs when the school shut down. This would allow me and many others to caption doctor appointments, education, funerals, meetings, and more.

Daena: Please suspend AB 5 and reinstate the Borello test. In addition to IC healthcare providers who will be able to work there are companies like Working Solutions that are hiring remote customer service right now — please do this for us. For my daughter. Please freelance youth educators can use video conferencing to teach students from home. Children need positive stimulation and regimen and without the state schools being able to coordinate online curriculum, IC educators can step in. Please Suspend AB5 and reinstate Borello test.

Claudia: I am a translator who works in the medical field and usually are able to help the Spanish speaking communities translating printed information they need to keep healthy. In this scary time we are living suspending AB5 would allow me to survive and help others. Please suspend AB5

Kristin: No online companies are hiring Californians right now. I’m losing my ten-yr old business and can’t make ends meet. The health crisis + AB5 is a double whammy I won’t survive in this state.

Cheryl: I had to take retirement early last year to take care of my ailing 86 year old mother who lives with me. To supplement our income so we don’t have to choose between prescription medications and food, I have become a Virtual Assistant helping businesses do general office administrative duties. Because of AB-5 I cannot now find work. I need to be able to continue working from home to take care of my mom or I don’t know what will happen. I am imploring you — even begging you to PLEASE suspend AB-5 as soon as possible! I am continually worrying and staying up watching over Mom. Adding this to my worries is just too much and I just don’t know how we are going to live.

Tim: With AB5 in place, it is now impossible for me to provide for my family. I am someone with a compromised immune system, and autoimmune diseases (yes, sadly plural.) My life is constantly interrupted by doctors appointments, and without the ability to work as an IC for different people at my own pace, I have no way left to pay our mortgage or put food on the table. I’m scrambling to find ways to establish a new business where I create other things for sale, but that won’t be established in time to make up for the gap. I have plenty of skills, but no way to use them to actually earn a living right now.

Laurie: It will help me keep my freelance business of 32 years going. I started it so I could take care of my then partially disable daughter.

Holly: I would love to start working with VIPKID, an online platform for teaching English to Chinese students, so that I can work from home during this social distancing period. With ab5 they stopped hiring from California, but currently my income of multiple performing gigs are all cancelled and I don’t have an income anymore.

Jodie: As the medical field is becoming overwhelmed, it is even more important to have interpreters available. American Sign Language interpreters need to be in person and able to work. AB5 has taken most of our jobs away. This creates a situation where Deaf clients are not receiving their ADA rights.

Sandy: The thing for me is…I have a job as an employee but am limited to part time and hourly …30 hrs or less. It is not enough to live on and does not provide benefits. As an older person…job prospects are limited. I supplement with acting gigs which keep me afloat. All gigs are now in jeopardy or gone. I keep asking “how does being an employee guarantee a living wage in this situation?”

Kim: My partner could lose his salaried job any second because of the economic slowdown. Yet I can’t continue to bill clients as an independent copywriter; my income and income potential was destroyed by AB5 overnight. Now, the implications are even more dire. Disaster.

Cecily: I am an IC with my own editing business. My husband had to downsize his work due to COVID 19, and I need to buy food for our 5 teenagers. I have been turned down by numerous companies because of where I live. “CA residents are not able to work on this project due to recent changes in the legislative landscape.” I don’t want to depend on welfare, I want to earn enough to survive this crisis. Please suspend AB5.

Donald: I am a self-employed, freelance musician, independent contractor and this bill is going to kill the music business it’s already been killed by the Coronavirus. Please suspend ab5.

Kira: There are people at home right now who can be providing remote services to help larger companies weather this storm but they are not allowed to because of AB 5. We should be innovating right now, not choking the last working parts of the economy.

Mary: Suspending AB5 would allow me to make use of this time at home to once again provide market research and editorial services to my clients who have opted to use people from other states due to the law. This would allow me to once again bring in income to help support my family.

Jeff: My household’s been under siege, savings running low since losing a major client bc of AB 5. Depended on it for rent, family expenses. Suspending it will allow to get back on track, new opportunities, provide % assurance to concerned clients to make up for recent financial loss

Len: I’m OK for now. But, how many translators, EMTs, therapists, forensic nurses, home health providers & social workers, nurse anesthesiologists, phlebotomists who could be selflessly helping during the pandemic, but saw their careers destroyed by AB 5.

JoBeth: AB 5 will end up killing people in CA, especially our poorest and most vulnerable, and those in rural areas where clinics and communities DEPEND on skilled medical freelancers.

Andi: Work from home freelance homeschool mom, here. It would help me put me back to work. Especially during the shut down.

Leah: This would absolutely help. Though many of my clients and freelance jobs in entertainment and events industries are shut down now — there *are* other opportunities for income I could pursue that are being denied me because I live in CA, and am impacted by AB 5.

Shannon: It would help me immensely. It would also help my elderly mother, as it would make it easier for me to care for her during this crisis, as well as keep my entire family fed and protected.

Lisa: Unfortunately it is too late for business that has been lost, who knows how many millions collectively, but lifting AB 5 for 2020 would allow ICs to get NEW work, while giving government time to adjust the law so it works as intended, if its supporters are acting in good faith.

Billy: Most independent contractors in California that have been denied the ability to work in their careers because of AB 5 have used 10 weeks of savings to survive. Week 11 still no legal right to work, savings gone or near depleted. We need a repeal ASAP to live, more-so than most. Survival can’t last forever.

Rachel: People of all income levels would benefit from it being waived, as companies located in other states, paying all range of rates have blacklisted CA entirely.

Donna: Yes, It’s the right thing to do because AB 5 is not punishing companies it’s punishing & impoverishing regular people, Single Mothers, Elderly, disabled why are Professional Independent contractor being treated like criminals

Nicole: Headed toward 20% unemployment says Sec. Mnuchin. Companies aren’t hiring employees and if we can’t work as ICs, we’re not gonna be working at all. And with no Unemployment Insurance, we’re gonna be adding to the ranks of the homeless!

Anonymous: I have invoices for 3 months of work I could submit.

Anna: Suspending AB5 will not only help me as an independent contractor (who lost half of her clients as a result of this law), but it also will help all those in dire need of my professional services during this pandemic. As a telephonic interpreter, I work with both commercial and government sectors. We have vulnerable population, such as elderly, immigrants, children, abandoned individuals with mental disabilities, women in labor, etc. I keep getting automatic emails with all the corona virus drills training and vocabulary. Please, we need a relief from this law on an EMERGENCY basis, even if temporary.

Ima: I am a senior mid 60’s since January draining my emergency savings to stay afloat and buy food. Please suspend AB 5 — it would greatly help! We are suffering so badly monetarily and emotional stress is unbearable.

Clarissa: I’m a small biz owner in Sacramento, which allows me to be a community advocate & attend grad school. I support family in Central America. Between coronavirus losses & uncertainty of AB 5, I now have 0 income coming in. COVID-19 is temporary but who knows how long this will last?

Jennifer: Suspending AB 5 would give me the means as an IC healthcare interpreter to freelance via video remote/over the phone interpreting during these next weeks/months, and do translation projects from home. Otherwise I will have zero income.

Mark: This is exactly what I was looking for today trying to figure out how to make ends meet for me & my ICs through this tough time. We need to be able to put money in ICs pockets without jumping thru this AB5 nonsense. Let freelancers earn income without unnecessary restrictions!

Holly: AB 5 means that people can’t do freelance jobs while they’re out of their jobs due to the Coronavirus outbreak in California. This means that they could starve and go homeless. Most people don’t have much in the way of reserves.

Wendi: The events industry is especially suffering as couples are postponing or canceling their weddings. We have no income coming in from second/final payments right now. I lost 1/3 of my biz contracting for other companies.

Lauren: An AB 5 suspension would really help my current situation. Finding another job isn’t really an option right now and AB 5 took my steady income as a freelance writer away. If I had that income I could also use it to help others who can’t work right now

Rachel: It would help me very much. Even those of us with regular jobs depend on any side gig we can get. I’ve always done freelance work in addition to the daily grind to make ends meet.

Gerard: Suspending AB 5 would enable us, a group of hardworking freelancers, to continue to run our successful businesses, as we have done for many years before AB5.

Matthew: I’m a freelance journalist for IGN and have lost roughly 95% of my work from last year due to the law, and would benefit greatly during these difficult times if Gov. Newsom could suspend it until next year. I support your stance on fully repealing it, but I’ll take a temporary break at the very least.

Antoniette: I support the suspension of AB 5 for 1 year, or total elimination. As a Spanish Interpreter, I don’t have any opportunities to work right during this crisis, as an independent contractor. Thank you.

Robin: It would help immensely. My primary source of income shut its doors, I now rely on what I can accomplish independently. It would absolutely help my company to suspend A B5 for the year. The increased cost of AB 5, the lack of business due to COVID-19, we will be hitting negative sales numbers before the end of the month.

Jennifer: Yes, taking the restraints off my ability to write and be marketable would be a godsend in this time of economic emergency with COVID-19. There is little means of doing business and earning an income with this poorly drafted, nebulously interpreted law hanging over my head.

Victor: I am a Dem, a musician. Biz out of state hires lessons, tutors, translators, journalists. We can work online at home. Some of us have lost work already since Jan 1. Please support this Bill Mr. Governor. We are the people.

Marianthe: It would help people so much, this is a crisis situation and preventing freelancers from working now is going to make matters even worse. Suspend AB5 for the good of the state and its citizens! It would help all of us freelancers who chose this career, and who’ve lost all income since January! Would be nice if independent artists could get a little help instead constantly being told they can’t work.

Monica: of course would give us some time to organize our lives.

Linus: It would help every musician, DJ, sound production person. Most of whom are taking a huge hit right now.

Broseph: When business resumes to normal, I need to be able to return to gigging as a musician to compensate for the lost revenue. AB 5 makes this incredibly difficult, if not impossible for me to do this.

Michele: The dozens of artists I work with each work for a dozen or more different companies, NONE that can afford to make them employees. I can’t even imagine making it for very long even without COVID-19.

Brian: Please let the governor know that suspending AB5 would help Brian Harrington in Anaheim, CA.

Anonymous: Please count me among those opposed to AB5. Because I have chosen a small client set (which is how I like it) I haven’t yet lost work. But the fear of being classified as an employee is very scary. Losing my ability to invest in my business with equipment purchase would be devastating.

Ben: I’m a film composer and musician. I lost a lot of work when AB 5 was implemented, a good amount with long standing previous clients. For the small amount of work I have gotten this year, I’ve been unable to bring on any CA-based session musicians, and have had to begrudgingly hire out of state ICs. I’m a one man shop, putting someone on payroll for 1 hour of work is beyond my capabilities. As we’ve been collectively buckling down for the pandemic, I’ve been unable to pick up other sources of IC work in music and audio due to AB 5. 2.5 months underemployed, 1 week unemployed with no options in sight. I just got a call from a friend in NY looking for a last minute composer for a Cadillac ad. While not a guaranteed job (have to “pitch” for the spot), it now looks like all CA-based composers are being ruled out because of AB5. This could have been a project that protected me and my family during this time, but now I’m completely blocked from even trying to pursue it because of this ridiculous legislation.

Molly: I’m a freelance writer in Los Angeles and suspending AB5 this year is essential for me to be able to support myself during this time of profound instability.

Anonymous: I am a freelance journalist who is sole caregiver for my 87-year-old mom who is in frail health. AB 5 combined with the coronavirus is destroying my ability to support myself and care for my mom. Suspending AB 5 until problems like the 35 article limit have been solved and the coronavirus crisis is past would be a lifesaver in a very difficult time.

Suri: All of my jobs have shut down now. I have no income. No way to buy food. I need to be able to do IC work. Dance studios, Pilates studios. Host and speaking work. Studios when open, want to hire me but they have only 2 hours to give me etc. have to make you an employee and instead of making a living wage per class, you cannot survive on a couple hours of 20–25. an hour a class and 2–3 hours a week at a studio. For sure now, I couldn’t get hired for extra work with coronavirus.

Paul: With businesses — including individuals — losing their jobs and ability to pay for health care in the face of a pandemic, restricting their basic ability to earn money AS THEY CHOOSE TO DO IT is not only callous but dangerous. AB 5 will cause economic upheaval in the midst of a global disaster.

Sarah: As an interpreter I need to be able to get work right now with the COVID-19 our work has been cut dramatically and I want to be able to do in person or video work if and when it is available. Our access as Deaf people have been cancelled — I went to my daughters appointment only to find that they didn’t schedule an interpreter because of the emergency but I still need communication access. It is my right as a deaf person! It is considered essential!

Chris: It’s a no brainer. Companies and organizations are not in a position to hire any employees right now. They don’t even want the people already working for them to come in. Allowing people to work as independent contractors would help people survive. If companies are the main concern, they would also be able to get work done more expeditiously.

Doug: I have many rideshare driver friends that are scared that they will soon lose their supplemental income.

Meagan: A suspension of AB5 would help me to be able to work from home doing Video Remote Interpreting (VRI). This service is much needed right now due to the shifting of business and classes to online formats. Under AB5 these VRI companies cannot be work with anyone from California. As a sign language interpreter serving the deaf community, most of my work is face to face which means I have no work for at least a month.

Tamara: In the court reporting profession, we are at a standstill with this emergency “shelter in place” that is spreading faster than the virus. The code requires that a certified shorthand reporter is present for depositions of party witnesses, at a minimum. If we were able to operate as independent contractors, which we are in every sense of the term, we would be able to work remotely and continue to derive an income for our homes.

Noreen: Our upcoming concert was canceled — our musicians are scrambling — we are trying to help by paying those and to try and give them a bit of relief…We have no ticket revenue, we are dipping into our reserves to try and help as many as we can. We are issuing emergency funds — Since we only have 4 concerts a year — all were being paid as independent contractors, we have not had the time to set up the payroll for employees. We have 40 people who were counting on income from this concert. Most of our musicians work as independent contractors for multiple organizations — all are floundering.. As a Jewish organization dedicated to Tikkun Olam (heal the world) we feel obligated to help as many of our dedicated musicians as possible. For 25 years we have treated them as family — we will not forsake them now.

Kimberly: I worked from home as a transcriptionist. I lost my 15-year transcription career on January 1st because of this bill. My transcription work kept my family from losing everything during the last recession. If I had not lost my career in January due to this bill that knocked my family down to one income and made us financially vulnerable a couple months before this national emergency, my family would be a lot less vulnerable and stressed out right now, as I would have been setup perfectly to continue working from home and saving my family from what will mostly likely be another recession and quite possibly losing our one remaining income. I find it interesting that they want everybody to work from home now, but my ability to do this has been taken away.

Paula: I have been an independent contractor on two fronts (writing/editing and music) for nearly 30 years.AB5 has already begun to destroy my livelihood on both fronts. As a theater and gig musician (violin and viola), I have seen jobs I have been able to count on for the past decade (short musical theater runs, live band gigs) dry up and disappear. Theaters have flat-out explained that they are moving to pre-recorded tracks instead of live music because they can’t afford to pay gig musicians under the new rules. Particularly now, in the shadow of the new coronavirus, when we read that millions of jobs are expected to be lost in this country, and that it is likely to be difficult for many years for the displaced and unemployed people to replace lost income, why on earth would California add to the pain and burden of its citizens by making it harder for us to support ourselves?

Denise: Not only did I lose my extra income, I am losing my skills and techniques of having my hands up in the air, my metacognitive thinking processes required to translate ASL to English and English to ASL. The main agency I worked for is in fear of the fines attached to AB5. Now that the corona virus has struck, there is no work, anywhere! One of the most vulnerable communities is the Deaf. Without interpreters, they will be misled, by non professionals which could possibly lead to inappropriate decisions and possibly death. Repealing AB5 would free up the agencies to have us return to work and provide communication to the Deaf in their doctors visits, or hospital visits, as well as communicating to teachers or their children who are now being homeschooled.

Josh: AB 5 was a disaster for honest, hardworking gig workers (and their clients) even before the virus crisis arrived. The inability of many gig workers to earn money makes a bad crisis far worse.

Laura: LAST thing we ICs need right now are restrictions on how we can work. WE will be the ones left out of most, if not all of the stimulus planned to keep this ship afloat (and roofs over our heads) — paid leave, PTO, income supplementation, etc. If you really, really want streets of shame, continue to make it impossible for us to freely make a living so we will be on the streets as well. Now THAT would be a significant number. Please completely toss out AB5. If you can’t come to that level of sanity, please suspend pending economic recover.

Ace: I‘ve been a self employed variety performer for 40 years. In the next 8 weeks I lose $12,000 for to festival and fair cancellations. I just had a huge event cancel (Northern California Pirate Festival) in JUNE. This was not only in response to possible need due to the virus but primarily because they can’t figure how to pay the entertainment. It’s only 2 days out of the year. Once the danger is over they would keep it scheduled or reschedule IF NOT for AB5.With literally every venue canceling, I will be homeless shortly. I’m still dealing with financial fallout from my wife’s 3-month stay in an ICU and subsequent passing 4 years ago. AB5 makes it impossible to find replacement work now. People outside of California will no longer work with me due to fear of this law. Independent contractors in California are now further behind the eight ball than anyone else being affected by this terrible pandemic. The Corona virus has also wiped out my ability to even move out of California. A move which I had to begin planning in order to save my business. If I can’t do it here, I have to go somewhere I can.

Rachele: I am a work from home mom, raising my twin boys, but still being able to contribute to our family’s financial expenses. I am not having much luck finding work outside the house since I haven’t been an “employee” for the last ten years. We were also faced with having to put the boys in before and after school care if I can find work, which would be another financial burden on our family. However, now with the situation going on with the school closures and indefinite time frames, I cannot even return to working outside the home. I need to be home with our boys!

Anonymous: I was a Medical Transcriptionist with a client who was providing me full time daily dictations to transcribe. On January 1, 2020 she had to let me go and was going to give my work to another out of state. Imagine my horror knowing someone else was going to be making my $2500 a month that my family desperately needs. AB5 has destroyed our lives. This experience has caused me severe depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. We are facing the possibility of foreclosure on our home as well.

Lois: I’ve been panicked because AB5 will wipe out most of my income. I write 84 articles per year for one of these outlets alone, which means I would be losing more than half my income from that one outlet. As a career freelancer — one who has chosen this as a career to fit my schedule — I am outraged that the government would limit my work. My husband is retired, my daughter is losing her job as a restaurant server now, and I am lucky to have my freelance career. AB5 must be repealed immediately, especially with so many people losing work anyway due to this pandemic.

Esther: I am a senior, a woman and a minority. I work as a Certified Medical Interpreter for people who do not speak English. This law keeps me out of the job and unable to pay my bills. In addition, it withdraws interpretation services from many people, who are now unable to communicate with their health providers.

Ed: As an Independent Contractor Massage Therapist as well as a company who has hired therapists to work mobile at our Corporate Accounts, AB 5 has put me out of work entirely. As has been said for so many other professions, the freedom to “choose” how to work independently and negotiate my own contracts has been my preferred working arrangement. There are many independent service provider Massage Therapists that will be needed through this year in our health care system. With the current climate, there will be the need to work in this flexible way for so many people who might request our services either remotely in their homes or at corporate functions will help tremendously

Manual: A lot of websites where I can write articles and make money from home are not accepting people from California so I can’t use those websites anymore. Making money from home without the restrictions of being a full time employee, would be more helpful than what AB-5 is doing right now

Pamela: Suspending AB 5 is the best thing to do at this time. I work from home teaching ESL . I am able to continue to do this job even during the coronavirus scare. Other family members may lose their jobs and income because they have to stay home. Before, this job was working to get my family out of debt, but now we may end up relying on it to support us. And if I lost this job, I would be unable to find a new one in the regular work place because students are no longer in school in America. I love my job, I pay taxes, and this job works for my family life. Thank you for your consideration.

James: suspending AB5 will be a major help during this time and it is key to my business in general. Many may try to say that the gig economy is risky and use covid-19 as an example, but actually, the people that do gig jobs are far more stable because they have multiple things going on and are used to keeping reserves and covering their risks. We want to put people back to work during this time and its best we hire them as 1099! they can work remotely and train people with skills that will get them jobs they can do remotely as well.

Connie: Oh, my goodness it would just be the best thing if Governor Newsom could have some compassion and suspend AB5. I would be able to do Transcription again. All the Transcription jobs went out of state. These are just devastating times, and Governor Newsom could lift the burden to so many families, including my friend that is in healthcare. Please, please show compassion. Thank you.

Tami: Please, yes, suspend — better yet, do away with — AB 5! I think this was a mistake as it has impacted so many independent contractors financially, myself included. And now with the COVID-19 going around, money is an extreme concern. Any efforts to ease financial burden is extremly appreciated!

Carol: Suspending AB5 would allow me access to my most lucrative client, who pulled back after it passed but has vowed to retain me once again if AB5 goes away. I don’t have access to any other decent-paying work right now and can’t apply for any because of this law. I’m having to use fire insurance money to live on, and I need every penny of that for rebuilding. I really need to work!

Reed: AB 5 has caused me to lose jobs worth thousands of dollars just in the last month. All of my friends are independent musicians and teachers and most of them have lost even more than I have. Most of us won’t be able to stay in California if this bill continues to ruin our livelihoods. Please at the very least put this bill on hold while we all try and survive this virus that has caused gigs to be cancelled indefinitely.

Katisse: As a freelance (independent contractor) musician I can record my parts on records and movies without worry of being misclassified as an employee and getting myself or my employers fined. Getting rid of AB5 would be a huge blessing in general let alone when all live shows (and many in person recording sessions) have been cancelled. Thank you!

Sean: I am a self employed musician, so right now work is hard to find and stress is high. This is stress on top of the stress I have already been experiencing from AB5. I was beyond stressed and now more stress with Covid 19. Giving us a chance to breathe again would help so much, and completely removing it would be even better. Why are we being forced to do something that none of us want?

Kathi: I am begging you to suspend AB 5. Please give me just a moment of your time to plead my case. I am a 71-year-old retired transcriber. I had to retire at 62 due to health issues so my Social Security benefits are very low — I spent most of my adult life as a housewife raising our six children and went to work in my early 40’s. I depended on my at-home transcription pay to make up what I needed to survive and pay my bills here in California. For 8 years I was able to do okay until AB 5 went into affect and then I lost my work within the state, too.

Aedan: Not only does freelancing give those impacted by COVID-19 an opportunity to work, but it also promotes the importance of following work we remain passionate for. Arts, journalism, and other independent contractors may not follow traditional workplace settings, but as taxpayers, there’s no damage that comes from having the option of remaining freelance. Our everyday lives are changing and the ability to work from home or build our own schedules is a choice that any working American deserves to make for themselves.

Gail: AB5 has affected my ability to work as an independent contractor transcriptionist. One of my companies can no longer use transcriptionist from California and Massachusetts also my husband is a music teacher and his employment is now further jeopardized. This creates an unbelievably disastrous effect on our income and ability to pay our bills. Please repeal this horrible bill so we’ll be able to eke out an already meager existence.

Carol: I have owned a talent agency in San Diego for the past 30 years. I usually 1099 about 200 actors a year. Actors typically work with a few different agencies, do theater work and try to make a living through many sources. Now with the Corona virus, their work along has come to a stand still. It’s like a one, two punch for them. Also since the beginning of the year, I have had several production companies from out of the State who were planning to come to CA to for their shoot (which brings a lot of money to the economy) tell me that they have changed their plans because of AB5 and will go to another State.

Regina: Dear Governor, in these hard times for all of us, I’d like you to look into AB5 from the human being point of view. There are millions of independent contractors, who have already lost their incomes due to AB5. We all have families, kids, elderly relatives we need to support. Imagine that you aren’t able to pay your mortgage/rent, utility bills, buy groceries, pay for your kids after school activities etc. Unfortunately, that has been our reality since January of 2020. Because We (freelancers and independent contractors) CAN NOT WORK AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. We love what we do. We love being independent contractors. I beg you to read the stories of thousands of us and suspend AB5. Maybe it was created and meant good, but is not working for us.

Sequoia: This is a message for Governor Newsom, with the request to use his emergency powers to suspend AB 5. I have been a freelance artist for 20 years, and I relay on several different streams of income and many different types of companies big and small to pay my bills each month. This law makes it expensive for local companies to hire local professionals. It will have them looking to outsource freelancers elsewhere to avoid the expensive W2 requirements. It’s hard enough to be a freelancer, and AB 5 makes things 100 times more difficult for all of us. Please reconsider and understand how terribly this will impact my life and every single freelancer I know. We need as much support as we can get, and we are a huge part of Los Angeles and what makes it special here.

Mary: I can work from home doing legal transcription work as I was doing before AB5. I have been out of work over 6 weeks now and feeling the financial strain as well as emotional strain. I am disabled on Social Security and could help get the economy back by working during this time.

Marion: As a freelance translator, I am directly affected by this bill, and despite operating as an LLC, I have had clients (US-based translation agencies) tell me they can no longer work with me because they have suspended all working relationships with California translators at the advice of their legal counsel. To make matters worse, COVID-19 directly affecting my business in two ways: 1. I work primarily in the field of marketing, and many businesses are suspending their global marketing campaigns right now to focus on more important things. 2. Many businesses are now prioritizing medical/COVID-19-related translations for obvious reasons, which further reduces the workload for non-medical translators like me. As you can imagine, the combination of AB5 and COVID-19 has created a double whammy for my business, and my income is down nearly 60% compared to last year. A suspension or repeal of AB5 would take at least one of these strains away.

Geoff: Repealing AB5 will mean that when there is work, i will be able to afford to do it. The extra costs involved with complying remove the profit margin. Additionally as composers and musicians we desperately need to stay current with musical instruments (both actual and virtual). In order to do that we need to be able to deduct the legitimate business costs we incur. With 1099 work we can do that, with W2, we can not.

Tina: I have a small healthcare staffing business that up until January, used Independent Contractors (college educated professionals that CHOSE to work independently). They took about a 10% rate cut to comply with AB5 as I transitioned them to employees. My business has taken a financial hit as well. At this point, I am looking at layoffs.

Carol: As a small business owner in Carmel, CA, AB 5 will decimate my business. We are now dealing with Covid-19 and the very people the AB5 law would affect, are being hit hard by the closures. Repeal AB5, now more than ever.

Melvin: I am a freelance fashion stylist. I am not employed by any company, please help protect me in these very difficult times where all my jobs are being postponed due to social distancing.

Tom: As musicians, my wife and I often hire singers and musicians to record parts on our songs. Sometimes the person comes over one time only, and that might be the only time we ever meet them in person. Yet we have to treat this person as an employee, for a one-time job? The 1099 system worked just fine for us. We’ve (my wife and I) now created our own LLC so that we can legally get paid for rendering services to others. Perhaps we’ll be better off in the long run, but it’s been challenging (time and money), and forcing everyone to do this seems absurd. Trying to find out from lawyers what we need to do hasn’t been easy. There’s been some confusion and conflicting information, since the law is so new. I have contracted my technical services (software development, studio production training, etc.) in the past and 1099s have always worked. With AB5 I was all of a sudden unable to do that anymore. We have had to get creative and support ourselves in various ways, and we need the flexibility to do numerous different things for income.

Nathalie: SO MANY artists have lost their gigs and what they considered their livelihood, many were in the midst of LEAVING California and now with a global pandemic, they are hit DOUBLY HARD and losing their HOMES, CARS, Rentals, and entire BUSINESSES. It was bad enough trying to make ends meet when AB 5 hit, now we are facing a nuclear bomb in our wallets. I own a humanitarian circus and have helped raise over 6.3 million to aid global charities. Gifted kids from all over the world come to my facility In Los Angeles every year to learn how to use their talents for the greater good. AB 5 makes ZERO sense for me to have CHILDREN AS EMPLOYEES.. as some work just 2 hours a year for me.. The most they would do a “gig” for is maybe 1–2 hours every few months! I am a legitimate Child Performer permit holder , all my artists are minors and have legitimate California entertainment work permits and they make maybe $50 each.

AAAV: It would absolutely help my company to suspend AB5 for the year. The increased cost of AB 5 , the lack of business due to COVID-19 we will be hitting negative sales numbers before the end of the month.

Patricia: Suspend AB 5. These are unprecedented times. Employers are going to balk at hiring permanent employees, and who can blame them? Freelance work will save many families.

Sharon: I am a freelance cellist in the San Francisco Bay Area and operate my own wedding music business. With the Covid19 shutdown of our economy, the harsh reality of the plight of small business owners is about to become painfully apparent. They will still have to pay their bills, but with many businesses being shut down, many business owners will struggle to survive. And, unlike employees, who can file for unemployment insurance, most business owners do not have that option. They are the ones taking all of the risks, and yet, they are not able to enjoy even the basic protections they are required to provide for employees. Imposing AB5 on many businesses has been a horrible burden for many. Enforcing it during this Covid 19 crises will simply result in the deaths of many businesses, the loss of work for their workers, the loss of goods and services for their customers, and the loss of tax revenue for the state. Sir, I implore you to at least put this bill on hold during this health crisis. I am hurting; badly.

Katherine: My friend, Jake, was laid off at his job because of the Coronavirus and he just started last month. Freelance referrals have helped him after being laid off. AB5 is a horrible law that limits people in their careers. During this time, writers/photographers/illustrators/videographers turn to freelance when something like this pandemic affecting full-time employment. I rely on freelance writing while looking for full-time jobs. It can be hard for college graduates like me to start out in journalism when entry-level in the field are professional 3+ years at newspapers like the LA Times.

Michael: I am a freelance writer covering the travel industry for FORBES. Just as my coverage of the COVID-19/cornonavirus tells the story of how the airlines, cruise lines, hotels and destinations like California and Las Vegas are hammered by the virus, I will soon be “termed out” of my ability to write about this critical issue, or indeed, any other. Once I hit the very arbitrary limit of 35 contributions to one publications, FORBES has told me I am done writing for them. That will be the end of my income, and the end of my contributions to state and federal taxes and Social Security. Despite my expertise, they will simply use writers from other states, as they fear getting sued by California. And let’s be honest — almost no publications are hiring full-time writers or editors, particularly during this difficult time.

Tony: Dear Governor Newsom, I commend you for your leadership in dealing with the state’s response to the threat posed by the coronavirus. Now more than ever before, it remains incumbent upon our leaders to ensure that our entire community of residents, including those who speak languages other than English, are getting timely information regarding the Coronavirus and how they should protect themselves and their loved ones. Moreover, they need to hear, in their own language, what resources and programs are available to them to cope with all of the pressures brought to bear by this unparalleled crisis. Independent Contractors and Freelancers are being sidelined right now by AB5, and this reality is just as devastating as the Coronavirus itself because those who are not working are not able to pay their bills and provide for their families. If you simply sign an executive order tomorrow to remove the AB5 mandates, your concerns about “parents finding work” will be significantly and greatly reduced from one day to the next.

Michele: While AB5 may be a good law for laborers, workers, and those who need a 40-hour-per-week income, the tens of thousands of us who are making a living following a career and/or working only enough to make ends meet because we have other issues like childcare, elder care, disabilities, etc. would like the freedom to pursue our careers without joining unions. My dad was a union member. I make a satisfactory living in theatre, my passion. Can’t the great state of California have room for liberty for all?

Alan: When I first heard of AB 5, the first thing that struck me was the impact upon the tax liability of the freelancer as an individual. Simply put an earner making 50k per year with 15k in deductions will see an increase of $1847 in taxes if forced to convert from Schedule C to W2, and an increase of $3096 in forced to convert from S-Corp to W2. AB5 is, among other things, a tax increase on freelancers, disguised as a “worker protection” law.

Tari: I am a national certified ASL Interpreter for the Deaf Community. By your help with This issue, you are allowing those of us who are Certified to be able to work for those much needed Deaf Patients who are going to experience health issues as the Corona Virus continues to affect everyone! In addition to the myriad of needs that with the current AB-5 requirements we are unable to provide our much needed skill set.

Kelly: As an independent contractor who also hires independent contractors in the event industry, we all consider ourselves self-employed, and many of us have worked this way beautifully for many decades. Sometimes I am the contractor and sometimes I am the one contracted. For us, it is a beautiful way to do business. AB5 is in direct conflict with that freedom. Add to that this extremely strange moment in our history with this virus known as Covid 19, when all of us on both sides of the equation are scrapping for every bit of business we can possibly find since the event industry is basically no more, and it is even more disastrous. Many of us are online frantically looking for ways to do virtual events or anything else that we can do to stay afloat. This is an extremely scary time for all of us.

Jan: I am a professional pet sitter and Freelance online teacher. All my pet sitting clients have canceled of course since no one is traveling. I have no main income due to AB5 and now no back up income due to the Chinese Coronavirus. AB5 MUST be suspended for economic stimulus this state will desperately need.

David: the independent owner operator truckers are coming to the rescue to ensure goods are delivered to the stores for the American public. The same response when we had the Santa Barbara floods, I was one of the first responders to assist with the 101 mud removal looking for victims, there were hundreds of independent owner operator truckers working during those months of the disaster cleanup. Then again with the fires both in the South and Northern California cleanup. We are business owners, plain and simple, we ask you Governor to Permanently exempt us from AB5.

Cindy: I have been an Independent Contractor for about 25 years. With the passing of AB5 my income was slashed by about 50% overnight. I’ve had to borrow money from friends just to pay my rent and to keep my utilities turned on. And now with Covid 19, the little means of income I have left, will end after I finish working this Saturday, March 21st. I’ve now been “working” for a small company and because of the possibility of public exposure to the virus, the owner is closing her doors for at least 2 months. I am extremely close to losing my home and everything I’ve worked so hard for all my adult life. I have no family and don’t know what I will do if this happens. AB5 has completely destroyed my ability to make a living. I am 60 years old, work in very specialized fields, and currently it is impossible for me to even attempt to find a “job”. Please suspend or repeal this bill. I know so many people who are in financial trouble because of it.

Malcolm: I’m an independent cinematographer and video editor. My work has either been farmed out to people outside of California to avoid the taxation of the new law or, for the work that has remained, it has burdened both the businesses that have hired me and myself as well. With California having Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, which are major concentrations for creatives, artists, musicians, writers, techies and more who have all built their livelihood around providing a service of their craft. I hope that the negative impact of this law on these businesses and individuals is recognized and that it will be suspended, especially in this dire time with COVID-19 crippling the economy of not only California but the country and the world at large.

Jake: I’m scared for how AB5 will affect my colleagues lives, especially during this Coronavirus pandemic where very few employers are willing to hire at a time like this. As an artist, it is very hard to find employment, especially since people are now going to have to pay full time benefits. I live the LA area right now, and it’s going to be hard to live if I can earn my wages. AB5 prevents artists from making a living.

Michael: AB 5 hurts me and my freelance colleagues who are stuck at home while the state prevents them from making money under contract.

Heather: Suspending AB 5 would very much help event producers now trying to get online / virtual event gigs!

Remi: I could be working from home right now and making a lot of money if not for AB 5. I worked for an out of state non-union privately held media company.