Latest news with #Heavey
Los Angeles Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Amid state inaction, California chef sues to block sales of foam food containers
Redwood City — Fed up with the state's refusal to enforce a law banning the sale of polystyrene foam cups, plates and bowls, a San Diego County resident has taken matters into his own hands. Jeffrey Heavey, a chef and owner of Convivial Catering, a San Diego-area catering service, is suing WinCup, an Atlanta-based foam foodware product manufacturing company, claiming that it continues to sell, distribute and market foam products in California despite a state law that was supposed to ban such sales starting Jan. 1. He is suing on behalf of himself, not his business. The suit, filed in the San Diego County Superior Court in March, seeks class action status on behalf of all Californians. Heavey's attorney, William Sullivan of the Sullivan & Yaeckel Law Group, said his client is seeking an injunction to stop WinCup from selling these banned products in California and to remove the products' 'chasing arrows' recycling label, which Heavey and his attorney describe as false and deceptive advertising. They are also seeking damages for every California-based customer who paid the company for these products in the last three years, and $5,000 to every senior citizen or 'disabled' person who may have purchased the products during this time period. WinCup didn't respond to requests for comments, but in a court filing described the allegations as vague, unspecific and without merit, according to the company's attorney, Nathan Dooley. At issue is a California ban on the environmentally destructive plastic material, which went into effect on Jan. 1, as well as the definition of 'recyclable' and the use of such a label on products sold in the state. Senate Bill 54, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, targeted single-use plastic in the state's waste stream. The law included a provision that banned the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene food service ware — such as foam cups, plates and takeout containers — on Jan. 1, unless producers could show they had achieved a 25% recycling rate. 'I'm glad a person in my district has taken this up and is holding these companies accountable,' said Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas). 'But CalRecycle is the enforcement authority for this legislation, and they should be the ones doing this.' The intent of the law was to put the financial onus of responsible waste management onto the producers of these products, and away from California's taxpayers and cities that would otherwise have to dispose of these products or deal with their waste on beaches, in rivers and on roadways. Expanded polystyrene is a particularly pernicious form of plastic pollution that does not biodegrade, has a tendency to break down into microplastics, leaches toxic chemicals and persists in the environment. There are no expanded polystyrene recycling plants in California, and recycling rates nationally for the material hover around 1%. However, despite CalRecycle's delayed announcement of the ban, companies such as WinCup not only continue to sell these banned products in California, but Heavey and his lawyers allege the products are deceptively labeled as 'recyclable.' In his suit, Heavey includes a March 15 receipt from a Smart & Final store in the San Diego County town of National City, indicating a purchase of 'WinCup 16 oz. Foam' cups. Similar polystyrene foam products could be seen on the shelves this week at a Redwood City Smart & Final, including a 1,000-count box of 12-ounce WinCup foam cups selling for $36.99. Across the aisle, the shelves were packed with bags of Simply Value and First Street (both Smart & Final brands) foam plates and bowls. There were 'chasing arrow' recycling labels on the boxes containing cup lids. The symbol included a No. 6 in the center, indicating the material is polystyrene. There were none on the cardboard boxes containing cups, and it couldn't be determined if the individual foam products were tagged with recycling labels. They were either obstructed from view inside cardboard boxes or stacked in bags which obscured observation. Smart & Final, which is owned by Chedraui USA, a subsidiary of Mexico City-based Grupo Comercial Chedraui, didn't respond to requests for comment. Heavey's suit alleges the plastic product manufacturer is 'greenwashing' its products by labeling them as recyclable and in so doing, trying to skirt the law. According to the suit, recycling claims are widely disseminated on products and via other written publications. The company's website includes an 'Environmental' tab, which includes a page entitled: 'Foam versus Paper Disposable Cups: A closer look.' The page includes a one-sentence argument highlighting the environmental superiority of foam over paper, noting that 'foam products have a reputation for environmental harm, but if we examine the scientific research, in many ways Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is greener than paper.' Heavey's suit claims that he believed he was purchasing recyclable materials based on the products' labeling, and he would not have bought the items had they not been advertised as such. WinCup, which is owned by Atar Capital, a Los Angeles-based global private investment firm sought to have the case moved to the U.S. District Court in San Diego, but a judge there remanded the case back to the San Diego Superior Court or jurisdiction grounds. Susan Keefe, the Southern California Director of Beyond Plastics, an anti-plastic environmental group based in Bennington, Vt., said that as of June, the agency had not yet enforced the ban, despite news stories and evidence that the product was still being sold in the state. 'It's really frustrating. CalRecycle's disregard for enforcement just permits a lack of respect for our laws. It results in these violators who think they can freely pollute in our state with no trepidation that California will exercise its right to penalize them,' she said. Melanie Turner, a spokesoman for CalRecycle, said in a statement that expanded polystyrene producers 'should no longer be selling or distributing expanded polystyrene food service ware to California businesses.' 'CalRecycle has been identifying and notifying businesses that may be impacted by SB 54, including expanded polystyrene requirements, and communicating their responsibilities with mailed notices, emailed announcements, public meetings, and workshops,' she said. The waste agency 'is prioritizing compliance assistance for producers regulated by this law, prior to potential enforcement action,' she said. Keefe filed a public records request with the agency regarding communications with companies selling the banned material and said she found the agency had not made any attempts to warn or stop the violators from selling banned products. Blakespear said it's concerning the law has been in effect for more than six months and CalRecycle has yet to clamp down on violators. Enforcement is critical, she said, for setting the tone as SB 54 is implemented. According to Senate Bill 54, companies that produce banned products that are then sold in California can be fined up to $50,000 per day, per violation. According to a report issued by the waste agency last week, approximately 47,000 tons of expanded polystyrene foam was disposed in California landfills last year.
The Age
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
‘Sad goodbye': End of era for workhorse of NSW railways
The last V-set passenger train service to Newcastle will pull out of Sydney's Central Station at 9.20pm on Friday, marking the end of an era that has spanned more than five decades. Known by commuters for their purple-coloured seats, the workhorses of NSW's railways have been running on the line from Sydney to the Central Coast and Newcastle since June 1970. Pushed to the limit of their working lives, the double-deck V-sets will finally be completely replaced on the line by the long-delayed new Mariyung train fleet, which has cost taxpayers more than $4 billion. Train driver Ben Heavey, 23, said it would be a 'sad goodbye' when a V-set makes the last run between Sydney and Newcastle on Friday night. 'But we'll be moving forward for our passengers with better safety and access for our disabled people,' he said. 'At the end of the day, I think people will learn to love the Mariyung.' The new intercity trains have extra legroom, high seat backs, tray tables for laptops and charging ports for mobile devices. Heavey, who has had a passion for trains since he was a kid growing up in Macquarie Fields, started as a cleaner on the railways at the age of 18 after leaving school. Within eight months he was a guard, before switching 18 months later to become a driver of V-sets and newer train types. Now also training drivers, Heavey found it more rewarding to complete a long-distance trip driving a V-set because they required greater focus. 'You feel like you have to use your brain more,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Sad goodbye': End of era for workhorse of NSW railways
The last V-set passenger train service to Newcastle will pull out of Sydney's Central Station at 9.20pm on Friday, marking the end of an era that has spanned more than five decades. Known by commuters for their purple-coloured seats, the workhorses of NSW's railways have been running on the line from Sydney to the Central Coast and Newcastle since June 1970. Pushed to the limit of their working lives, the double-deck V-sets will finally be completely replaced on the line by the long-delayed new Mariyung train fleet, which has cost taxpayers more than $4 billion. Train driver Ben Heavey, 23, said it would be a 'sad goodbye' when a V-set makes the last run between Sydney and Newcastle on Friday night. 'But we'll be moving forward for our passengers with better safety and access for our disabled people,' he said. 'At the end of the day, I think people will learn to love the Mariyung.' The new intercity trains have extra legroom, high seat backs, tray tables for laptops and charging ports for mobile devices. Heavey, who has had a passion for trains since he was a kid growing up in Macquarie Fields, started as a cleaner on the railways at the age of 18 after leaving school. Within eight months he was a guard, before switching 18 months later to become a driver of V-sets and newer train types. Now also training drivers, Heavey found it more rewarding to complete a long-distance trip driving a V-set because they required greater focus. 'You feel like you have to use your brain more,' he said.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Las Vegas students protest against Trump's immigration policies
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Protesters gathered at UNLV on Thursday in a demonstration targeting the Trump administration's immigration policies. The protest follows the revocation of four UNLV international student visas in early April. Those students' identities remain unknown due to federal privacy laws. Three more students had their visas revoked this week, totalling seven. 'Reinstate their visas. Make sure student safety is a top priority,' protest organizer Stephanie Gentry said. For other protesters, the concern is larger than the revoked visas but also the bigger picture for other international students. Students, UNLV alumni and even students from other universities took part in the protest. 'We've had a lot of students that have to basically leave and flee because they don't have any good immigration standing,' UNLV student Raymond Behnke told 8 News Now. 'They can be deported if they stay, so they can't finish their spring semester here. They need to already go home.' Benke said he is impressed overall with the university's response to student concerns, even crediting some professors who canceled class in solidarity with protesters. 'This is so close to exam season, and there's all these different scheduling issues that they had. It's even 'Bring Your Kid to Work' day, right? Despite all that, they still wanted to show support for this protest and rally, which I'm really happy about,' he said. But he also criticized how the university is handling concerns. Behnke said phrases like 'this is something unfortunate that has occurred' and 'I'm sorry, we're doing our best,' feel too passive. 'I do think there needs to be a little bit more of an active language, like, 'Here's what we're doing in order to show support,' in order to increase our programs that relate to this, such as the immigration clinic,' he explained. Chris Heavey, the officer in charge following UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield's exit, issued the university's initial statement in early April. On Thursday, university regents approved hiring Heavey as interim president by vote of 11-1. Heavey's statement read as follows: 'We have learned that four of our international students have had their visas revoked by federal immigration authorities. We will not identify the students in accordance with federal privacy laws. We recognize that this news may be difficult for some. Unfortunately, similar circumstances are affecting many universities and colleges across the country, and so we were prepared for this possibility. We are offering support and guidance to the students during this difficult time, including helping those in need to fulfill requirements necessary to complete their spring semester. UNLV remains steadfast in our commitment to helping all of our students achieve their academic goals, and we will approach any similar future situations with the same mindset and support. Finally, we are grateful the university has immigration resources for those in need. For example, the UNLV Immigration Clinic's University Legal Services program, part of the Boyd School of Law, offers free immigration legal services, including DACA assistance, to current students, faculty and staff, and their families. The clinic also helps students and others navigate immigration laws and processes. The University Police Department has created a Q and A document as a helpful resource to understand rights and responsibilities related to federal immigration. If anyone is in need of support services following this news, we urge you to please utilize our mental health and wellness resources, or talk to a friend or colleague. We are here for one another.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UNLV prepares to open Sands Chinese cultural center
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — In a few months, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is set to open its Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture. UNLV Officer in Charge Chris Heavey said the university is launching new programs for students exploring the country's philosophy and history. 'We've always believed that the connection between Las Vegas specifically and China have been extremely strong from the tourism industry but also the convention business,' Heavey explained. 'We've actually had our first language course launch about a week ago where people can come in to learn conversational Mandarin for free at the language and cultural institute.' Students can also have the opportunity to study abroad, immersing themselves in China's contemporary society while enhancing their academic and professional skills. UNLV's faculty staff spent the last two summers traveling to China establishing relationships. 'One of the lead partners in the Sands Chinese Language and Cultural Institute will be Sun Yat-sen University which is located in Guangzhou China. It's a major research university,' Heavey added. Jenny Koo, president of Nevada's Chinese Association, said this center will help showcase China's rich heritage. 'I also think it's a good time to share more about our culture like most people know about Chinese dance or instruments and we can do more cultural stuff like more in-depth like this tea bowl is 800 to 1,000 years ago like when you see it maybe you didn't know about that,' Koo said. With a growing Chinese population in the Las Vegas valley, Koo said she's proud to see so many people sparking interest in Chinese culture. 'We can do more economics and business so I think that's good for us in the community to see everything that is growing to be a bridge for the tourists and the community,' Koo said. The institute will be located at UNLV's Maryland administrative building on Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road. The Las Vegas Sands donated $15 million to help sponsor these classes and events. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
