This is blatant corruption! The California minimum wage increase conveniently spares Panera, owned by a buddy of Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill’s provision exempting fast-food joints baking bread on-site seems like a tailored loophole to benefit Newsom’s pal, Panera’s CEO Greg Flynn. This corrupt relationship between Newsom and Flynn raises serious ethical concerns and undermines the supposed fairness of the wage hike. It’s a glaring example of political connections trumping principles, leaving workers in the fast-food industry, except those at Panera, to bear the brunt of this questionable legislation.