Struggling to Survive: The Uncertain Future of Palm Desert Businesses After Devastating Arson Fire

Efforts to recover from a devastating arson fire that destroyed four Palm Desert businesses earlier this month are ongoing for their owners. One employee, Mary Saucedo, who worked at D’Coffee Bouteaque until the fire, is now worried about her financial future as she has not been paid for her last pay period and is uncertain how she will pay her bills on time.

Despite reaching out to the owner of the business for comment, News Channel 3 has not received a response. On the other hand, Ira Mosley, the owner of Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta, stated that he has been struggling to keep up with payroll during these challenging times. He has been covering all costs out of pocket, hoping that the insurance company will eventually reimburse him.

Mosley expressed his concern for his long-term employees, some of whom he has worked with for 35 years. He understands that finding work in the desert during the slower summer months can be difficult and does not want to lose his staff.

In an effort to support his employees during this difficult time, Mosley has started a GoFundMe campaign. He is also abiding by both federal and California labor laws, ensuring that his employees receive their rightful pay.

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay their workers regular wages for hours worked before a disaster, as well as any overtime at the appropriate rate. Additionally, California labor law mandates that employees must be paid at least twice each month on designated paydays.

As plans are in place to relocate to the same shopping center they were in before, Mosley hopes to reopen by October. For more information on this ongoing situation, tune in to News Channel 3 at 6:00 p.m., where we will provide you with a comprehensive report on this developing story.