RMO World – Issue 45: July 2025 Independence Edition

The construction of the Statue of Liberty was a remarkable engineering and artistic achievement of the 19th century. Gifted by France to the United States in 1886, the statue symbolizes freedom and democracy. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, its internal structure was engineered by none other than Gustave Eiffel, who would later design the Eiffel Tower.

Construction began in France in the early 1870s. The statue was made of over 300 copper sheets, each hammered by hand using a technique called repoussé, where metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side. These sheets were attached to a framework of iron supports designed by Eiffel, allowing the statue to move slightly in the wind without cracking.

Once completed, the statue was disassembled into 350 pieces and packed into 214 crates for shipment to New York. It took four months to reassemble on Liberty Island. The pedestal, funded by American donations, was constructed of concrete and granite and stands 89 feet tall. Combined with the statue’s height of 151 feet, the full structure reaches 305 feet.

An interesting fact: Lady Liberty’s green color came later, as the copper oxidized naturally over time, forming the iconic patina that now protects the metal underneath.

Important for Contractors & Small Business Owners

If you’re running your business under a name that isn’t your personal name or the legal name of your LLC/corporation, you need to register a Doing Business As (DBA), also called a Fictitious Business Name (FBN), in California.

Why it matters:
Filing a DBA lets you legally operate and advertise under your business name, open a business bank account, and sign contracts. Without it, you may not be in compliance.

Here’s how to do it:

File Your DBA
Visit your County Clerk’s Office or their website. Fill out the required application to register your business name. This is typically a simple form and a small filing fee.

Publish Your Business Name
Once your filing is accepted, you must publish your DBA in an approved local newspaper (usually for 4 consecutive weeks). The County Clerk will give you a list of approved newspapers and instructions.

Renew Every 5 Years
DBAs in California must be renewed every 5 years. If you forget, your registration will expire and you’ll need to start the process again — so set a reminder!

Tip: Rules and fees vary by county, so check your specific County Clerk’s website for full details and timelines.

As a reminder, new wage and hour laws went into effect this year. As of January 1, 2025, the minimum wage is now $16.50 per hour for all employers.

Further, an employee with a disability cannot be paid less than the legal minimum wage now, per Labor Code section 1191. If there’s a local minimum wage, employers must pay the higher of the two.

There are also a few laws to be mindful of that enhance employee protections. One law prevents employers from requiring workers to attend political or religious meetings. The other involves whistleblower laws — the Labor Commissioner’s Office made a list of employees’ rights and responsibilities under these laws. Employers are required to post this notice, which is now available on DIR’s website HERE.