California Policy and Politics Friday

Silicon Valley school district abandons controversial ethnic studies. Will other districts follow? -- Palo Alto schools will not make incoming freshmen take a semester of ethnic studies, bucking a state law that added the course to high school graduation requirements starting with the class of 2030. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/17/25

Ex-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao charged with bribery as 3 others are indicted in corruption probe -- Federal officials on Friday announced the indictments of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and her longtime boyfriend, as well as two leaders of the city’s recycling contractor, on bribery charges, detailing for the first time a sprawling corruption probe that contributed to Thao’s recall in November. Megan Cassidy, Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 1/17/25

Newsom widens information war with Trump and Musk -- In perhaps the highest-profile example, Newsom shared a clip of Musk meeting with a member of the Los Angeles fire command team. Musk, who had written on his X platform that the immense loss of homes in LA was due to “nonsensical overregulation” and “bad governance at the state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water,” was told by the LAFD official in the video that the system was overwhelmed by the amount of water flowing through it. Christopher Cadelago Politico -- 1/17/25

World’s largest battery plant on fire in Central California -- Monterey County authorities issued evacuation orders Thursday night after a fire broke out at a battery storage facility along the Central Coast that the company claims is the largest in the world. Camille von Kaenel Politico Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ Maliya Ellis in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/17/25

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao criminally indicted two months after recall -- Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was criminally indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury after an FBI corruption investigation that centered on City Hall and a powerful family that operates the city’s curbside recycling program, a source familiar with the matter told the Chronicle. Megan Cassidy, Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/17/25

Calif. Republicans weigh in on Trump allies’ calls for fire aid conditions --The unusual debate puts California’s Republican lawmakers in a potentially perilous position stuck between suffering constituents and the president-elect’s desires. And it presents another test of congressional GOP loyalty to Trump. Justine McDaniel and Marianna Sotomayor in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/25

Gavin Newsom has grown California’s government to record size. Now he, too, is selling ‘efficiency’ -- Gavin Newsom is echoing the incoming Trump administration as he touts government efficiency. But the governor has expanded the size and scope of California’s government to an all-time high. Alexei Koseff CalMatters -- 1/17/25

 

L.A. Fires

Some residents allowed to return to devastated Pacific Palisades, Altadena neighborhoods -- With fire containment improving and winds dying down, some residents are being allowed back into neighborhoods devastated by the Eaton and Palisades fires. Hannah Fry, Sandra McDonald and Andrea Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

 

Inside L.A.’s desperate battle for water as the Palisades fire exploded -- When fire hydrants ran dry, the L.A. Department of Water and Power struggled to get water where needed. The utility’s operations chief explains the decisions as the fire spread. Matt Hamilton and Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

These L.A. firefighters lost everything when the Eaton fire arrived at their doorstep -- They dedicated their careers to stopping people’s homes from burning, but when the Eaton fire arrived on their doorstep, their expertise was no match for its wrath. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

‘Is this real?’: Three generations of Altadena family lose homes in Eaton fire -- A week after the Eaton fire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, the scope of the disaster is starting to come into focus, but still feels unreal for one multi-generational family. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

How many people are still missing in the Los Angeles fires? -- The number of people who have died in the Eaton and Palisades fires could rise. More than 30 people are still missing. Noah Goldberg, Nathan Solis and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

 

State Farm’s finances were a worry even before L.A. fires. Here’s what we know about its ability to pay claims going forward -- Months before the Los Angeles wildfires sparked, State Farm’s California arm was already in trouble, it told state regulators. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/17/25

 

‘It all ended in a second’: Thousands of low-income and immigrant workers lost jobs in LA fires -- Gardeners, housekeepers and car wash workers living paycheck to paycheck are out of work in Los Angeles County as fires damaged homes and businesses. Their income losses may be permanent. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Jeanne Kuang CalMatters -- 1/17/25

LA will need workers to clean up after fires. It can be a dangerous job -- The LA fires have left domestic workers and day laborers jobless. They may soon be hired for wildfire cleanup work, where they can be exposed to ash and other toxins. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Jeanne Kuang CalMatters -- 1/17/25

 

Lessons from the burn zone: Why some homes survived the L.A. wildfires -- They’re calling it the miracle mansion of Malibu. Fire-resistant architecture and defensible open space around homes is credited with saving some homes from the devastation of the Palisades and Eaton fires. Alex Wigglesworth and Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

Private firefighters are increasingly popular with insurers. But do they pose a risk? -- Capstone is part of a growing and controversial ecosystem of private firefighting companies that have seen themselves thrust into the spotlight as some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles have gone up in flames. Felicia Mello CalMatters -- 1/17/25

How climate change worsened the most destructive wildfires in L.A. history -- A group of UCLA climate scientists said in an analysis this week that if you break down the reasons behind the extreme dryness of vegetation in Southern California when the fires started, global warming likely contributed roughly one-fourth of the dryness, one of the factors that fueled the fires’ explosive spread. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

 

‘The cavalry is here’: L.A.-area lawmakers pledge to fast-track fire recovery and aid -- Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas stood with more than 20 lawmakers to announce a slate of new and forthcoming bills aimed at wildfire recovery. The far-reaching legislative package will focus on housing, among other issues. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

Padilla hopes to increase firefighter pay, create affordable housing for disaster response -- While firefighters continue to battle the Los Angeles County fires, California’s Sen. Alex Padilla is introducing a package of bills to increase their pay and create housing for those affected by disasters — which could later add to the state’s affordable housing supply. Seema Mehta and Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

Gov. Newsom extends rental price gouging protections; A.G. vows to prosecute violators -- Under California law, price gouging protections kick in during a state of emergency and generally bar landlords, hotel and motels from charging more than 10% more than what they were charging or advertising before the crisis. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

 

After the Fires, Bidding Wars and Cutthroat Demand Take Over L.A.’s Rental Market -- Thousands of displaced people need somewhere to live; ‘Trying to find a house right now is a full-time job’ Nicole Friedman, Jenna Schoenefeld in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/17/25

This ocean view home survived the Palisades Fire. Then it split in half -- Although the cause of the home’s damage was not definitive, Collins said it appears to have been caused by a landslide, potentially due to broken water lines or other damaged infrastructure. Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/17/25

A storied Black community fears wildfires will claim its history -- More than a week after the fires began, some Black Altadena residents say they are just beginning to absorb the loss of a community that nurtured Black artists and served a pivotal role in boosting local Black ownership. Some worry that as the community rebuilds, it will lose its ties to that history. Daniel Wu in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/25

How the California Fires Are Remaking the L.A. Economy -- The blazes have sent a chill through all strands of the local economy. But for some, the tragedy has brought an unexpected boost. Joe Flint, Justin Lahart, Jenna Schoenefeld in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/17/25

Walters: As LA fires destroy homes, California’s housing crisis is about to get worse -- The wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County communities have destroyed at least 10,000 homes so far and more are in the path of still-uncontrolled flames. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 1/17/25

These L.A. Homeowners Installed Private Fire Hydrants. Here’s How They Fared -- Our reporter caught up with a number of people who had prepared for wildfires with built-in systems. ‘I’m sleeping with one eye open.’ Nancy Keates in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/17/25

Inside the Getty museums’ defense against the L.A. wildfires -- The Getty — with its multibillion-dollar endowment — has emerged as a beacon of fire preparedness as deadly blazes have razed swaths of Los Angeles. Kelsey Ables in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/25

 

Pasadena Unified School District announces phased reopening for schools -- The Pasadena Unified School District hopes to have all students back in classrooms by the end of the month. All of the district’s 24 campuses have been closed since Jan. 8. Daniel Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

UCLA, on the edge of fire evacuation warning zone, to start in-person classes Tuesday -- UCLA, located just outside Palisades fire evacuation and warning zones, will resume in-person classes Tuesday amid improving weather forecasts and fire containment, university officials announced Thursday. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

 

Immigration raid

Surprise immigration raid on California farmworkers sets off panic throughout state -- Farmworker communities across California, including in the Bay Area, are on high alert after a U.S. Border Patrol immigration raid in Kern County last week led to at least 78 arrests. Ko Lyn Cheang, Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/17/25

Street

Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman hires new special prosecutor for police misconduct -- The L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved the hiring of a new special prosecutor to look into police misconduct cases this week, less than a month after Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman moved to fire the person his predecessor named to that post. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

POTUS 47

Trump Ready to Bypass Congress on Border and Tariffs -- Days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump made clear in a two-hour private meeting with Senate Republicans that he wouldn’t wait on them to start implementing his biggest policy priorities: overhauling the immigration system and dramatically reshaping the country’s relationship with its economic allies and adversaries. Tarini Parti, Brian Schwartz and Gavin Bade in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/17/25

An Illustrated Guide to Trump’s Conflict of Interest Risks -- A range of new business ventures expose the president-elect to even greater potential for influence or manipulation than during his first term. Karen Yourish, Eric Lipton and Lazaro Gamio in the New York Times$ -- 1/17/25

Rep. Nancy Pelosi will not attend Trump’s inauguration -- Pelosi has called Trump “crazy” and unfit for office. Trump has called Pelosi “evil” and an “enemy” of the country. Trump did not attend the inauguration of President Biden after losing to Biden in the 2020 election. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25

Biden seeks last-minute moves that could be hard for Trump to undo -- He’s designated national monuments in California and removed Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. He’s blocked a Japanese company’s takeover of U.S. Steel and extended temporary protected status to nearly 1 million immigrants. He’s commuted the sentences of nearly everyone who was on federal death row, and he’s granted to his son Hunter a sweeping pardon. Matt Viser in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/25

Biden Will Commute Sentences of Nearly 2,500 Drug Offenders -- The action, aimed at inmates who received harsher sentences based on old disparities in drug laws, will be the broadest commutation of individual sentences ever issued by a U.S. president. Erica L. Green and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the Washington Post$ -- 1/17/25

Trump names Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson as ‘special ambassadors’ to Hollywood -- Trump said the three actors will be his “special envoys” and report back to him with on-the-ground knowledge of the industry to bring Hollywood back “bigger, better and stronger than ever before.” Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/17/25