Updating . .
Mexican governors slam Trump’s ‘offensive’ border wall at LA City Hall -- A delegation of Mexican governors visited Los Angeles City Hall Friday as part of an effort to reinforce ties between their country and the city, with some speaking out against President Donald Trump’s proposal to build a border wall. Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/7/17
Edison agrees to negotiate new home for nuclear waste from San Onofre -- Owners of the failed San Onofre nuclear plant agreed Friday to begin negotiations aimed at relocating tons of radioactive waste from the San Diego County coastline. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/7/17
New gas tax and Mideast strife will hit us with a double whammy at the pump -- Beleaguered California motorists, tighten your seatbelts and brace yourselves. With gas prices already on their seasonal uptick as more people take to the road, other factors have quickly conspired to bring us even more pain as we fill up our tanks in the coming weeks and months: Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/7/17
Gov. Brown declares California drought emergency is over -- Startlingly green hills, surging rivers and the snow-wrapped Sierra Nevada had already signaled what Gov. Jerry Brown made official on Friday: The long California drought is over. Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ Scott Smith Associated Press Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle Christopher Cadelago and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
Drought is over, but not in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties, Jerry Brown says -- The drought is over unless you’re living in Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne counties, Gov. Jerry Brown said on Friday. The four Valley-area counties were separated from the rest of California, the governor said, because of water-short areas and projects that are underway to bring water to many of those areas. The item is in the Fresno Bee -- 4/7/17
Rep. Adam Schiff, outspoken on Trump-Russia ties, to address California Democrats in Sacramento -- Congressman Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee who has become a forceful advocate for an independent investigation into potential ties between President Donald Trump and Russia, will give a keynote speech at the the California Democratic Party convention on May 20 in Sacramento, party officials announced Friday. Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
Why a few sentences of legalese make all the difference in curbing California’s public pension costs -- The fate of reform measures hangs on the words chosen by the state’s top legal advisors, usually Democrats elected with strong labor support. Judy Lin Calmatters.org via the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17-- 4/7/17
Most California dentists are immigrants. Where else do immigrants work? -- It’s well known that most California farmworkers are immigrants. But did you know that so are most dentists, medical scientists, butchers and nursing aides? California depends on its immigrant workforce more than any other state in the nation. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
Morain: Jerry Brown uses old-school politics to win $52 billion road tax hike -- Lessons gleaned from the Legislature’s vote to levy $52 billion in taxes during the coming decade to pay for road and public transit improvements: Experience matters, as Jerry Brown, California’s four-term governor demonstrated. Earmarks are magical, as Sen. Anthony Cannella, the former Ceres mayor and lone Republican who voted for the measure, made clear. And math, though hard, is important. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
Fox: Ugly Lawmaking on Display for All to See -- Californians saw the how gas tax sausage was made last night. Hopefully, they enjoyed the show because they will be paying for it to the tune of over $5 billion a year. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 4/7/17
Most Wells Fargo board members should go, says influential advisory group -- An influential shareholder advisory firm has recommended that Wells Fargo & Co. investors vote against most of the company’s incumbent board members in the next election — a stinging rebuke that the bank’s board called “extreme and unprecedented.” James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Getting away with murder: Richmond's many unsolved homicides -- More than a year after her daughter was killed in a drive-by shooting, Nicole Gardner still refers to her death as “the accident.” To an extent, it was. Richmond police do not believe that Ronique Gardner-Williams was the intended target, just an innocent, random victim. Joaquin Palomino and Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/7/17
California Assembly votes to expand protections for immigrant crime victims and witnesses -- The state Assembly approved a bill on Thursday that would prohibit law enforcement officers from detaining a crime victim or witness on immigration charges or violations. The legislation, filed by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), was approved with a 69-1 vote and now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Nancy Pelosi asks Paul Ryan to cancel House recess for vote on military use in Syria -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) urged Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) Friday morning to bring House members back from their spring recess to discuss President Trump's use of military force in Syria. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
In narrow election, downtown votes against creating neighborhood council for skid row -- Downtown Los Angeles community members voted narrowly against forming a separate neighborhood council for skid row, the city’s epicenter of homelessness, according to unofficial results tallied late Thursday. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
H-1B visa program maxed out after four days -- The H-1B visa program has bumped up against its cap in only five days, an indication of ongoing heated demand for the program to hire skilled foreign workers in the United States, federal officials said Friday. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/7/17
Twitter: US backs down on seeking anti-Trump user records -- Twitter says the U.S. government backed down on a request for records that could identify users behind an account opposed to President Donald Trump. As a result, Twitter is withdrawing a federal lawsuit that challenged the government's request. Twitter charged Thursday that efforts by the government to "unmask" the people behind the account violate the First Amendment. Associated Press -- 4/7/17
Trump administration taps Lyft's Los Angeles general manager for transportation team -- Lyft’s general manager of Los Angeles is trading in his role at the ride-hailing company for a position in the Trump administration, the White House announced Thursday. Tracey Lien in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
It’s Jerry Brown’s birthday. Let’s all go eat some banana cake -- Happy birthday, Jerry Brown. The Democratic governor turns 79 today. Brown plans to celebrate his last year as a septuagenarian by gathering some of his oldest friends, including a number from his days in the Forest Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, to break bread. Christopher Cadelago and Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
In a squeaker vote, the California Assembly approves a $52-billion transportation package -- After a nail-biter vote in the Assembly, the $52-billion transportation package cleared the Legislature late Thursday night and now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle Katy Murphy in the San Jose Mercury$ Taryn Luna and Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ Jeff Horseman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Katie Orr and Marisa Lagos KQED Jonathan J. Cooper and Sophia Bollag Associated Press Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 4/7/17
Many of California's House Democrats say Trump should have asked them before he bombed Syria -- Democrats in California’s congressional delegation were quick to weigh in Thursday on the U.S. bombing of a Syrian airbase, expressing horror at atrocities committed by Syrian President Bashar Assad during a years-long civil war, but most faulting President Trump for not going to Congress before launching the missile strikes. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Decker: Devin Nunes' role turns from controversial to untenable -- Devin Nunes’ departure from his role as leader of the House investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election put a blot on the Tulare congressman’s record that the preceding drip-drip-drip of controversy had not. Cathleen Decker in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Congressman recuses himself from Russian election meddling probe -- Thursday’s decision by Rep. Devin Nunes to recuse himself from the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation of Russian influence in the November election may be less about the Tulare Republican and more about the slipping political fortunes of President Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/7/17
Facing a tight deadline, state outlines initial repair plans for broken Oroville spillway -- State officials said Thursday that they hope to sign a contract for reconstruction of the heavily damaged Lake Oroville spillway by April 17. Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle Dale Kasler in the Sacrament Bee$ -- 4/7/17
Audit: San Diego pays electric bills for 3,712 nonexistent street lights -- San Diego taxpayers have been overcharged millions of dollars for energy in recent years, including the San Diego Gas & Electric bill for 3,712 street lights that don’t exist, according to a new report by City Auditor Eduardo Luna. Morgan Cook in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/7/17
Eye doctors battle over bill to expand exams for students -- Assemblywoman Autumn Burke says she just wants to help children whose unidentified vision problems may be holding them back academically. But her bill encouraging more comprehensive eye exams when students enroll in school has divided eye doctors – the latest skirmish in a long political history of medical groups squaring off over their scope of practice. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
California lawmakers vote for stronger immigrant protections -- Lawmakers passed a bill Thursday to prohibit law enforcement from detaining a crime victim or witness for a suspected or actual immigration violation. The bill still requires approval by the state Senate and a signature from the governor. Associated Press -- 4/7/17
Mimi Walters, Dana Rohrabacher draw even more Democratic challengers -- Democratic congressional candidates continue to come out of Orange County’s woodwork, with Capitol Hill aide Kia Hamadanchy the latest to challenge Republican Rep. Mimi Walters and business owner Laura Oatman announcing a bid against GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 4/7/17
In Eastside runoff, L.A. councilman endorses colleague's opponent -- Councilman Mitch O’Farrell backed Joe Bray-Ali over Councilman Gil Cedillo in next month’s District 1 election, saying in a statement that the challenger, a 38-year-old bike activist, would be “an independent voice at City Hall.” Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Mayors of New York, Sacramento stress importance of immigrants to business -- De Blasio and Steinberg said rather than pushing the civil rights or moral angles of the immigration debate, business leaders need to be making more noise about the economic importance of immigrants as consumers and employees. Ellen Garrison in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/7/17
Where are they now? Joseph Montoya -- In recent legislative history, 2014 was an unusually rough year for the state Senate. Sen. Rod Wright was on trial for voter fraud and perjury, and Senators Ron Calderon and Leland Yee had been indicted by federal authorities on corruption charges. It was an unusual time and few Capitol staffers had any point of reference to compare it with. Alex Vassar Capitol Weekly -- 4/7/17
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
New homes in Fresno get slapped with $4,000 water fee -- Despite staunch developer opposition, Fresno City Council members on Thursday supported a new fee that imposes a charge of $4,246 for every new single-family home to provide water for future growth. Marc Benjamin in the Fresno Bee -- 4/7/17
Housing
The largest effort to expand rent control in decades is on hold in Sacramento -- A state bill that would let cities dramatically expand rent control has been put on hold for a year by its author amid fierce opposition from landlords. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Education
UCLA works to seal the deal with thousands of freshmen admitted for fall 2017 -- Crenshaw High School senior Jarrin Brown was pretty sure he wanted to leave Los Angeles to attend the University of Wisconsin. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/7/17
Local control formula closing funding gap but not equity gap, report says -- Four years after its passage, the Local Control Funding Formula has narrowed and, by some measures, reversed the funding gap between the lowest- and highest-poverty districts in California. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 4/7/17
College readiness program aims to boost AP scores -- With less than a third of the combined students at two high schools scoring high enough to earn college credit on Advanced Placement tests in English, math and science, the Oakland Unified School District was a perfect candidate for a national program that aims to help students – especially low-income, African-American and Latino teens – improve their performance on AP tests. Theresa Harrington EdSource -- 4/7/17
POTUS 45
In Battle for Trump’s Heart and Mind, It’s Bannon vs. Kushner -- Thick with tension, the conversation this week between Stephen K. Bannon, the chief White House strategist, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, had deteriorated to the point of breakdown. Maggie Haberman, Jeremy W. Peters and Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 4/7/17
Bannon wants a war on Washington. Now he’s part of one inside the White House -- Stephen K. Bannon — the combative architect of the nationalistic strategy that delivered President Trump to the White House — now finds himself losing ground in an internecine battle within the West Wing that pits the “Bannonites” against a growing and powerful faction of centrist financiers led by the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Ashley Parker, Robert Costa and Abby Phillip in the Washington Post$ -- 4/7/17
White House aides clash with GOP leaders over flailing Obamacare push -- The job security of Speaker Paul Ryan as well as GOP lawmakers and White House staff was a topic of discussion. Rachael Bade and Josh Dawsey Politico -- 4/7/17
Kushner Omitted Meeting With Russians on Security Clearance Forms -- When Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, sought the top-secret security clearance that would give him access to some of the nation’s most closely guarded secrets, he was required to disclose all encounters with foreign government officials over the last seven years. Jo Becker and Matthew Rosenberg in the New York Times$ -- 4/7/17
Trump’s Far-Right Supporters Turn on Him Over Syria Strike -- Some of President Trump’s most ardent campaign supporters were among his most vocal opponents on Thursday after he ordered the missile strike against Syria, charging him with breaking his promise to keep the United States out of another conflict in the Middle East. Matthew Haag in the New York Times$ -- 4/7/17
Russia condemns U.S. missile strike on Syria, suspends key air agreement -- Russia on Friday condemned the U.S. missile strike against Syrian government forces late Thursday, and said it was pulling out of an agreement to minimize the risk of in-flight incidents between U.S. and Russian aircraft operating over Syria. David Filipov in the Washington Post$ -- 4/7/17
Beltway
After Senate Filibuster’s Death, Somber Lawmakers Seek Path Forward -- The conventional Washington wisdom dictates that the end of the judicial filibuster is also the end of life as it is currently known in the Senate. Jennifer Steinhauer in the New York Times$ -- 4/7/17
Trying to Revive Health Bill, G.O.P. Adds $15 Billion for Sickest Americans -- Under intense pressure from President Trump, House Republicans took a small step Thursday to revive legislation to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, adding a $15 billion fund to help insurers pay claims for their sickest customers. Robert Pear in the New York Times$ -- 4/7/17
Gary Cohn Backs Breaking Up Big Banks -- The former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive who is the top White House economic adviser told lawmakers he could support legislation breaking up the largest U.S. banks, according to people familiar with the matter, a development that bolsters congressional efforts to reinstate the Depression-era Glass-Steagall law. Ryan Tracy and Emily Glazer in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 4/7/17
-- Thursday Updates
Twitter sues US government to protect Trump critic’s privacy -- In an effort to protect users from being unmasked by the government, Twitter has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security after agents requested that the social media company hand over information on one of several accounts identifying themselves as “alt” or “rogue” federal workers. Marissa Lang in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/6/17
State appeals court upholds California's cap-and-trade program -- Two judges on the appeals court panel sided with state officials who argued that the program, which requires companies to buy permits to release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, fell within their authority to regulate industry. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
Here's why Dianne Feinstein could well become the longest-serving U.S. senator in California history -- Dianne Feinstein, the senior U.S. senator from California, has long had an air of mystery, an essence distilled in a single sentence: Will she or won’t she? Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
Sen. Kamala Harris sees a path out of the wilderness for Democrats — but can she sell it to them? -- During one of the first big meetings Sen. Kamala Harris attended back in California following her swearing in, she said something many of the progressive activists who look to her as an icon were taken aback to hear. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
De León agrees to support GOP senator's millions in budget requests in talks over backing gas tax -- Ahead of a vote on legislation to raise taxes and fees to repair California's roads, state Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) on Thursday supported a new bill that would provide $500 million for pet projects in the district of state Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres), including the extension of a Bay Area commuter rail line to Ceres and Merced. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
Key labor leader Maria Elena Durazo to run for Kevin de León’s Senate seat -- Democrat Maria Elena Durazo, long considered among the most influential political figures in Los Angeles, said Thursday that she will campaign for the seat of Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León when his term ends next year. A child of migrant farm workers from Mexico, Durazo rose to lead the powerful Los Angeles County Federation of Labor following the death of her husband, the political kingmaker Miguel Contreras in 2005. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/6/17
Fox: Howard Jarvis’s Ghost -- Gov. Jerry Brown told Republican legislators at a hearing on his gas tax and vehicle fee increase proposal that their opposition occurred because they were “haunted by the ghost of Howard Jarvis.” It is the other way around. Howard Jarvis haunts Jerry Brown. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 4/6/17
Nunes steps away from Russia probe, citing ethics complaints -- The Republican chairman is stepping aside from leading a congressional investigation of Russian interference in last year's U.S. presidential election, citing ethics complaints that he mishandled classified information. Deb Riechmann and Eileen Sullivan Associated Press -- 4/6/17
Even under adjusted funding formula, California's poorest schools still lose out, report says -- A funding formula signed into law four years ago has mostly leveled the playing field among the state’s school districts, a report released Thursday found — but the money is not necessarily going to the neediest students. Joy Resmovits in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
Senate GOP 'goes nuclear,' clearing way for Trump court pick -- Republicans invoked the "nuclear option" in the Senate Thursday, unilaterally rewriting the chamber's rules to allow President Donald Trump's nominee to ascend to the Supreme Court. Erica Werner Associated Press -- 4/6/17
A third challenger announces bid for Rep. Mimi Walters' Orange County seat -- Democrat Kia Hamadanchy announced he'll run for the 45th Congressional District Thursday, becoming the third Democrat this week to announce plans to challenge Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) for the seat. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
Bay Area housing crisis splits young and old -- Generation X and baby boomer homeowners in the Bay Area are considerably more opposed to construction of new housing in their neighborhoods than millennials and those who have moved to the region in the last few years. Richard Scheinin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/6/17
Santa Ana May Convert Part of Jail to Mental Health Center -- Citing a severe shortage of mental health services in Orange County, Santa Ana officials are considering turning much of their mostly-vacant city jail into a mental health treatment center. Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 4/6/17
California joins 15 states in filing court brief supporting Planned Parenthood's lawsuit against Ohio healthcare law -- California has joined 15 other state attorneys general in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio challenging a law in that state that excludes healthcare providers that offer abortion services from participating in other publicly funded health programs, officials said Thursday. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/6/17
Liberal Billionaire Tom Steyer on Political Future: ‘Nothing Is Off the Table’ -- Billionaire Tom Steyer gave a stemwinder Wednesday, railing against the “liars and cheaters” of the Trump administration and calling the White House “malevolent, shallow and incompetent.” Ken Stone Times of San Diego -- 4/6/17
AP-NORC Poll: Most Americans oppose funding border wall -- Most Americans oppose funding President Donald Trump's wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and even many of his supporters reject his proposed budget cuts to scientific and medical research, according to poll released Thursday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Andrew Taylor and Emily Swanson Associated Press -- 4/6/17
Weak chief of staff is enabling White House mess -- The disarray in the Trump White House makes one nostalgic for a chief of staff who was a model of organization. A guy like H.R. “Bob” Haldeman, President Richard Nixon’s chief. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/6/17
Southwest Airlines adding new routes, new cities for Sacramento fliers -- Southwest Airlines on Thursday announced the biggest boost in flights at Sacramento International Airport since the recession a decade ago – six daily flights this year, including new routes to Long Beach and Spokane, and added flights on existing routes to Seattle and San Diego. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/6/17
Capitol Weekly profile: Gale Kaufman -- Gale Kaufman was campaigning in California before Arnold Schwarzenegger was Conan the Barbarian. Kaufman, a bare-knuckled Democratic strategist, is as little known to the public as she is famous among political pros. When talk in the political world turns to “Gale,” everyone knows it’s a reference to Kaufman. Paul Hefner Capitol Weekly -- 4/6/17
Don Rickles, aggressively caustic comedian dubbed 'Mr. Warmth,' dies at 90 -- Don Rickles, the aggressively caustic comedian who became known as “The Merchant of Venom” and “The King of Zing” as he took insult comedy to a new level, has died. Dennis McLellan in the Los Angeles Times$ Lynn Elber Associated Press -- 4/6/17
Civil war rages throughout Trump administration -- Trump campaign staffers are squaring off against establishment GOP types in federal agencies — and the casualties are piling up. Alex Isenstadt and Andrew Restuccia Politico -- 4/6/17