Rough&Tumble California Policy and Politics

Updating . .

White House may reverse itself on withdrawing from Paris climate deal -- A European official said Saturday the Trump administration has softened its stance on the landmark Paris climate accord and may not completely withdraw after all. If true, this would mark yet another reversal of a Trump campaign promise, one of the most controversial. But the White House quickly attempted to rebut the report. Tracy Wilkinson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Plan to spend $1.5B in climate money includes union boost -- California lawmakers gave a boost to a union looking to organize Tesla workers Friday as they approved a plan to spend $1.5 billion on environmental initiatives using money from the state's recently renewed program that charges polluters to emit greenhouse gases. Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 9/16/17

San Diego opens downtown restrooms amid hepatitis A crisis -- New portable public restrooms have been opened in downtown San Diego, and more are planned, the city announced Saturday morning. The move is the latest step in the campaign by the city and county to turn the tide against the growing hepatitis A outbreak that has killed 16 and aff in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/17licted more than 400 since last fall, officials said. Michael Smolens in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Last Stop: Governor’s Call -- In the final days of the session, hundreds of bills landed on Brown’s desk. Here are some of the most consequential. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters.org -- 9/16/17

Hundreds of Bills Head to Jerry Brown’s Desk -- Friday was the end of this year’s legislative session, and lawmakers sent Governor Jerry Brown hundreds of bills this week covering issues as wide-ranging as immigration, public safety, health care and housing. Here’s a roundup of some of the bills now sitting on Brown’s desk. Marisa Lagos, Guy Marzorati and Scott Shafer KQED -- 9/16/17

California will soon be a ‘sanctuary state’ for undocumented immigrants -- California lawmakers early Saturday sent Gov. Jerry Brown a “sanctuary state” immigration bill that he is expected to sign after demanding changes that some advocates said weaken its impact. Taryn Luna and Angela Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Los Angeles County sheriff applauds 'sanctuary state' bill he once opposed -- Los Angeles County Sheriff James McDonnell on Saturday applauded the “sanctuary state” bill just passed by the Legislature that aims to protect immigrants from federal enforcement as they leave jails, saying amendments had satisfied his earlier objections to the legislation. Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Democrats kill bill to require all renewable energy in California by 2046 -- After facing late opposition from labor unions, a measure to require utility companies to use renewable energy for all of the retail electricity sold in the state faltered in the final week of the legislative session. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17

Legislature passes bills to reform PACE energy-efficiency loan program -- Two bills that would boost protections for consumers taking out PACE home-improvement loans are headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk after passing the Legislature. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

No supervised heroin use in California after ‘safe injection sites’ bill fails -- Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton, announced Friday evening that she will try again next year to pass Assembly Bill 186, which would have authorized eight counties with heavy intravenous drug use to create pilot “safe injection sites.” Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17

Lopez: Hear about the tract house that went for $800,000 above asking? Welcome to California 2017 -- The population of California was just above 10 million when I joined the party in 1953. Today we’ve got nearly four times as many residents, or just short of 40 million. Is that too many people? Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Knight: Amid modest improvements, more tales of 911 woes -- Former San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos was driving on the Bay Bridge at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 when he spotted an alarming sight: a disheveled-looking man walking on the north side of the bridge carrying a thick chain with some kind of ball at the end of it. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/17

Leaving the Bay Area? These folks did it — with mixed results -- Raya and Michael DeMarquez both grew up in San Jose, got married here, raised their kids here, bought a house here more than 20 years ago and felt settled in the Bay Area life — for life. Angela Hill in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/17

California Policy & Politics This Morning

It's a wrap for the California Legislature for 2017. Here's what they accomplished -- California lawmakers wrapped up their work for the year early Saturday morning, with sweeping new legislation to address issues from illegal immigration to the state's housing crunch — and hundreds of bills being debated and decided in just the final 48 hours. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

California Politics Podcast: The End of Session, 2017 Edition -- This week, a late-night edition of the podcast as we offer some quick takeaways from the now adjourned 2017 session of the California Legislature. We talk illegal immigration, housing and more. With John Myers, Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon of the Los Angeles Times. Link here -- 9/16/17

California Democrats score victories on affordable housing, ‘sanctuary state’ bills -- In the final hours of an intense legislative session that went past 2 a.m. Saturday, Democratic lawmakers crossed the finish line on landmark legislation to address the affordable housing crisis and to create a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants. The Assembly’s long-awaited debate on the controversial immigration measure Friday grew emotional, bringing lawmakers to tears. Katy Murphy and Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/17

California lawmakers send 'sanctuary state' bill to governor -- California lawmakers on Saturday passed a Senate bill that would turn the state into a “sanctuary” for immigrants without legal residency in the country, part of a broader push by Democrats to counter expanded deportation orders under the Trump administration. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press -- 9/16/17

Anti-Trump environmental protection proposal fails to advance in California Legislature -- A proposal to help California guard against rollbacks of federal regulations stalled early Saturday morning at the end of the state's legislative session. Senate Bill 49 would have enshrined large swaths of federal environmental protection regulations and other rules into state law. The goal was to prevent changes made by the Trump administration from affecting California. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Closely watched California internet privacy bill dies in final minutes of legislative session -- California lawmakers on Saturday shelved a bill that would have required internet service providers such as Verizon, Comcast and AT&T to get permission from customers before using, selling or allowing access to their browser history. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Gov. Brown supports bill sent to him that would end lifetime listing of many sex offenders on public registry -- The bill, which was shelved then revived, was sent to the governor on the last day of the legislative session with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) calling it one of the most difficult votes she has cast. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

State legislature OKs controversial bills on sanctuary and sex offenders -- California lawmakers sent Gov. Jerry Brown sweeping legislation early Saturday morning that would create a statewide sanctuary policy, end lifetime registration for some sex offenders and move up the state’s presidential primary election. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/17

California Assembly approves presidential primary in March -- The California Assembly has voted to move the 2020 presidential primary to March to give the nation's most populous state more influence in choosing nominees. The bill approved Friday will now go to the state Senate where it's expected to pass. Gov. Jerry Brown has not said whether he'll sign it. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Bill to fast-track L.A. Olympics projects, Clippers arena stalls -- State lawmakers shelved a bill Friday that would have fast-tracked bus, train and other transit projects for Los Angeles’ 2028 Olympic Games and a new Inglewood arena for the Los Angeles Clippers. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Bill to shed light on dark money in California advances to Gov. Brown -- The bill would require ballot measure ads to clearly and prominently list their three largest funders. An amendment, however, provides some exemptions for business and labor groups. Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17

California Assembly votes to support censure of Trump over comments on Charlottesville violence -- The California Assembly on Friday night voted to support a congressional censure of President Trump for his response to violence that broke out in Charlottesville, Va., during a protest over a Confederate statue. Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

California moves to force Trump to release tax returns -- California lawmakers late Friday sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would require presidential candidates to make their tax returns public before appearing on the state’s ballot. David Siders Politico Taryn Luna and Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17-- 9/16/17

California lawmakers give youthful offenders shot at parole -- The legislation would align state law with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions by automatically giving youthful offenders a chance at parole after 25 years. About three dozen offenders would be eligible for hearings over the next three years under the measure, though there's no guarantee they would be paroled. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 9/16/17

California taxi cabs will face fewer regulations under bill headed to the governor -- The measure, Assembly Bill 1069, allows taxi drivers to reduce the number of permits they'll need to work to a maximum of two per county — one where they live and one where they predominantly work. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

California lawmakers limit considering criminal history -- Employers would be barred from initially asking employees if they have a criminal history under legislation sent to Gov. Jerry Brown. The Assembly on Friday gave final approval to a bill that supporters say would mean more ex-felons could get jobs and stay out of trouble. Associated Press -- 9/16/17

Final Day Capitol Roundup: Housing, 'Sanctuary State', Campaign Finance Reform -- California lawmakers are continuing their push through hundreds of bills before the legislative session ends. Here are some of the highlights from Friday's final session, which you'll find below our late night updates: Chris Nichols, Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 9/16/17

Will Jerry Brown sign a diaper-changing station bill he vetoed once before? -- Three years after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have increased access to baby-changing tables across California, the Legislature is asking him to reconsider. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17

Trump can’t block public safety money for sanctuary cities, judge rules -- President Trump’s effort to punish cities that don’t cooperate with the administration’s roundup of undocumented immigrants was dealt another blow Friday when a federal judge in Illinois said the U.S. Justice Department can’t withhold public safety funds to these communities. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/17

Follow the money – Delta tunnel foes try new strategy -- Opponents of the Delta tunnels proposal, facing a long-shot bid to kill the controversial project on environmental grounds, are now trying to undermine the plan’s financial structure. Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17

Chefs react angrily as federal appeals court upholds California ban on foie gras -- California may once again scrape foie gras off restaurant plates, after judges ruled in favor of a ban on the delicacy made by force feeding ducks and geese. Maura Dolan, Jenn Harris and Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Boeing altered its cleanup plan for toxic Santa Susana land. Here’s why that worries local leaders -- The first draft of a years-long awaited clean-up plan for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory has drawn concern from Los Angeles city and county officials as they wade through the more than 1,100-page document compiled by California regulators. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/16/17

Effort to recall Sen. Josh Newman faces obstacle course -- The effort to recall state Sen. Josh Newman and break Democrats’ legislative supermajority has spurred the Fullerton lawmaker and his allies to mount a tooth-and-nail defense, including a blitz of mail, online and cable TV ads urging those who signed recall petitions to withdraw their names and block the recall from reaching the ballot. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 9/16/17

Fox: Turning up the Pressure on a Gas Tax Repeal -- Anger over the increase in gas taxes has launched a second initiative to repeal the tax passed in April. Sources close to the drafting of this new measure say it will be well funded. Such a measure could have political implications beyond undoing the tax—one situation now and one if it makes the ballot. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/16/17

Borenstein: Contra Costa replaces perjurer with plagiarist as DA -- Contra Costa will replace a perjurer with a plagiarist on Monday when retired Judge Diana Becton becomes the county’s new district attorney. Dan Borenstein in the East Bay Times -- 9/16/17

California Lawmakers Allow Clean Cars to Stay in Carpool Lanes -- Drivers in the market for electric cars may be able to count on a popular incentive. California lawmakers voted this week to extend a program that allows zero-emission cars to drive in carpool lanes. Lauren Sommer KQED -- 9/16/17

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions

California's growth slowdown continues in August as the state loses 8,200 jobs -- California’s slowing economic expansion was evident in August as the state lost 8,200 net jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 5.1%, from 4.8% a month earlier, according to data released Friday from the state’s Employment Development Department. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

Rhee: Why shouldn’t we all get to vote in CalPERS election? -- Looked at one way, the current CalPERS board election is a private contest, of interest only to government employees and retirees. Yet, it matters more than many public elections for local and state offices. Decisions by the $333 billion pension fund’s board can swing local budgets and affect taxpayers across California. Foon Rhee in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/16/17

Fishing Industry Concerned About Fall Salmon Season -- The commercial fishing industry in Northern California is concerned about the upcoming fall salmon season, based on new numbers out from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Randol White Capital Public Radio -- 9/16/17

Virgin Orbit inks launch contract with firm that aims to store data on satellites -- Cloud Constellation Corp., a company that recently obtained a U.S. patent for a communications system enabling users to store data on satellites, signed a contract with Long Beach-based Virgin Orbit to send 12 satellites into space. Andrew Edwards in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 9/16/17

LA County, Inland Empire lead the state in annual job gains -- Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire led California in yearly job gains in August, but their monthly results were sharply divided, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Friday by Beacon Economics. Kevin Smith in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 9/16/17

Google cashes in on fake news and helps support its purveyors: report -- On one website page with four Google-served ads, we learn that if you don’t support President Donald Trump, God could punish you by giving you a gay child. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/17

Homeless

How San Diego's neighbors are dealing with growing homelessness -- The deadly hepatitis A outbreak has put San Diego’s difficulty in dealing with its growing homeless population in the national spotlight. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/16/17

Education

UC Berkeley professors urge campus boycott during ‘free speech week’ -- At UC Berkeley, 177 professors and graduate students have signed an open letter urging thousands of colleagues and classmates to boycott campus for four days this month to ensure their “physical and mental safety.” Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/17

Teacher at elite Brentwood School charged with having unlawful sex with student -- A teacher at the elite Brentwood School was charged Friday with repeatedly having unlawful sex with a 17-year-old male student this summer, prosecutors said. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/16/17

CSULB powers up campus solar panel installation -- Cal State Long Beach on Friday debuted a new 11,040-panel solar installation expected to supply power for approximately one-third of the campus’ peak electricity demand. Courtney Tompkins in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 9/16/17

Health

County warns of possible hepatitis exposure at Pacific Beach restaurant -- The county Health and Human Services Agency said in a Friday morning statement that anyone who dined or drank at the World Famous restaurant on specific days and at specific times in late August and early September “may have been exposed to a person with hepatitis A virus.” Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/16/17

Aggressive prevention pays off as new HIV infections in San Francisco hit a record low -- New HIV infections hit another record low in San Francisco last year as the city ramped up efforts to curtail transmission with aggressive prevention and treatment programs, according to a report released Friday. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/16/17

Also . . .

Oroville Dam: Here’s what the spillway looks like now -- New aerial footage shot by a drone shows the main spillway at Oroville Dam in Northern California, wrecked during heavy winter storms in February, slowly being rebuilt. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/16/17

Beltway

Judiciary Chairman Considers Subpoenas in Trump Investigation -- Senator Charles E. Grassley, facing what he sees as Justice Department stonewalling, is considering subpoenas to compel several witnesses to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee and divulge what they know about President Trump’s connections to Russia and his firing of James B. Comey as F.B.I. director. Nicholas Fandos in the New York Times$ -- 9/16/17

Left warns Pelosi, Schumer: Don’t get too close to Trump -- The Democratic base is growing anxious as its leaders order Chinese food and make deals with the president who many in their ranks would prefer to see impeached. Elana Schor Politico -- 9/16/17

-- Friday Updates

California Assembly passes ‘sanctuary state’ bill -- A closely watched bill to prevent local and state police from taking part in federal immigration enforcement passed the California Assembly on the final day of the legislative session — one of its final hurdles before becoming law. Katy Murphy and Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/15/17

Efforts to control California housing costs go to Jerry Brown after tight vote -- A multi-bill package aimed at addressing California’s housing affordability crisis headed to Gov. Jerry Brown Friday as lawmakers prepared to draw the curtain on the 2017 legislative year. Alexei Koseff and Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 9/15/17

California will spend big on clean vehicles under plan approved by lawmakers -- State lawmakers on Friday approved a $1.5-billion plan for spending cap-and-trade revenue, with most of the money going toward financial incentives to get dirty cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles off the road. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/15/17

California lawmakers sign off on new disclosure of campaign donors in ballot measure advertisements -- New rules to more clearly reveal big donors to California ballot measure campaigns would be required under legislation sent Friday to Gov. Jerry Brown. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/15/17

Later school start times for California students laid to rest for the year -- A bill that would require California middle and high schools to begin their day no earlier than 8:30 a.m. is being shelved for the year, its author said Friday, a day after it fell well short of the votes needed for passage. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ Taryn Luna and Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/15/17

Bill that would help reduce California's backlog of untested rape kits heads to governor's desk -- AB 41, written by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), would help determine how many untested kits there are in the state. The bill passed the Assembly on a vote of 79 to 0 on Thursday. Mina Corpuz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/15/17

Effort to expand LA County Board of Supervisors edges closer to state ballot -- A state effort to expand the number of seats on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved a step closer Thursday to being placed on next year’s ballot after it won two-thirds of the majority needed to pass the Senate floor in Sacramento. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/15/17

Town tapped out: Moraga’s fiscal crisis shocks, baffles residents -- After six months of searching for the perfect home, Lisa Koltun moved into a four-bedroom house in Moraga in July. Now she wonders if she will regret it. Alison Graham in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/15/17

Bigger rebates for EV buyers hit a speed bump -- Hoping for a bigger state rebate check next year for your new Tesla Model 3 or Chevy Bolt? You’ll have to wait. Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/15/17

BART increases police patrols in Oakland, San Francisco in wake of London explosion -- BART has stepped up uniformed patrols on Friday morning at San Francisco and Oakland stations in the wake of an explosion on a London underground train, the transit agency said. While they would not discuss whether any threats had been made, officials said they wanted to ensure riders were aware of their surroundings while riding BART. Kathleen Kirkwood in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/15/17

You may not believe it, but the number of California wildfires has been going down -- In a year that is already being called one of the worst ever for wildfires in the western United States, there is another fact that some may find remarkable: For nearly 40 years, the number of wildfires in California has been declining. Daniel Tedford in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/15/17

Trump’s Speculation on London Attack ‘Unhelpful,’ British Officials Say -- President Trump on Friday suggested British intelligence officials were aware of the assailant or assailants behind an unfolding terrorist attack on the London subway, an assertion that British officials called unhelpful speculation. Eileen Sullivand and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 9/15/17

Strange but true: Praise in lefty San Francisco for Pelosi and Trump — gasp — working together -- What happens when the congressional representative of this uber-liberal enclave — who also happens to be leader of House Democrats — starts dancing with the devil? Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/15/17