Rough&Tumble California Policy and Politics

California Policy & Politics This Morning

Betty Yee criticizes, John A. Pérez cheers state party in controller race -- Betty Yee, the state Board of Equalization member competing against Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez in the Democratic race for state controller, issued a vague but stinging indictment of the state party Sunday, suggesting its leadership has become too heavy-handed and is disconnected from grassroots activists. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Major shift: CA Democrats’ proposed platform plank calls for full legalization of pot -- With proponents arguing that it could put billions into state coffers and provide crucial jobs, California Democrats on Sunday will move to insert a plank in their party platform calling to “support the legalization, regulation and taxation of pot in a manner similar to that of tobacco or alcohol.” Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Democrats make no endorsement in heated statewide primaries -- Following two days of intense campaigning by candidates in the two most competitive statewide primary contests, delegates at the California Democratic Party convention reached no consensus Saturday on either race, issuing no endorsement for controller or secretary of state. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Darrell Steinberg pushes Jerry Brown on pre-kindergarten expansion -- Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said Saturday that Senate Democrats will make pre-kindergarten a priority in budget negotiations with Gov. Jerry Brown this spring, calling last year's school funding overhaul inadequate to address shortcomings in public education. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Tom Steyer calls for public votes on California fracking -- Hours after Gov. Jerry Brown drew protests from environmental activists over his permissiveness on hydraulic fracturing, billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer called Saturday for legislation requiring a two-thirds vote of the electorate in any county before the controversial form of oil extraction can go forward in that area. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Fracking foes make a racket as Brown addresses California Democrats -- Anti-fracking advocates repeatedly interrupted Gov. Jerry Brown’s speech at the California Democratic Convention in Los Angeles on Saturday, chanting and waving signs as he gave his first major speech since declaring his intention to run for reelection. Seema Mehta and Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle Michael Blood Associated Press -- 3/9/14

Governor calls state 'beacon for the whole world' -- Gov. Jerry Brown touted California as a “beacon for the whole world” when addressing the California Democratic Party convention Saturday, pointing to the state's financial turnaround, minimum wage increase, legislation benefiting illegal immigrants, and embrace of Obamacare. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register$ -- 3/9/14

At convention in L.A., Democrats are warned against complacency -- Fissures appear on the environmental front as the party chairman exhorts the faithful to work toward victory in local and congressional races. Seema Mehta, Michael Finnegan and Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

For Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the crowd's already at the bar -- Only a smattering of Democratic activists remained when Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the final speaker of the afternoon, took to the podium to address the state party's annual convention Saturday. "Thank you very much," he said. "It's good to see all four of you." David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Mayor Garcetti to convention: 'California Democrats get things done' -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti opened the state’s Democratic convention on Saturday with a tribute to the party’s dominance in California, saying it has ensured progress on climate change, immigration, public transit and civil rights. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

Tom Hayden finds an 'unusually sober oasis' at Democratic convention -- While the California Democratic Party's most fervent members opened the party's annual convention Friday with an "evening of Cumbia and cocktails" and a "funkfest" billed as "the convention's hottest hospitality dance party," the disillusioned assembled over coffee and desserts at a café on Flower Street. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

As doubts cloud California high-speed rail, plans in other states gain support -- When California Gov. Jerry Brown last week announced his bid for re-election, he renewed his push to build “the nation’s only high speed rail system.” Curtis Tate in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Walters: Can Brown hold the line on California ‘safety net’ spending? -- Three years ago, as he began his third term as governor and faced a severe budget crisis, Jerry Brown prescribed fiscal medicine that his fellow Democrats had a difficult time swallowing. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

In Prop. 8 ruling's wake, initiative sponsors take protective steps -- Mindful of the Supreme Court ruling against Proposition 8, California initiative sponsors build in language so they can defend their measures if the state does not. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

Morain: McClintock’s ‘safe’ GOP seat has a credible threat -- Rep. Tom McClintock, a career politician who is a master of anti-government rhetoric, occupies one of the safest Republican congressional districts in America. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Willie Brown: Oakland Mayor Jean Quan stands good chance of re-election -- Oakland Mayor Jean Quan is in major trouble with the voters, but my prediction is that unless City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan gets in the race, Quan still stands a good chance of winning re-election in November. Willie Brown in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/9/14

Ashley Swearengin's controller campaign fuels questions about Fresno mayor's job -- A political expert wonders if Ashley Swearengin can run for state controller and run California's fifth-largest city at the same time. George Hostetter in the Fresno Bee -- 3/9/14

DeMaio campaign kickoff -- Former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio officially launched his campaign for Congress Saturday, pledging to help “make government work again.” Michael Smolens UT San Diego$ -- 3/9/14

San Fernando Valley will be key in race to succeed Zev Yaroslavsky -- Eight candidates running in the 3rd Supervisorial District are largely unknown in the Valley, where two-thirds of voters live. Transit and taxes are important issues. Catherine Saillant in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

$1,000 in mileage paid to unlicensed water board member -- Although he’s been convicted twice of DUI and hasn’t had a valid California driver’s license since 2003, local water board member Arturo Chacon received mileage payments of more than $1,000 for trips to Las Vegas, San Diego and Indian Wells, according to documents obtained by this news organization. Mike Sprague in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/9/14

System would change how L.A. County inmates get early release -- Sheriff's officials plan to propose a 'risk-based' system that supporters say would help select jail inmates for early release who are less likely to commit new crimes. Abby Sewell and Jack Leonard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

AP Exclusive: Counties undermine prison efforts -- California counties are confounding the state's court-ordered efforts to sharply reduce its inmate population by sending state prisons far more convicts than anticipated, including a record number of people with second felony convictions. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 3/9/14

Another inmate death raises questions about California prison practices -- At 6:10 a.m. on Oct. 15, a medical technician handling the morning “pill pass” at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Fresno County spotted inmate David Scott Gillian hanging inside cell No. 164 from a bedsheet tied to an air vent. Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Footage after Asiana crash brings San Francisco police-fire tensions -- San Francisco police investigating the death of an Asiana Airlines crash survivor who was run over and killed by Fire Department rigs concluded that one of the firefighter drivers was lying to them and challenged a high-ranking fire official who didn't inform them about key camera footage of the incident, according to Police Department documents. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/9/14

Economy, Employers and Jobs

Borenstein: Judge determines Contra Costa, Alameda county pension spiking illegal -- A Contra Costa judge plans to uphold most of a new state law designed to end pension spiking practices in which workers boost their retirement pay by as much as 15 percent. Daniel Borenstein in the Contra Costa Times$ -- 3/9/14

Machines quietly tunneling in Muni's Central Subway project -- Traveling from South of Market, past Moscone Convention Center and to the far end of Union Square on Saturday morning was an other-worldly experience: no cars, no stores, no tall buildings, no crowded sidewalks, no panhandlers. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/9/14

BART extension to San Jose -- Never mind the nearly two-decade delay in opening the new span of the Bay Bridge. Or the extra year it's taking to wrap up the torturous widening of Highway 101 through Mountain View. There's one project sailing right along and it's a biggie -- bringing BART to San Jose in the largest, most expensive public works project the South Bay has ever seen. Gary Richards in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/14

Court lets retired Oakland officers keep overpaid benefits -- More than 600 retired Oakland police officers and their families won't have to repay the city thousands of dollars in disputed pension benefits, including some overpayments that the city had misled them into believing they could keep, a state appeals court has ruled. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/9/14

Oakland rent law under fire as one couple faces 112 percent rent hike -- After more than a quarter-century in their Oakland apartment, Clifton and Mercedes Harrison had their kitchen and bathroom completely remodeled. Shortly thereafter, the couple received a 112 percent rent increase from their landlord that, if upheld, will force them and their 7-year-old granddaughter to find a new home. Matthew Artz in the Oakland Tribune -- 3/9/14

In Sonoma County, a heartwarming safe-parking program for the homeless -- This winter, supervisors decriminalized sleeping in cars in the county. Meant as a short-term fix, it's been a godsend for many. Lee Romney in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

Ambitious goals laid out by new Los Angeles DWP chief -- In her first two weeks on the job as general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Marcie Edwards is making her presence felt. Rick Orlov in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/9/14

Google X: Secret lab for 'moonshot' research -- At a time when other tech companies have trimmed research budgets or focused tightly on their core business, Google’s X division is pursuing a range of seemingly outlandish ideas. Brandon Bailey in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/14

To Ensure Future Fans, Anaheim Ducks Grow Hockey Players -- The Ducks have spent $12 million over the last six years on initiatives to grow hockey in southern California. Billy Witz in the New York Times$ -- 3/9/14

Drought

More than 255,000 homes and businesses still don't have water meters statewide -- Despite urgent calls for water conservation amid one of California's worst droughts, more than 255,000 homeowners and businesses across the state can still use all the water they want without paying higher bills. And nobody even knows how much water they are using. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/9/14

How much water a community gulps varies across the Sacramento region -- The ongoing drought has cities across the Sacramento region urgently trying to cut water use. Some have a lot further to go than others. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/9/14

Recent rains help upgrade Sonoma County's drought status -- More than 10 inches of rain in some local areas since Feb. 1 helped upgrade the county's drought status from 'extreme' to just 'severe,' though water managers are urging continued conservation. Matt Brown in the Santa Rosa Press -- 3/9/14

Education

A big early schooling shift -- California’s new transitional kindergarten is designed to give the youngest students two years to prepare for the first grade. Maureen Magee UT San Diego$ -- 3/9/14

Vietnamese language program could be state's first -- Garden Grove Unified is increasing its language offerings and outlining a path to creating a K-6 dual language immersion school by 2016-17 – one advocates hope will be the first Vietnamese/English school in California. Elysse James in the Orange County Register$ -- 3/9/14

Immigration

Lopez: Activist's fast is food for thought on immigration -- Eliseo Medina of the SEIU is planning another fast in Washington, D.C., to call for an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

Pelosi on immigration: Maneuvering to force a vote -- It involves what's called a discharge petition, a procedural maneuver that would require 218 votes to succeed. If successful, it would force a vote on a pending Democratic-backed House immigration bill similar to the comprehensive bill approved last summer in the Senate, with a path to legal status for unauthorized immigrants, and eventually to U.S. citizenship. Leslie Berestein Rojas KPCC -- 3/9/14

Immigration hardliners: No room for us at CPAC -- Conservative foes to immigration reform say leaders of the Conservative Political Action Committee have found a way to solve internal friction over the issue: ignore them. Jackie Kucinich in the Washington Post$ -- 3/9/14

Environment

Los Angeles may join other cities allowing backyard beekeeping -- The biggest buzz in Los Angeles may be coming from backyards like David Bock’s. Dana Bartholomew in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/9/14

Obama to add Stornetta Lands to monument -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday will expand the California Coastal National Monument to include the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands, a White House official said Saturday. Josh Richman Political Blotter Marry Callahan in the Santa Rosa Press -- 3/9/14

Also . . .

Lengthy probes into police shootings cause frustration -- The Orange County district attorney's investigations of police shootings have become increasingly beset with delays in recent years, leaving residents and the officers involved in the dark months longer than in other Southern California counties. Keegan Kyle in the Orange County Register$ -- 3/9/14

Beltway

Rand Paul wins presidential straw poll at conservative gathering -- For the second year in a row, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky won the presidential straw poll at the annual gathering of conservatives known as CPAC -- this year leading his closest rival by 20 points. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

On gay rights, CPAC reveals brewing tension within Republican Party -- For an event remembered by its big statements — rabble-rousing speeches and students clad in American-flag shorts — this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference was nearly silent on same-sex marriage and other such issues. Daniel Rothberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/9/14

Balz: Rethinking the 2016 GOP nomination contest -- This year’s Conservative Political Action Conference cast a spotlight on the Republican Party’s prospective 2016 presidential candidates, and there is already an accepted storyline about how the 2016 Republican presidential nomination contest will unfold. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 3/9/14

Senate Democrats plan an all-nighter Monday for climate change -- At least 28 Senate Democrats plan to spend hours Monday night and early Tuesday speaking on the Senate floor in a push for congressional action on climate change. Ed O'Keefe in the Washington Post$ -- 3/9/14