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California Policy and Politics Wednesday
After reducing deficit, Newsom proposals bring extra costs to California -- Tax revenues have exceeded estimates in California, but Gov. Gavin Newsom’s costly new proposals and other programs could swallow up any extra budget funds. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Why Newsom’s electric vehicle mandate is in trouble -- Sales growth has stalled as potential buyers balk at high sticker prices and unreliable public charging. The EV market will take an additional hit if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on vows to scuttle federal EV tax credit subsidies for buyers and slap tariffs on automobiles made in Mexico, driving prices higher. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Most reports ordered by California’s Legislature this year are shown as missing -- State agencies and commissions assigned to prepare reports to the Legislature on how well new laws are working often fail to submit them on time, or at all. Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 12/11/24
Barabak: California produced a female House speaker and vice president. So why are women losing ground? -- When California lawmakers convened in Sacramento for a special session this month, they marked a milestone. For the first time ever, women held nearly half the seats in the 120-member Legislature. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
After court loss, Albertsons backs out of merger with Kroger, sues grocery chain -- Plans for the largest grocery merger in American history are over. Queenie Wong and Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ Patrick Thomas and Dean Seal in the Wall Street Journal$ Jaclyn Peiser in the Washington Post$ Danielle Kaye in the New York Times$ -- 12/11/24
Walters: Will resistant Marin County change after a pro-housing governor just moved in? -- Gavin Newsom has just two years remaining of his governorship. As it winds down, he is stepping up efforts to build a national profile toward what many pundits assume will be a 2028 presidential campaign. That apparently includes writing his autobiography. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/11/24
San Diego County aims to further limit cooperation with immigration authorities, but sheriff pushes back -- Sheriff Kelly Martinez says her office already follows state law that limits how law enforcement can cooperate with immigration authorities. Alexandra Mendoza in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/11/24
Fire guts Bidwell Mansion, a Chico landmark and jewel of California history. Can it be saved? -- A historic Victorian home in Chico that has been a Northern California landmark for more than 150 years has been gutted by a fire. Darrell Smith and Daniel Hunt in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/11/24
Ex-Aryan Brotherhood member turned life coach found guilty of California EDD fraud and perjury -- A reputed former member of the notorious Aryan Brotherhood prison gang who gained fame for turning his back on the prison gang and embracing nonviolence was found guilty Tuesday in Lake Superior Court of perjury and fraud for lying on government loan applications and illegally collecting unemployment benefits. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/11/24
Wildfire
Firefighters struggle to contain wind-driven fire in Malibu threatening homes -- The Franklin fire continued to menace the coastal city overnight, burning close to some homes and forcing some water drops by helicopters. A red-flag fire danger warning remains in effect for the area until 6 p.m. But winds are expected to ease after that, and firefighters hope to make progress. Ruben Vives, Nathan Solis and Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Franklin fire destroys at least 7 structures as gusty winds fan flames through Malibu -- A ferocious wildfire fanned by strong winds burned through Malibu on Tuesday, destroying homes, triggering power outages and forcing thousands to evacuate along the coast in the dark while firefighters struggled to contain the flames. Richard Winton, Ruben Vives, Karen Garcia, Nathan Solis, Matt Hamilton, Hannah Fry, Connor Sheets and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Through a window, Pepperdine students watch Malibu fire engulf campus -- The students huddling in Pepperdine University’s library watched through the windows as flames crested the Santa Monica Mountains. Some students prayed. Others called their parents as the wind blew embers across campus, setting palm trees on fire and drawing orange flames closer and closer to their building. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Fire made a run at this celebrity-studded Malibu enclave. Some neighbors stood their ground -- The Franklin fire made a run at the area, but the extent of the damage remains unclear. One home with a pool was nearly demolished; another was little more than a chimney and a pile of smoldering rubble. Residents said some cars were also damaged, and some animals were killed in the fire. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Malibu is a magnet for destructive fires. But this time, it might have caught a break -- The conditions late Monday were primed for an explosive wildfire. Grace Toohey, Nathan Solis and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Homeless
Garofoli: This was the most consequential political decision of 2024 — and it wasn’t made by voters -- The year’s most consequential political story had nothing to do with the election. Rather, it came in June, when the Supreme Court gave cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property, even if they didn’t have shelter beds for them. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/11/24
Housing
Sacramento-area school district to build affordable housing for teachers, employees -- Twin Rivers Unified School District plans to build workforce housing for its employees who are struggling to find affordable, well-maintained rental units within the community they work, district leaders said Tuesday. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/11/24
Workplace
California judges say they’re underpaid, and their new lawsuit could cost taxpayers millions -- California judges receive raises based on what the state gives to other public employees. A new lawsuit alleges the state is miscalculating judicial wage increases. Adam Ashton CalMatters -- 12/11/24
Fewer California workers were dying on the job. Then fentanyl happened -- The increase is largely because workers died from “exposure to harmful substances.” What does that mean? Workers are increasingly dying — on the job — of drug overdoses. Jeanne Kuang and Jeremia Kimelman CalMatters -- 12/11/24
H-1B
Will Trump ban H-1B visas? The issue could divide him and Elon Musk -- The Trump administration is expected to restrict high-skilled immigration. But his close adviser Elon Musk’s Tesla depends on H-1B workers. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/11/24
Delta tunnel
California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project -- The board of California’s largest urban water supplier voted on Tuesday to spend $141.6 million for a large share of the preliminary planning work on the state’s proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Sites Reservoir
Gov. Gavin Newsom urges completion of California’s largest new reservoir project in 50 years -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday reaffirmed his support for building Sites Reservoir, a proposed $4.5 billion project that would be the largest new reservoir constructed in California in 50 years, as a way for cities and farms to better prepare for droughts made worse by the warming climate. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/11/24
Bird flu
Marin child with suspected bird flu may have gotten it from drinking raw milk -- The child has since recovered. No other household members, who also consumed the same raw milk but in smaller amounts in their coffee, had symptoms, which suggests there was no human-to-human transmission. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Street
Mayor and LAPD chief tout double-digit drop in homicides compared with last year -- City and police leaders announced double-digit declines in homicides compared with 2023, including a halving of gang-related slayings, but the recent election results show public safety remains a concern. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
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Trump outran the law. His allies haven’t -- Dozens of Trump’s top aides and political allies are still on the hook in five states where prosecutions are pending over the bid to subvert the 2020 election — and a presidential pardon can’t help them. Kyle Cheney and Megan Messerly Politico -- 12/11/24
Trump names Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece -- Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host now deeply enmeshed in the broader Trump orbit, was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco. The former prosecutor announced her engagement to Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. in 2022, though questions about the couple’s current relationship status dogged tabloid headlines on Tuesday. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
RFK Jr. becomes latest troubled Trump pick -- His problems have been largely drowned out by the likes of Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, but the HHS pick has sparked some concern among Republicans. Ursula Perano Politico -- 12/11/24
Trump pick for DOJ civil rights draws blowback from advocacy leaders -- Harmeet K. Dhillon, Trump’s pick for assistant attorney general in charge of the civil rights division, is a California-based attorney and former state Republican Party official who has championed conservative opposition to corporate diversity initiatives, transgender rights and coronavirus lockdown policies. David Nakamura and Maeve Reston in the Washington Post$ -- 12/11/24
Debate Over Hegseth’s Fitness Highlights a Gender Divide in the Senate -- As many of the Senate’s Republican men dismiss allegations against President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, only a small group of G.O.P. women have voiced even a hint of skepticism. Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 12/11/24
Also
S.F. agencies cancel contracts with major nonprofit accused of enriching a former department head -- San Francisco city officials are cutting ties with a major nonprofit provider after an investigation found the organization enriched a former department head who signed contracts worth up to $1.5 million in city funds with the group. St. John Barned-Smith, Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/11/24
General Motors scraps robotaxi development in new fallout from 2023 crash -- General Motors will no longer invest in robotaxi development at its autonomous-vehicle unit Cruise, a major blow to the automaker that was once a leader in the technology but struggled to recover after a grisly crash in San Francisco last year. Trisha Thadani in the Washington Post$ -- 12/11/24
California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Wildfire explodes in Malibu, spurring mass evacuations and ‘shelter-in-place’ at Pepperdine University -- A ferocious wildfire was spreading rapidly early Tuesday in Malibu, spurring evacuations along the coast while nearby Pepperdine University issued a campus-wide shelter-in-place order and firefighters struggled to battle the flames. Matt Hamilton, Rong-Gong Lin II, Richard Winton and Connor Sheets in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
At Beverly Hills High, Trump victory celebrations ignite simmering racial tensions -- Pro-Trump students at Beverly High School staged racous demonstrations in the aftermath of the election that left some Black students and a teacher shaken. The school is pushing back on some of the accounts. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
It’s hard to admit you voted for Trump in ‘the Mexican Beverly Hills’ -- A surge of migrants at the border. President Biden’s debate performance. High interest rates. Phillip can tick off the reasons he voted for President-elect Donald Trump. But that doesn’t mean the first-generation Mexican American is a full-throated Republican. And he sure doesn’t want his neighbors knowing how he voted. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
Once strongly liberal, Pico-Robertson surged for Trump in 2024. Why? -- Citing public safety and Biden’s approach to the Israel-Palestinian situation, many in the Jewish neighborhood of Pico-Robertson voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
In Kamala Harris’ home county 1 in 5 Biden voters disappeared in 2024 -- In Alameda County 118,000 fewer votes were cast, a 19% drop from 2020. Harriet Blair Rowan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/10/24
Walters: Californians are sour about economy. Their votes this year reflected it -- Pundits and academics who have parsed the data of Donald Trump’s presidential victory five weeks ago differ on the fine points but generally agree that it reflected voters’ widespread unhappiness with the status quo, particularly their personal finances and inflation. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/10/24
Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling -- If Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run for California governor, she would seismically reshape the race and cause ripple effects on down-ballot contests. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
Schiff opposes a preemptive pardon from Biden as Trump again threatens sending him to jail -- As President Biden mulls over a preemptive pardon to protect potential targets from revenge prosecution by President-elect Donald Trump, one of those targets said Monday that he doesn’t want Biden to establish a partisan precedent. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
Garofoli: Adam Schiff wants California conservatives to give ‘Shifty Schiff’ a chance -- Adam Schiff was sworn into the Senate Monday under unusual and potentially unnerving circumstances: President-elect Trump refers to Schiff as an “enemy from within” and wants to see him prosecuted for treason. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/10/24
Gambling companies spent big to defeat three California lawmakers. ‘We want to be respected’ -- California’s card room industry spent over $3 million targeting four lawmakers as payback for their votes on a gambling bill. Three of the lawmakers lost. Ryan Sabalow CalMatters -- 12/10/24
A day without Mexicans in Mammoth? Locals mull how to get a message to Trump -- If all the service workers born in Mexico stayed home from their jobs for just one day in this thriving resort town perched high in California’s Sierra Nevada, the humming tourist economy would probably faceplant harder than a first-time skier on an icy expert slope. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
As California’s Adam Schiff sworn in on US Senate floor, Laphonza Butler makes quiet exit -- Sen. Laphonza Butler ended her 14-month stint as a U.S. senator just as she came — quietly. As an appointed, interim U.S. senator from California, she posted a solid record of voting with Democrats and against most conservative causes. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/10/24
Marc Benioff’s cheerleading for Trump has horrified liberals. In exclusive interview, he defends his stance -- Marc Benioff, the Salesforce tech titan and one of San Francisco’s biggest philanthropists, has become a surprising cheerleader for President-elect Donald Trump since the election, riling liberal residents who have questioned the billionaire’s motives for expressing excitement about Trump’s second trip to the Oval Office. Jill Tucker, J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/10/24
‘Person of interest’ arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting has ties to Stanford -- The 26-year-old man taken into custody in connection with the fatal New York City shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has ties to San Francisco and Stanford University, according to New York City police officials and his social media accounts. Megan Cassidy, Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/10/24
Californians have dim view of Newsom’s handling of economy, poll finds -- That’s even though a majority of residents are feeling comfortable and optimistic about their own finances. Grant Stringer in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/10/24
Oakland corruption probe: Duong family supported Sheng Thao to rake in taxpayer funds, prosecutors say -- In a bombshell court filing, Alameda County prosecutors have accused a powerful Bay Area family of supporting Sheng Thao’s successful run for mayor in 2022 with the expectation that they’d get something in return: maintaining lucrative government contracts for their recycling company. Nate Gartrell, Jakob Rodgers, Shomik Mukherjee in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/10/24
Workpace
Striking S.F. hotel workers call on JPMorgan to cancel January conference in the city -- Striking San Francisco hotel workers are calling on JPMorgan Chase to cancel its January health care conference in the city, escalating demands amid a months-long contract dispute. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/10/24
Another AI firm is leasing office space in downtown S.F., and expects to take more next year -- Lambda launched in 2012, as so many startups do, out of a San Francisco apartment. But its growth into a 400-person artificial intelligence computing firm has required the company to toggle between the city and Silicon Valley in search of affordable space and top talent. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/10/24
In a Test of Adult Know-How, America Comes Up Short -- When it comes to basic skills such as creating a complex travel itinerary, reading a thermometer or finding information from a website, American workers are falling behind those in other rich countries. Douglas Belkin in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/10/24
Water
‘Zero progress’: Western states at impasse in talks on Colorado River water shortages -- States that rely on the Colorado River are at an impasse in talks on rules to address water shortages. California, Arizona and Nevada are at odds with other states. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
Wildfire
SDG&E shuts off power to tens of thousands as powerful Santa Anas begin to sweep San Diego County -- ‘This is actually the highest fire potential we have seen in San Diego County in six years,’ an SDG&E official warned. Gary Robbins, Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/10/24
Breathe
Polluted communities hold their breath as companies struggle with California’s diesel truck ban -- California has an aggressive mandate for zero-emission trucks, which are powered by electricity or hydrogen. But trucking companies face big obstacles — and people are still breathing dangerous diesel exhaust. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde CalMatters -- 12/10/24
Education
CA college accreditor suggests dropping DEI requirements that Trump vowed to ban -- In proposed changes to its existing standards, the accrediting commission that governs more than 170 California and Hawaii colleges would eliminate “diversity, equity and inclusion” language from its requirements. Olivia Cruz Mayeda in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/10/24
Two students stabbed at high school in Tujunga; one assailant was 14, source says -- Two students were stabbed on campus Monday at Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. Both students were hospitalized with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, and a suspect was detained by police, according to a school district update. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/10/24
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Key Republican senator reports ‘good discussions’ with Pete Hegseth -- After expressing skepticism last week, Sen. Joni Ernst now sounds more positive about Donald Trump’s embattled pick to lead the Pentagon. Paul Kane, Liz Goodwin and Mariana Alfaro in the Washington Post$ Karoun Demirjian and Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 12/10/24
Trump Tests Ethical Boundaries With Branded Merch. (And All Sales Are Final.) -- Everything around President-elect Donald J. Trump has become something to monetize, including a moment of comity with Jill Biden at Notre-Dame over the weekend. Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 12/10/24
Nobel Laureates Urge Senate to Turn Down Kennedy’s Nomination -- Elevating Mr. Kennedy to secretary of H.H.S. “would put the public’s health in jeopardy,” more than 75 laureates wrote. Teddy Rosenbluth in the New York Times$ -- 12/10/24
Can Trump End Birthright Citizenship? Not Easily. -- The president-elect has revived his wish to do away with automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States. The Constitution stands in his way. Patrick J. Lyons and Isabelle Taft in the New York Times$ -- 12/10/24
Trump taps culture warrior and S.F. attorney Harmeet Dhillon to lead Office of Civil Rights -- Trump nominated San Francisco attorney Harmeet Dhillon, a top official with the California Republican Party and someone who has represented him in election law cases, to be assistant attorney general for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Justice. Joe Garofoli, Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Devlin Barrett in the New York Times$ -- 12/10/24
The X-Factor for Kennedy’s Food Agenda: Trump’s Agriculture Secretary -- Brooke Rollins will have to balance farming industry’s interests with priorities of Make America Healthy Again movement. Natalie Andrews, Kristina Peterson and Liz Essley Whyte in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/10/24
How Elon Musk backed away from his climate crusade -- Once one of America’s most outspoken voices on the threat of climate change, Musk now argues these existential risks have been overstated. This shifting stance could influence Trump and help the Tesla CEO’s businesses. Pranshu Verma, Elizabeth Dwoskin, Faiz Siddiqui and Shannon Osaka in the Washington Post$ -- 12/10/24
Kennedy’s War on Corn Syrup Brings a Health Crusade to Trump Country -- When Donald J. Trump said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could “go wild” on health, he might not have expected his pick for health secretary doing battle against the president-elect’s own voters. Jonathan Weisman in the New York Times$ -- 12/10/24