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California Policy and Politics Saturday
Ex-members of L.A. sheriff’s alleged ‘secret police’ testify to oversight commission -- For nearly five hours Friday, the Civilian Oversight Commission grilled two former members of a secretive unit within the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department accused of targeting former Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s foes. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/24
Newsom’s gas price plan clears Senate, but some Democrats dissent -- The Senate passed Assembly Bill X2-1 — which would require oil refineries to maintain additional inventory that they can draw from during maintenance periods to sustain a steady supply for drivers — on a 23-9 vote. Final approval, sending the measure to Newsom for his signature, is expected Monday in the Assembly, which passed a previous version last week. Alexei Koseff CalMatters -- 10/12/24
Skelton: The Newsom administration’s confounding actions on gas prices -- The Newsom administration is in conflict with itself on gasoline pricing, speaking from both sides of its mouth. Is it trying to hold down prices at the gas pump or is it OK with hiking them? Both, it seems. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/24
FBI corruption probe subject alleges $25,000 shakedown attempt by Alameda County DA Pamela Price -- A political operative and key figure in the FBI’s massive political corruption investigation is now accusing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price of an attempted $25,000 shakedown, before she charged him with a felony. Nate Gartrell and Jakob Rodgers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/12/24
Here’s how much Californians will pay to keep PG&E’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant running -- Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will charge the average residential customer about $41 in 2025 to keep California’s only nuclear power plant running longer than planned. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/24
Workplace
California state workers are staying in their job longer and retiring later -- The other factor, Rhee said, can be attributed to changes California made over a decade ago that increased the age when public employees received pension benefits. William Melhado in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/12/24
H5N1
California’s human bird flu cases jump from 3 to 6 in a week, as outbreak spreads -- The number of confirmed human bird flu cases in California has doubled from three to six within a week. According to the California Department of Health, all cases involve Central Valley residents who had contact with infected dairy cattle. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/24
Homewood
Beloved Tahoe ski area says it won’t open at all this winter -- The historic 1,200-acre ski area has been owned by San Francisco real estate investment firm JMA Ventures for 18 years and has long served as a winter community hub. But sales of lift tickets and season passes have plummeted significantly in recent years, prompting the owners to rethink the business. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/24
Education
New blunder in SFUSD increases frustration: ‘Unnecessary chaos’ -- San Francisco school officials admitted Friday that they’d shared inaccurate data related to this week’s controversial school closure proposal, the latest mistake district leaders have grappled with in recent weeks. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/12/24
Intense UCLA policing draws scrutiny as security chief speaks out on handling protests -- UCLA’s top security chief, hired after protest violence last spring, speaks out on campus safety plan amid faculty concerns about excessive police presence. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/12/24
Top of the ticket
Trump is pushing falsehoods. Some Republicans are worried about the fallout -- In the final weeks of the campaign, the former president has been toggling between outlandish claims about Haitians and other migrants, false descriptions of the federal response to recent hurricanes and incorrect statistics about the economy and crime. Adam Wren Politico -- 10/12/24
Trump amplifies falsehoods about immigrants in closing appeal -- As his edge on the economy fades, the Republican nominee campaigned Friday in Aurora, Colo., promoting false claims about Venezuelan gangs taking over residential buildings there. Sabrina Rodriguez in the Washington Post$ Michael Gold and Jonathan Weisman in the New York Times$ Irie Sentner Politico -- 10/12/24
Harris Says She Would Form Bipartisan Council of Advisers -- The stop in Arizona was part of the Harris campaign’s strategy to court Republicans disaffected with former President Donald J. Trump. Simon J. Levien in the New York Times$ -- 10/12/24
In Michigan, Walz Assails Trump’s Record on Manufacturing --The Minnesota governor running for vice president on the Democratic ticket also had strong words for Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman who is working to get former President Donald J. Trump elected. Kellen Browning in the New York Times$ -- 10/12/24
The New Trump Movie Is Scaring Both MAGA and the Resistance -- The Apprentice, the controversial new Donald Trump movie that opens Friday, portrays the future 45th president as a rapist, a liar and a sketchy businessman who stiffs just about everyone. It also represents an almost shockingly sympathetic depiction of the young developer who 40 years later would come to dominate American politics. Michael Schaffer Politico -- 10/12/24
Also
James Carville on Aging, Edibles and His Anxieties About Harris -- At 79, the Democratic commentator is the subject of a documentary that captures his musings — and his warning to President Biden — about the toils of age. Adam Nagourney in the New York Times$ -- 10/12/24
Florida has nearly all ballots counted on Election Day, while California can take weeks. This is why -- California, the nation’s most populous state, is consistently among the slowest to report all its election results. Florida, the third-most populous state, is generally among the first to finish. Maya Sweedler Associated Press -- 10/12/24
California Policy and Politics Friday
Trump takes Coachella. Why? -- The 2020 election results could hold a clue as to why Trump’s headlining an event in the California desert more closely associated with music festival goers than the MAGA set. Lara Korte Politico -- 10/11/24
California officials cite Elon Musk’s politics in rejecting SpaceX launches -- Elon Musk’s tweets about the presidential election and spreading falsehoods about Hurricane Helene are endangering his ability to launch rockets off California’s central coast. Alex Nieves Politico -- 10/11/24
Poll: If Trump wins the White House, Californians want their next senator to fight back -- If Trump and Schiff both win, California’s likely voters want to see the Burbank lawmaker continue to play an antagonistic role against Trump, poll data suggest. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/24
Dems are split over California rent control measure — but YIMBYs are firmly on one side -- That California is in the throes of a crippling housing crisis is not in dispute – but whether a rent control measure on the November ballot would help or hurt the crisis has become a matter of fierce debate among Democrats. Molly Burke in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
San Francisco Zoo described as ‘unsafe for visitors and animals’ in scathing city report -- The San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission has released a scathing report on the San Francisco Zoo, describing the 95-year-old facility as “extremely outdated” and “unsafe for visitors and animals.” Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Marshawn Lynch hints at run for Oakland mayor -- The former NFL and Cal Berkeley star hinted at a run on his podcast with Gavin Newsom and Doug Hendrickson. Christopher Cadelago Politico -- 10/11/24
Workplace
Kaiser mental health workers prepare to strike, this time in Southern California -- The strike would be the second one in a little more than two years by California mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente. The clock is ticking to avoid a walkout. Jocelyn Wiener CalMatters -- 10/11/24
LAPD
LAPD rookie cops face hazing by shaved heads and other ‘rites of passage,’ report says -- LAPD training officers have forced new hires to wear long-sleeved uniforms in hot weather, forbid them from speaking unless spoken to, and told them to “forget everything you learned in the academy,” according to a new study by the department’s inspector general. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/24
Wildfire
Are California’s forests becoming more resilient to wildfire? State leaders say yes -- As California sees yet another year of devastating wildfires, state and federal officials on Thursday reported headway on boosting the health and fire-resiliency of forests — but perhaps not quite enough. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Dream Keeper
Black faith leaders rally to support S.F. equity program under fire -- More than a dozen church leaders gathered Thursday to urge San Francisco to continue investing in the local Black community through the Dream Keeper Initiative despite reports of mismanagement and conflicts of interest in the program. Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Test scores
California students’ math and English test scores rise, but pandemic losses remain stark -- Test scores for California public school students are trending upward — especially among Latino, Black and low-income children — but still lag behind pre-pandemic scores with a majority of all students placing below grade-level standards in math, English and science, according to state data released Thursday. Kate Sequeira in the Los Angeles Times$ Diana Lambert, John Fensterwald, Zaidee Stavely, Lasherica Thornton, Mallika Seshadri, and Monica Velez EdSource -- 10/11/24
Enrollment declines
SFUSD is closing schools as enrollment declines. Other California districts could follow -- As the San Francisco Unified School District deliberates over a tentative list of school closures, it will have to account for the fact that the district’s enrollment has declined for several years — and could fall much further. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Tahoe wolves
Wolves near Lake Tahoe? California officials are investigating -- State wildlife officials are investigating a series of recent reports of wolf sightings in mountains south of Lake Tahoe. Gregory Thomas in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Klamath
California’s massive dam removal has been lauded. But residents miss the lakes -- The first thing you notice at Copco Lake is that there’s no lake here. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Bar exam
California Supreme Court clears the way for major changes to State Bar exam -- Over the objections of law school deans, the California Supreme Court agreed Thursday to allow the State Bar to revamp its bar exam, with questions that are intended to focus more on legal skills than theory, while helping the bar dig itself out of a financial hole. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/11/24
Medicare millions
SoCal pair milked Medicare for $6 million in gold bars, other riches, feds allege -- A Medicare fraud scheme ran by a Southern California duo involved multiple local medical facilities, foreign nationals, fake bank accounts and laundering millions of dollars with gold in a Glendale apartment, prosecutors say. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/24
Environment
‘There is no easy fix’: Study reveals attitudes about lack of trees in South L.A. -- Studies have laid bare the unequal distribution of L.A.’s tree canopy. A new report suggests historic inequities won’t be a quick fix. Lila Seidman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/11/24
Top of the ticket
Battle for Swing States Is Tied, Trump Has Edge on Top Issues, WSJ Poll Shows -- Voters prefer the Republican on economy and border security, but Harris still has a path to Electoral College win. Aaron Zitner in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/11/24
Musk Is Going All In to Elect Trump -- Elon Musk is planting himself in Pennsylvania, has brought his brain trust to help and may even knock on doors himself. Theodore Schleifer, Maggie Haberman, Ryan Mac and Jonathan Swan in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/24
Elon Musk’s Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit -- Mr. Musk has built a constellation of like-minded heads of state — including Argentina’s Javier Milei and India’s Narendra Modi — to push his own politics and expand his business empire. Ryan Mac, Jack Nicas and Alex Travelli in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/24
How a Fox News host’s misleading question about migrant children morphed into a Trump talking point -- Former President Donald J. Trump and his surrogates have repeatedly accused the Biden administration of losing tens of thousands of migrant children, distorting, conflating and inflating government statistics. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/24
Eight years ago, Trump vowed to ‘drain the swamp.’ Now he swims in it -- The former president’s inner circle includes a range of people who also advocate for corporate interests. Isaac Stanley-Becker and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 10/11/24
Vance, Given 5 Chances to Say Trump Lost in 2020, Takes None -- In an interview with The New York Times, Senator JD Vance repeatedly refused to acknowledge Donald J. Trump’s defeat and said he would not have certified the 2020 results. Michael C. Bender in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/24
Obama blasts men for finding ‘all kinds of excuses’ to avoid voting for a female president -- Former President Obama joined the campaign trail for the final stretch Thursday with some “truths” for men, especially Black men, who he said were not delivering the enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris that they did when he was running for president. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ Yasmeen Abutaleb in the Washington Post$ Erica L. Green and Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ Brakkton Booker Politico -- 10/11/24
In a Rambling Speech, Trump Offers Gripes and Yet Another Tax Cut -- Even before this latest proposal, aimed at promoting car sales, an analysis found that the former president’s economic agenda could add $15 trillion to the nation’s debt over a decade. Michael Gold and Alan Rappeport in the New York Times$ Joshua Jamerson and Richard Rubin in the Wall Street Journal$ Gavin Bade and Sam Sutton Politico -- 10/11/24
Harris Walks Fine Line on Immigration at Univision Town Hall -- The event in Las Vegas featured emotional questions from voters on health care and the economy — and displayed the balance Kamala Harris is seeking on tough border rules and paths to citizenship. Nicholas Nehamas, Jazmine Ulloa and Jack Healy in the New York Times$ Megan Messerly Politico -- 10/11/24
Trump Says He Was ‘Man of the Year.’ His Source Says It Isn’t True -- Fact-checkers have found no evidence over the years that former President Donald J. Trump once received the honor in Michigan. Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 10/11/24
Also
Why doesn’t California get hurricanes? -- Earthquakes, heat waves and floods, yes. But the Golden State is at extremely low risk for hurricanes. Experts say it mostly comes down to two words: water temperature. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/11/24
A police dept. bought a $153K Cybertruck. It won’t be used for patrols -- The Irvine Police Department revamped a Tesla Cybertruck in hopes of engaging children at Drug Abuse Resistance Education events. Kyle Melnick in the Washington Post$ -- 10/11/24