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California Policy and Politics Thursday
Sergey Brin Backs New California Political Effort as Threat of Wealth Tax Looms -- Google co-founder joins other wealthy individuals in backing a new nonpartisan, nonprofit organization aimed at tackling housing affordability. Laura J. Nelson in the Wall Street Journal$ Laurel Rosenhall and Theodore Schleifer in the New York Times$ -- 1/29/26
Trump, GOP leaders ramp up attacks over Palisades Fire as California wildfire aid sits in limbo -- The bitter partisan feud over the Los Angeles fires continues to intensify more than a year after the deadly disaster, with President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans ramping up their attacks on the state and local response this week as they ignore calls to provide more financial assistance for the recovery. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/29/26
Newsom bets big on Trump’s goodwill to shrink California’s budget hole -- Gavin Newsom is making a billion-dollar gamble in his latest budget plan, banking on money from a tax on health insurance carriers to help close a projected deficit. Rachel Bluth Politico -- 1/29/26
Expiration of federal health insurance subsidies: What to know in California -- Despite fears that more people would go without coverage with the end of the extra benefits, the number enrolling in Covered California has held steady so far, according to state data. But that may change. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
California Supreme Court strikes down Huntington Beach voter ID law -- The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to allow a city to require voters to show photo identification at the polls, striking down a law that had taken effect after the city’s voters approved it nearly two years ago. But the issue may soon be before voters statewide. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/29/26
Corruption case against L.A. Councilmember Curren Price can move to trial, judge rules -- Price is accused of embezzlement, perjury and having a conflict of interest in City Council votes that stood to benefit his wife and her consulting company. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
After Minneapolis shootings, California advances a bill allowing lawsuits against federal agents -- Senate Bill 747 by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) creates a pathway for residents to take legal action against federal agents for excessive use of force, unlawful home searches, interfering with a right to protest and other violations. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
DHS confirms Super Bowl security role amid fears of ICE enforcement — but details remain unclear -- With Super Bowl LX less than two weeks away, federal officials have confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security will be involved in security for the Bay Area’s biggest event in years — a routine role the department plays at major sporting events — even as viral reports and heightened national tensions have fueled fears that immigration enforcement could be tied to the game. Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/29/26
Workplace
Layoffs hit Zuckerberg and Chan’s philanthropy in Silicon Valley -- The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is laying off about 70 employees in Redwood City as the philanthropy founded by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan restructures to focus more narrowly on artificial intelligence–driven biomedical research. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/29/26
Pinterest to cut up to 15% of its workforce as focus on AI intensifies -- Pinterest said Tuesday it’s planning to slash up to 15% of its workforce. The San Francisco-based image-sharing platform used for inspiration for home decor, fashion and other interests is laying off workers as part of a restructuring plan. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
U.S. Companies Are Still Slashing Jobs to Reverse Pandemic Hiring Boom -- Many corporations binged on labor during the pandemic. Now, facing economic uncertainty and threats from AI, they are slimming down. Konrad Putzier and Chip Cutter in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/29/26
Water
Trump is winning his water tug-of-war with Newsom -- President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom are in a race to capture as much water as possible in California — possibly even at each other’s expense. Camille von Kaenel Politico -- 1/29/26
Wildfire
Pasadena Jewish Temple sues Edison for igniting Eaton fire -- The Pasadena Jewish Temple sued Southern California Edison, claiming the utility’s negligence and aging transmission lines sparked the Eaton Fire that destroyed the congregation’s sanctuary and preschool. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
A push to end a fractured approach to post-fire contamination removal -- Conflicting guidance from scientists, insurers and governments on how to clean up contamination from the Eaton and Palisades fires has left homeowners unsure when it is safe to return. Noah Haggerty and Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
Education
Trump administration finds California’s ban on ‘forced outing’ of students violates federal law -- Federal officials threatened to pull education funding unless the state takes steps to amend its rules. Eric He Politico -- 1/29/26
Department of Education finds San Jose State violated Title IX regarding transgender volleyball player -- The U.S. Department of Education has given San José State 10 days to comply with a list of demands after finding that the university violated Title IX concerning a transgender volleyball player in 2024. Steve Henson in the Los Angeles Times$ Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/29/26
UCLA medical school uses a ‘systemically racist approach’ to admissions, DOJ alleges -- The Trump administration on Wednesday sought to join a lawsuit filed in federal court alleging UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine illegally considers race inits admission process. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
Also
Tesla to kill off Model S and X vehicles, convert Fremont factory to build robots -- Speaking on Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Musk said the company will convert production lines at its Fremont factory to manufacture Optimus humanoid robots, a move he said will involve adding workers at the plant and ramping up production overall. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/29/26
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Top Trump officials’ reversal on Minneapolis shooting: Policy change or damage control? -- Despite softened rhetoric from White House officials, federal immigration enforcement continues unabated in the city with no sign of fundamental policy change. Jenny Jarvie and Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
Democrats Demand Unmasked Agents, New Limits to Fund D.H.S. -- Senate Democrats on Wednesday demanded that federal agents carrying out President Trump’s immigration crackdown take off their masks and stop warrantless searches and arrests, laying out a list of conditions they said must be attached to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security ahead of a Friday shutdown deadline. Carl Hulse and Catie Edmondson in the New York Times$ Riley Beggin and Theodoric Meyer in the Washington Post$ -- 1/29/26
Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century -- Experts say federal agents have breached policing standards without any apparent concern or investigative oversight from the administration. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/29/26
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
Hollywood Burbank Airport at risk of a midair collision, top U.S. transportation official says -- NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said, “Burbank is one where commercial airlines have called me to say the next midair is going to be at Burbank, and nobody at [the Federal Aviation Administration] is paying attention to us.” Andrew J. Campa and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
Trump moves to take over Los Angeles wildfire recovery from local and state authorities -- In an unprecedented decision, the president issued an executive order to strip permitting authority for rebuilding from local officials and hand it to the federal government. Liam Dillon Politico Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/28/26
Foreign-born population falls by 1.5 million due to Trump policies. California economy under threat -- California’s population growth stalled from mid-2024 to mid-2025, marking the first essentially flat growth after years of pandemic-era slowdown. Trump administration immigration raids and policy changes reduced the foreign-born population by 1.5 million, slowing U.S. population growth to half a percent. Terry Castleman and Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
San Diego sues federal agencies over razor wire fencing on city land -- San Diego is suing the federal government for allegedly trespassing on city land near the Mexican border to build razor wire fencing that the city says illegally damaged protected habitat and endangered species areas without notice or approval. Deborah Brennan Calmatters -- 1/28/26
Teamsters California endorses proposed billionaires tax -- Teamsters California, with 250,000 members statewide, is endorsing the billionaires tax that could be on the November ballot, becoming the largest union to back the ballot measure. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/28/26
How past ICE funding votes are reshaping California’s race for governor -- Democratic front-runners Eric Swalwell and Katie Porter face harsh criticism for past votes funding ICE as Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies following another Minneapolis killing. Nicole Nixon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
Barabak: They said Katie Porter was dead politically. I checked her pulse -- The last time a significant number of people tuned into California‘s low-frequency race for governor was in October, when Porter’s political obituary was being written in bold type. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
GOP Candidate Steve Hilton Would Extradite California Abortion Doctor to Louisiana -- Steve Hilton, a leading Republican candidate for California governor, said he would allow Louisiana to extradite a Bay Area abortion doctor to face charges if he’s elected, despite state laws prohibiting cooperation and strong public support for reproductive rights. Marisa Lagos KQED -- 1/28/26
Newsom urges California law enforcement to investigate possible federal agent crimes -- Gavin Newsom called on California law enforcement agencies on Tuesday to exercise their “full authority” in investigating possible crimes involving federal agents amid a national uproar over the killing of two people by federal agents in Minnesota. Lindsey Holden Politico Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/28/26
California bill would ban ICE agents from jobs in teaching and policing -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be disqualified from working in California law enforcement and inside the public school system under a new bill introduced in the Legislature this week. Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/28/26
California Democrats push for Noem impeachment and halt of immigration funding -- California House Democrats on Tuesday continued to press for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem and a halt to immigration enforcement funding. Mathew Miranda in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/28/26
California Republicans issue mixed and muted response to ICE shooting of Alex Pretti -- California’s Republican politicians have stayed relatively quiet about a federal immigration agent’s shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti, even as his death roils both state and national politics. Andrew Graham and David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/28/26
Speaker Rivas backs government shutdown over ICE as GOP lawmakers back Trump -- Flanked by dozens of lawmakers from each chamber, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, called on both his national party’s leaders and on California Republicans to reign in the federal government after this weekend’s death in Minneapolis. Andrew Graham in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/28/26
‘Inhumane’ conditions at CA immigrant detention center? Padilla: Yes. DHS: No -- When Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff visited the California City immigration detention center last week, they were appalled. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/28/26
New California bill targets federal push to sell off public lands -- On Tuesday, California lawmakers held a news conference introducing a bipartisan environmental bill — Assembly Bill 1624 — aimed at strengthening protections for the Golden State’s public lands from federally-backed “privatization and irreversible development.” Chaewon Chung in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/28/26
EPA dings California over emissions inspections rule for out-of-state trucks -- The Trump administration on Tuesday said a California regulation applying heavy-duty emissions inspection and maintenance requirements to out-of-state trucks is unlawful and won’t count toward the state’s pollution reduction requirements. Alex Guillén Politico -- 1/28/26
New bill asks state to craft urgent wildfire smoke safety standards after Chronicle investigation -- The proposed law follows a Chronicle investigation that revealed how experts and insurance companies have at times contradicted science findings and minimized lab results showing chemical contamination within the homes of Los Angeles wildfire survivors. Susie Neilson, Megan Fan Munce, Sara DiNatale in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/28/26
L.A. council puts off yet another attempt to rewrite the city’s ‘mansion tax’ -- Measure ULA, L.A.’s so-called mansion tax, has been an object of scorn within the real estate industry, with developers saying it has put a major chill on the construction of desperately needed apartments. Andrew Khouri and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 1/28/26
Workplace
California mental health hospitals warn of cuts after state hands down staffing rules -- Psychiatric hospitals could close beds under proposed state rules if regulators don’t allow implementation time, facilities warn. Kristen Hwang Calmatters -- 1/28/26
UPS Says It Is Cutting Up to 30,000 Jobs -- The delivery company said it was planning the cuts this year because it expected to deliver fewer packages for Amazon, a large but unprofitable customer. Peter Eavis in the New York Times$ -- 1/28/26
Wildfire
Who Decides When a Home Is Safe? A California Bill Says Science, Not Insurers -- Following a Times investigation, a state lawmaker is proposing the first health-based standards for assessing smoke contamination after wildfires. Rukmini Callimachi and Blacki Migliozzi in the New York Times$ -- 1/28/26
Develop
Chevron’s HQ left California. A developer now plans to add thousands more homes in its place -- Plans for 8,400 new homes at San Ramon's Bishop Ranch is an ambitious pivot that reflects a broader reckoning with the struggles of the suburban American office park in the remote work era. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/28/26
Rent
‘Finally, a renter’s market’: L.A. rent prices drop to four-year low -- L.A. metro area rent prices dropped to a four-year low in December, with the median rent falling to $2,167. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
Education
Bachelor’s degrees at community colleges: Lawmakers say yes, UC and CSU say slow down -- The latest bill would allow Southwestern College to create up to four additional bachelor’s programs aimed at workforce needs in south San Diego County. Mikhail Zinshteyn Calmatters -- 1/28/26
Also
Walters: California budget volatility continues to complicate efforts to close its deficits -- California legislators are facing a fifth straight budget where spending would outstrip its revenues, amid warnings of multibillion-dollar deficits stretching well into the future unless they either reduce outlays or increase income. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 1/28/26
Fake ivy installed along U.S. 101 in downtown Los Angeles to deter graffiti -- In a bid to foil graffiti vandals, the California Department of Transportation has installed artificial ivy along U.S. 101 in downtown Los Angeles ahead of the FIFA World Cup starting in June and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
Tails of the City: San Francisco’s Latest Animal Sensation Is a Mountain Lion -- Cellphones around San Francisco buzzed late Monday night with a very unusual alert: A young mountain lion had been spotted prowling around Pacific Heights, the upscale northern neighborhood dotted with mansions and lush parks. Heather Knight in the New York Times$ -- 1/28/26
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German soccer leader adds to calls for boycott of World Cup matches in United States -- A growing number of international leaders are suggesting it’s time to reconsider the idea of playing the World Cup in the United States this summer. Kevin Baxter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/28/26
Even Stephen Miller is jumping on CBP for the killing of Alex Pretti -- White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller is distancing himself from the Department of Homeland Security amid widespread outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis. Aaron Pellish Politico -- 1/28/26
Meta blocks posts sharing database of ICE agents -- Meta has stopped Facebook, Instagram and Threads users from sharing a database claiming to contain thousands of names and photos of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, citing privacy concerns. Alfred Ng Politico -- 1/28/26
Outcry in Italy as U.S. Says ICE Agents Will Join Olympics Delegation -- The Italian government said it had requested clarification from American diplomats after D.H.S. said that ICE agents would help secure the U.S. Olympic delegation next week in northern Italy. Motoko Rich in the New York Times$ -- 1/28/26