Updating . .
The driverless revolution may exact a political price -- Driverless vehicles threaten to dramatically reduce America's 1.7-million trucking jobs. It is the front end of a wave of automation that technologists and economists have been warning for years will come crashing down on America's political order. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
Santa Ana to Pay $1 Million for Car Dealers’ New Digital Billboard -- Santa Ana City Council members have approved spending $1 million from the city’s emergency reserves to build a new freeway digital billboard for car dealerships at the Santa Ana auto mall, including luxury brands Audi, BMW, Volvo, and Lincoln. Nick Gerda VoiceofOC.org -- 11/21/17
Northern California shooter exploited 'honor system' in telling court he had no guns -- When Kevin Janson Neal told a judge in February that he'd turned over his only firearm, authorities relied on the "honor system," as they often do, in taking him at his word, a Tehama County sheriff's official said. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
Hiltzik: The chained CPI: Another secret tax hike for the middle class slipped into the GOP tax bills -- But here’s a tax increase on working Americans that hasn’t been very well publicized, even though it’s in both GOP proposals. It’s a change in the inflation measure on which tax rates are calculated to something called the chained consumer price index. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
California shows its Obamacare support by outspending U.S. 4-to-1 on ads -- The marketing blitz is on. Californians are getting barraged with online pop-up ads, radio spots and television commercials, all aimed at persuading them to sign up for Affordable Care Act health plans during this year’s open-enrollment season. Ana B. Ibarra and Carmen Heredia Rodriguez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
FCC chairman sets out to repeal 'net neutrality' rules -- Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday followed through on his pledge to repeal 2015 regulations designed to ensure that internet service providers treat all online content and apps equally, setting up a showdown with consumer groups and internet companies who fear the move will stifle competition and innovation. Associated Press Alina Selyukh KQED Cecilia Kang in the New York Times$ Brian Fung in the Washington Post$ -- 11/21/17
What’s net neutrality and why does the FCC want to end it? -- The long-anticipated reckoning for “net neutrality” is finally here, thanks to Republican leadership of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Abby Hamblin in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/17
Is a new transportation sales tax in the future for Riverside County? -- Worries about long-term transportation needs have spurred rumblings of a ballot measure for another sales tax to fund transportation projects in Riverside County. Jeff Horseman in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 11/21/17
Tehama deputies were called 21 times to gunman’s neighborhood in the months before shooting spree -- The incident reports, released to The Sacramento Bee in response to a Public Records Act request, depict a feud in rural Rancho Tehama Reserve that was escalating out of control. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/21/17
Hospitals are rationing saline solution. Patients are starting to worry -- Sacramento resident Charis Hill was caught off guard by the tiny bottle of saline solution hanging from the intravenous pole when she went for the latest infusion of medication that helps her avoid crippling pain. Accustomed to seeing a much larger bag of fluid, she immediately asked staff about the change. Cathie Anderson and Molly Sullivan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/21/17
Lawsuits claim top San Diego restaurants defrauding consumers with minimum wage surcharge -- Lawsuits have been filed against more than a dozen San Diego restaurants and dining groups claiming they are defrauding their patrons by illegally tacking on a surcharge to customers’ bills that many operators have been using to defray increasing labor costs. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/17
Wrecked And Retching: Obscure Vomiting Illness Linked To Long-Term Pot Use -- She had an obscure syndrome called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a condition only recently acknowledged by the medical community. It affects a small population — namely, a subset of marijuana users who smoke multiple times a day for months, years or even decades. Pauline Bartolone KQED -- 11/21/17
California Policy & Politics This Morning
From City Hall to the White House? Eric Garcetti May Try to Defy the Odds -- There have been governors and generals, senators and members of Congress, secretaries of state and vice presidents. There was even a billionaire business executive chosen as commander in chief. But never in the 228 years since Gen. George Washington was sworn in as president has a sitting mayor been elected to the White House. Adam Nagourney in the New York Times$ -- 11/21/17
Federal judge blocks Trump's executive order to cut funding to 'sanctuary' cities -- A federal judge has permanently blocked President Trump's executive order to cut funding from cities that limit cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities. U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick issued the ruling Monday in lawsuits brought by two California counties: San Francisco and Santa Clara. Sudhin Thanawala Associated Press Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/17
Utility regulators used private lawyers to challenge criminal probe of agency -- California Public Utilities Commission lawyers repeatedly sought to quash court-approved search warrants after utility regulators last year promised they would cooperate with an Attorney General’s Office criminal investigation, newly released records show. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/17
As sexual harassment in politics investigations widen, California Assemblyman accused by six new women -- Late one August night in 2010 at a bar, Sylvia Castillo slid into a booth next to Raul Bocanegra, who was then the chief of staff to California Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes. Bocanegra was a familiar face to Castillo, who worked as a coordinator for a student mentorship program in Sacramento. Melanie Mason and Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/
L.A. City Councilwoman Nury Martinez calls on Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra to resign immediately -- Martinez called on the Democratic assemblyman from Pacoima, whom she called a “friend and ally,” to step down earlier than his announced resignation date of Sept. 1, 2018. Bocanegra’s decision not to seek reelection came just before The Times published a story in which six women accused him of making unwanted sexual advances. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
Congresswoman accuses former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment -- A sitting member of Congress said former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner made unwelcome sexual advances when they served together in the House of Representatives, the latest accusation against the disgraced politician. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/17
California man accused of making death threats in racist voicemail to Rep. Maxine Waters -- Anthony Scott Lloyd, 44, was indicted late last week on a charge of threatening to kill Waters in a voicemail left at her Washington, D.C., office last month, prosecutors said. Lloyd, who was arrested Nov. 9, remains free in lieu of $20,000 bail. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for governor -- Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson endorsed Antonio Villaraigosa for governor on Monday, telling a group of underprivileged and minority youths that it was critical to elect a man who understood their struggles and would take their values to Sacramento. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
New Democratic challenger for Rep. Steve Knight says the 'political climate is more dangerous now' -- Saying she needs to respond to Republican attacks on women’s rights, immigration and the social safety net, Diedra Greenaway is challenging Rep. Steve Knight in the Antelope Valley’s 25th Congressional District. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
Democratic donor Tom Steyer will run Trump impeachment ads in Times Square -- Top Democratic donor Tom Steyer is taking his effort to impeach President Trump to New York City’s Times Square with billboard ads that will run until New Year's Day. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
What will happen to Charles Manson's remains? -- According to state law, Manson's next of kin has 10 days — or until Nov. 29 — either to claim or decline to take possession of the body. If his relatives decline, prison officials must make arrangements for cremation or burial. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/17
She was stabbed 100 times at Granada Hills group home, and it was ‘completely preventable,’ lawsuit says -- A Granada Hills group home for adults with developmental disabilities made a series of missteps that led to the torturous slaying of a female resident earlier this year, a civil lawsuit claims. Brenda Gazzar in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/21/17
Hackers attack Sacramento transit system and demand $8,000 ransom -- Computer hackers directly attacked the Sacramento Regional Transit system computers this weekend, erasing data and threatening to do more harm if SacRT doesn’t pay them one bitcoin, now worth about $8,000. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/21/17
The art of the deal — Capitol style -- We often read about the “wheeling and dealing” among elected officials that occurs in state capitols across this country, including Sacramento. While some Capitol observers refer to it as lawful deal-making, others characterize it as improper, or even unlawful, vote trading. Chris Micheli Capitol Weekly -- 11/21/17
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Opponents of California gas-tax increase get green light to launch petition drive for repeal initiative -- Republican activists were given the green light Monday to launch a petition drive aimed at qualifying a measure for the November 2018 ballot that would repeal recently enacted gas taxes and vehicle fees meant for road repairs and mass transit improvement. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
F.C.C. Is Said to Plan Repeal of Net Neutrality Rules -- The Federal Communications Commission is preparing a full repeal of net neutrality rules that require broadband providers to give consumers equal access to all content on the internet, putting more power in the hands of those companies to dictate people’s online experiences. Cecelia Kang in the New York Times$ -- 11/21/17
Mandalay Bay and concert promoter sued by hundreds of Las Vegas massacre survivors -- Lawyers representing more than 450 victims of the Oct. 1 Las Vegas massacre filed multiple lawsuits Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, arguing that hotel and concert officials did not do enough to prevent a shooting that left 58 people dead. Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/17
SDG&E and city-run alternative compete to provide 100 percent green power in San Diego -- The government-run alternative to San Diego Gas & Electric, known as community choice aggregation, is getting some competition from the investor-owned utility. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/21/17
San Diego To Partner With Ford And Qualcomm To Test Driverless Cars -- Qualcomm, along with other tech firms and Ford Motor Company, will be testing their driverless car technology in Chula Vista, as part of San Diego's proving ground. Tom Fudge KPBS -- 11/21/17
Personal income is growing – slowly – in Fresno County and the Valley -- New figures from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed that per capita income – the average personal income for every man, woman and child – in Fresno County amounted to just over $40,000 in 2016. That was up 2.5 percent compared to 2015, and includes income from employment, unemployment insurance, dividends, government benefits, retirement payments or just about anything else that puts money in your pocket. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 11/21/17
Housing
GOP tax plans could further choke Bay Area housing market -- Quick and profitable home sales by short-term owners in the Bay Area could face steep new taxes under the Republican federal tax overhaul. Owners selling a house within five years in the region, one of the nation’s most expensive real estate markets, would be punished by new capital gains rules found in the GOP tax proposals, according to a new study. Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/21/17
$216,181: That’s the household income needed to buy a house in San Jose metro area, report says -- Here’s one more dubious distinction for San Jose and San Francisco: The two metro areas are the runaway national leaders in the amount of household income needed to buy a house. Richard Scheinin in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/21/17
Wildfire
Trump administration rejects California lawmakers’ criticism on wildfires aid -- Answering angry state lawmakers, White House officials denied Monday that they had omitted money for Northern California fire victims from their $44 billion disaster aid request to Congress. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/17
Santa Rosa retirement-community operators sued over wildfire evacuation -- Four residents have filed a lawsuit against Oakmont Senior Living and Oakmont Management Group accusing the retirement-community operators of failing to safely evacuate them from their assisted living facility, which burned to the ground during last month’s wildfires. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Bill Swindell in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 11/21/17
Some insurers giving fire victims wrong information, official says -- On Oct. 13, Jones declared an emergency situation in California, which allowed insurance companies to bring in out-of-state adjusters to handle fire claims. Some misinformation given to policyholders might be coming from adjusters who are not familiar with state law. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/17
Education
Leading Democratic candidates for California governor back universal preschool -- In what would be a significant shift from Gov. Jerry Brown’s position on early education, the four leading Democratic candidates running to replace him next year say they are committed to offering universal preschool in California. Louis Freedberg and Ashley Hopkinson EdSource -- 11/21/17
Immigration / Border
With prototypes of the border wall in place, both Mexicans and Californians are talking about Trump’s plan -- President Donald Trump’s self-described “big, beautiful” border wall is taking shape with eight 30-foot prototypes rising in San Diego — stark barriers that have not impressed those living on the Tijuana side of the Mexican border. Alejandra Molina in the Orange County Register -- 11/21/17
Trump administration takes travel ban back to Supreme Court -- President Donald Trump's travel ban policy is back at the Supreme Court just weeks after the justices announced they were dumping a challenge to an earlier version of the administration's effort to crack down on immigration from countries deemed to be a terrorism threat. Josh Gerstein Politico -- 11/21/17
Also . . .
ACLU says Anaheim police among national leaders in civilian homicides -- The American Civil Liberties Union of California issued a blistering report Monday contending that civilians in Anaheim are more likely to die at the hands of police officers than are the citizens of most other big U.S. cities. Scott Schwebke and Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register Jill Replogle KPCC -- 11/21/17
11 Hells Angels members accused of violent racketeering -- Eleven members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including eight bikers in the Sonoma County chapter, are accused of running a racketeering enterprise that included murder, assault, maiming, robbery, extortion and witness intimidation, according to a federal indictment unsealed Monday. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/17
California prisons failing inmates freed from solitary, advocates charge -- California prisons no longer hold large numbers of prisoners for a decade or more in solitary confinement, but advocates said Monday that prison officials have failed to provide promised mental health services and other programs for traumatized inmates released into the general prison population. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/17
POTUS 45
Judge: Trump voter fraud commission on ice till next year -- A commission that President Donald Trump tasked with investigating his own unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud won’t meet again this year, according to court records, fueling more questions about the panel’s future and its viability. Josh Gerstein Politico -- 11/21/17
Trump golf course reimbursed President Trump’s charity amid ongoing investigation into the foundation -- One of President Trump’s golf courses paid back more than $158,000 to Trump’s charitable foundation this year, reimbursing the charity for money that had been used to settle a lawsuit against the club, according to a new tax filing. David A. Fahrenthold in the Washington Post$ -- 11/21/17
Trump Tweets for NFL to Suspend Marshawn Lynch — Oakland’s Mayor Claps Back -- In an early morning tweet, President Trump took aim at another U.S. athlete… this time calling on the NFL to suspend Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch. Tara Siler KQED -- 11/21/17
Beltway
Congress speeds toward shutdown over Dreamers -- Concern is growing in both parties that a clash over the fate of Dreamers will trigger a government shutdown this December. Rachael Bade and Heather Caygle Politico -- 11/21/17
-- Monday Updates
Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra announces he will resign next year as Times prepares report on new sexual harassment allegations -- Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra announced he will not seek reelection Monday, citing “persistent rumors and speculation” regarding sexual harassment claims. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/20/17
Newsom has bipartisan target on his back as apparent front-runner for governor -- With the June 5 primary still more than six months away, Democratic state Treasurer John Chiang and Republican businessman John Cox are both spending campaign cash to slam Newsom for his work as San Francisco’s mayor and, in Cox’s case, for Newsom’s association with Brown. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/20/17
Why tougher fire safety rules for utility companies took 10 years -- For 10 days in October of 2007, wildfires riding hot Santa Ana winds swept across Southern California, forcing nearly 1 million people to flee and killing 10. When the ashes cooled, investigators found that many of the blazes had been caused by electrical lines swaying or falling in the wind. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/20/17
ACLU says too many people are killed by Anaheim police -- The American Civil Liberties Union of California issued a blistering report on Monday that contends the Anaheim Police Department’s rate of officer-involved deaths of civilians exceeds that of many other law enforcement agencies of similar size or larger. Scott Schwebke in the Orange County Register -- 11/20/17
California Politics Podcast: Running Interference -- This week: New criticism of the University of California's president after investigations of interference with a state audit. We also discuss sexual harassment policy changes in the California Senate, as a lawmaker in the upper house faces new allegations. With John Myers and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times. Link here. -- 11/20/17
Fox: Steyer’s Impeachment Campaign More Like a Recall -- Tom Steyer’s “Need to Impeach” campaign targeting President Trump is more like a recall effort familiar to Californians than an impeachment effort. The constitution clearly states “high crimes and misdemeanors” generate impeachment. Recall from office is mostly triggered over policy issues. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 11/20/17
Drugs made in Mexican 'superlabs' are more potent than ever, fueling the addiction epidemic -- Ten years ago, the average gram of meth available in the U.S. was 39% pure. Today, it is being sold in a nearly pure state, manufactured in Mexican "superlabs" and smuggled across the border to feed an epidemic of addiction. Kristina Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/20/17
These new homes have shiny appliances and granite counters, but you can’t buy them -- The homes aren’t for sale, however. They’re for rent. The build-to-rent project by JMC Homes is part of the latest twist on a rental trend that’s been playing out since the housing market hit bottom six years ago. Hudson Sangree in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/20/17
Disneyland to discontinue Southern California annual pass – for now -- Starting Monday, Nov. 20, the $469 pass – one of Disneyland’s least expensive annual pass options – will go on hiatus. The Southern California annual pass option was removed from the Disneyland.com website this morning Joseph Pimentel in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/20/17
New push on Parkinson’s disease -- A “new era” in the search for a cure for Parkinson’s disease was heralded this month in an article in a prominent scientific journal that explored research involving more than $52 million and an organization called GForce-PD. David Jensen Capitol Weekly -- 11/20/17
Volvo to supply Uber with 24,000 self-driving SUVs for taxi fleet -- Volvo said Monday it will sell tens of thousands of luxury sport-utility vehicles to Uber Technologies Inc. starting as early as 2019 that will serve as the ride-hailing company's self-driving taxi fleet. Samantha Masunaga and Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/20/17