Rough&Tumble California Policy and Politics

Updating . .

Neo-Nazi Senate candidate kicked out of California Republican Party convention -- An anti-Semitic GOP Senate candidate was kicked out of the California Republican Party’s convention in San Diego on Saturday morning, with one witness saying he was dragging and kicking an Israeli flag while being escorted out. Phil Willon and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Three anti-Nazi activists face felony charges in 2016 melee. One white supremacist still jailed -- Felony assault charges will go forward against the three anti-fascist demonstrators arrested in connection with a violent state Capitol clash with white supremacists in June 2016 that left 10 people injured. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/5/18

Democrats are 'coming for all of us,' warns vulnerable GOP Rep. Mimi Walters -- Rep. Mimi Walters painted a dire picture for her fellow California Republicans on Friday night. Headlining a congressional dinner at the state party’s annual confab, Walters warned that Democrats are targeting Republicans “and nowhere harder than right here in California.” Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

California’s Orange County could determine Congress control -- Once considered conservative holy ground, Orange County is starting to look like a last stand for California Republicans. Chased out of much of California by Democrats who hold every statewide office and a 39-14 advantage in U.S. House seats, the party is trying to hold its ground in a place whose nickname, the Orange Curtain, recalls its famous Republican bona fides and where white, suburban homeowners once delivered winning margins for its candidates year after year. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 5/5/18

A look at competitive House races in California -- If Democrats are going to retake the U.S. House they very likely need to gain ground in California, a state with a prominent Democratic tilt where President Donald Trump is unpopular. Here are seven congressional districts held by Republicans that Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Trump’s shadow looms in California attorney general race -- Xavier Becerra was plucked from Congress to lead California’s opposition to all things Donald Trump. He’s done that as state attorney general, with a litany of lawsuits over policies involving immigration, the environment, birth control and health care. His opponents in the June 5 primary say he’s so focused on the Republican president that he’s falling down on other key areas of the job. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Feinstein faces fellow Democrat in US Senate re-election -- In her early U.S. Senate bids, Dianne Feinstein fought her way past Republicans who criticized her as an example of California liberalism. Now as she seeks her fifth full term in Washington, it’s fellow Democrats hitting Feinstein, led by a state senator who says he better represents California values in the Trump era. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Candidates compete for schools chief, lieutenant governor -- Voters will choose candidates for lieutenant governor, schools chief and other statewide offices in California’s June 5 primary. The race for superintendent of public education is shaping up to be an expensive showdown between unions and charter school advocates. In the crowded contest to become California’s next lieutenant governor, several Democrats have emerged as front-runners. Five candidates are vying to replace the state’s outgoing treasurer. Meanwhile, incumbents are trying to hold onto their offices in the races for secretary of state and controller. Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Diverse field running for California insurance commissioner -- One way or another, California's next insurance commissioner will be the first of his kind. The June 5 primary features Democrats Dr. Asif Mahmood and Sen. Ricardo Lara against former commissioner Steve Poizner. Brian Melley Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Pelosi calls for ethics investigation into Rep. Tony Cárdenas -- Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Saturday called for an ethics investigation into San Fernando Valley Democratic Rep. Tony Cárdenas, who this week acknowledged that he is the unnamed defendant in a Jane Doe lawsuit alleging he molested a 16-year-old girl. Julie Westfall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Recall, sexual misconduct issues shape legislative ballot -- All 80 California state Assembly seats and half the 40 Senate seats are up for election this year, but voters also are deciding June 5 whether to recall an Orange County-area senator and picking successors to three lawmakers who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Separating water and politics isn't easy in California -- The 2014 water bond included a novel funding approach designed to take at least some of the politicking out of deciding which projects get public money. This week's tortured deliberations by the California Water Commission showed just how tough it is to do that. Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

UC campuses, medical centers brace for 3-day workers strike -- University of California medical center officials said Friday they are rescheduling hundreds of surgeries and appointments for cancer patients as they prepare for a three-day strike by UC workers next week. The strike starting Monday was called by AFSCME Local 3299, which represents thousands of service workers, such as custodians, security guards and food service workers at UC campuses. Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Maker of smart luggage goes out of business after airlines ban bags with built-in batteries -- One of the world's first smart luggage makers is packing its bags and calling it quits — a victim of its own design flaws. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Mueller team questions Trump friend Tom Barrack -- Investigators working for special counsel Robert Mueller have interviewed one of President Donald Trump’s closest friends and confidants, California real estate investor Tom Barrack, The Associated Press has learned. Tom LoBianco, Jonathan Lemire and Alan Suderman Associated Press -- 5/5/18

California Policy & Politics This Morning

California to file opposition to Trump administration lawsuit challenging 'sanctuary state' laws -- California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said he will file a motion seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that would block California’s so-called sanctuary state laws aimed at protecting immigrants in the country illegally. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

These California Republicans are righter than right in conservative ratings -- If the American Conservative Union has its way, Democrats won’t be flipping any of the GOP congressional seats they’re targeting in California. And it’s signaling to the Republican faithful which House members are most worth defending. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Travis Allen, John Cox Exchange Barbs as State GOP Convention Starts -- The two Republicans vying for their party's endorsement in the governor's race have focused on similar messages -- mainly attacking Democrats. But as their party convention got underway in San Diego Friday, they took some swipes at one another. Marisa Lagos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Molestation lawsuit adds some pressure to Rep. Cárdenas' reelection bid -- Two years ago, U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas ran away with his reelection contest, defeating his challenger by nearly 50 percentage points in his San Fernando Valley district. The Democrat from Panorama City is heading into another campaign, but this time with a very serious threat to his political future: a Jane Doe lawsuit alleging he molested a 16-year-old girl. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Obama endorses Feinstein for re-election to Senate from California -- Former President Barack Obama announced his support Friday for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s re-election bid, calling her a partner in his work and an effective champion for progress. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 5/5/18

Dear California, please don't accidentally vote for a neo-Nazi for U.S. Senate -- A new poll shows that a neo-Nazi candidate not only is the most popular GOP candidate on the ballot for U.S. Senate, but that he’s running second in the race, putting him in a position to face off with incumbent Dianne Feinstein in November. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Why Gavin Newsom And Kevin McCarthy Both Want The Same Results In California’s June Gubernatorial Primary -- There’s some fresh intrigue in the California governor’s race just days before voting begins, with a big-name endorsement on the Republican side and the first attack ad on the Democratic side. Ben Adler Capital Public Radio -- 5/5/18

Politifact CA: Fact-checking TV ad’s claims on Golden State Killer case -- Days after authorities arrested a suspect in the Golden State Killer case, the campaign to re-elect Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert produced a TV ad celebrating the break in the decades-old case. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 5/5/18

Rep. Mike Thompson: Democrats should not rush to impeach Trump -- Thompson, D-St. Helena, believes Democrats would be better served by focusing on trying to improve the nation’s crumbling infrastructure — and providing job opportunities along the way, he said in a Friday interview at The Press Democrat’s downtown Santa Rosa office. Rushing to impeach Trump could backfire and make Democrats a “one-term majority,” he said. J.D. Morris in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat -- 5/5/18

California Politics Podcast: Republicans Rally, The Debate Looms -- California Republicans gather for their statewide convention and a possible endorsement in the race for governor. Plus, a preview of next week's gubernatorial debate with Chuck Todd of NBC's Meet the Press. And we discuss the birth of "Outlaw Pruitt" and accusations made against a Los Angeles Democratic congressman. With John Myers, Seema Mehta and Melanie Mason of the Los Angeles Times. Link Here -- 5/5/18

Oakland joins California’s lawsuit against census citizen question -- Oakland on Friday joined California’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census, arguing the inquiry would result in an undercount of the immigrant-rich city and reduce the federal funding it receives. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

California prison system moves to quash media’s suit on executions -- California prison officials have asked a federal judge to dismiss most of a lawsuit by news organizations seeking more public access to state executions, which could resume soon for the first time since 2006. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Surveillance bill could push other cities and counties to follow Oakland police tech policies -- A coalition of civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups has penned a letter in support of a state bill that would force California police and sheriff agencies to disclose all of their surveillance gear, as Oakland this week approved similar requirements through what may be the strongest city surveillance ordinance in the country. Jazmine Ulloa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Critics say sheriff-coroner gig is a conflict of interest -- San Joaquin County — best known for growing grapes and almonds — landed in the national spotlight recently when its chief forensic pathologist quit. Dr. Bennet Omalu, renowned for his expertise on concussions, accused Sheriff-Coroner Steve Moore of pressuring him to change autopsy findings in cases involving officers of the law. Julie Small NPR -- 5/5/18

Tesla’s Autopilot, suspected in fatal crash, has a history of swerves -- Alex Holmes was heading home in his Tesla Model X one June night last year, using Autopilot to let the vehicle steer itself on Interstate 5 in the Los Angeles area, when it abruptly veered to the right. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Famed Bay Area climber Hans Florine rescued after fall breaks bones on El Capitan -- Renowned rock climber and Bay Area resident Hans Florine was rescued Friday after he fell high up on Yosemite’s El Capitan the day before, bounced off a ledge and was saved from a fatal plunge by his safety gear. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions

California now world’s fifth-largest economy, bigger than Britain -- California is now the world’s fifth-largest economy, according to data released Friday morning by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its 2017 Gross State Product was $2.747 trillion, surpassing the United Kingdom’s $2.625 trillion Gross Domestic Product. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/5/18

UC San Diego hospitals begin to divert patients as strike looks likely -- UC San Diego hospitals moved Friday to significantly reduce the number of emergency, trauma, heart attack and stroke patients they see this weekend in anticipation of a three-day strike next week by three unions. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/5/18

Once L.A.'s hottest mall, the Westside Pavilion is dying, and shoppers are bummed -- On a recent Monday afternoon, Emma Halbert sat across from her friend at the Westside Pavilion food court. With her laptop opened in front her, she tried to finish her homework, but was distracted by how eerily quiet the mall felt. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Wells Fargo agrees to pay $480 million to settle securities-fraud lawsuit over fake accounts -- The San Fancisco-based bank denied the allegations but said it had "entered into the agreement in principle to avoid the cost and disruption of further litigation." James F. Peltz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Arbitration board denies effort to speed reforms in new San Francisco police contract -- An arbitration board ruled on terms of the new three-year San Francisco police contract on Friday, denying attempts by the city to speed up police reforms while giving the rank-and-file 3 percent yearly wage increases. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Caught in the Theranos Wreckage: Betsy DeVos, Rupert Murdoch and Walmart’s Waltons -- Even some of the world’s richest people may get duped, according to newly unsealed documents in a lawsuit filed on behalf of investors in the failing blood-testing company Theranos. Reed Abelson and Katie Thomas in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/18

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds

Cheaper gas or better roads? The battle over California's new gas tax -- On one side are state and local officials racing to fund road repairs with revenue from the new gas tax that took effect last fall. On the other are groups that want to put an initiative on the November ballot to repeal the gas tax. It's a potholes versus pocketbooks debate likely to dominate the upcoming midterm election season. Sharon McNary KPCC -- 5/5/18

Organizers of events like Pride, Earth Day fighting proposed city fee hikes -- Organizers of nonprofit events like San Diego Pride, Earth Day and neighborhood street fairs say proposed city fee increases for security and other services would damage their finances and jeopardize the future of some events. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/5/18

Housing

San Francisco’s mayor candidates take up challenge to house 1,000 people in first year -- The leading contenders in San Francisco’s mayor’s race have signed a campaign challenge issued by the Tipping Point Community charitable organization to secure 1,000 units of housing for homeless people in their first year in office. Finding ways to tackle San Francisco’s homelessness epidemic has been a front-and-center issue for each of the city’s mayoral candidates. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

5 Reasons California's Housing Costs Are So High -- Why are California housing costs so high? At its most basic level, it’s a story of supply and demand -- lots of people want to live here, and there aren’t enough homes to go around. But there are lots of uniquely California factors -- from the shape of our coastline to Proposition 13 -- that have attached a painfully expensive price tag to the California dream. Matt Levin Calmatters via KQED -- 5/5/18

Transit

Sharks sue to slow BART San Jose extension in parking dispute -- The San Jose Sharks, locked in an NHL playoff battle, unleashed a different kind of fight this week, filing a lawsuit to slow the BART extension to downtown San Jose until a dispute over parking can be resolved. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

Cannabis

Thousands toke and buy weed as Sacramento hosts first legal marijuana fest in California -- A cloud of smoke hung over Cal Expo Friday afternoon as thousands gathered for the High Times Cannabis Cup, the first permitted event in California to allow recreational use of marijuana. Barbara Harvey in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/5/18

Education

New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation -- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney general's office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity group's private Snapchat. Kim Christensen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

School mural depicting Trump's bloody, severed head sparks controversy -- A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. Gary Warth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Immigration, Border, Deportation

A day of good-byes and clean up after the last caravan members enter the U.S. -- The final remnants of the Central American caravan began to disappear in Tijuana Friday after the last group of asylum seekers entered the United States. David Hernandez and Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/5/18

California National Guard Troops Arrive In San Diego Ahead Of Border Duty -- Roughly 250 troops were called up April 28 to Camp Roberts in San Miguel. Then they headed south to San Diego for what is called Operation Guardian Support. Troops won’t be housed in tents near the border. Instead, the troops from out of town are finding hotel rooms in the city, according to the National Guard. Steve Walsh KPBS -- 5/5/18

Environment

Earth’s atmosphere just crossed another troubling climate change threshold -- For the first time since humans have been monitoring, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have exceeded 410 parts per million averaged across an entire month, a threshold that pushes the planet ever closer to warming beyond levels that scientists and the international community have deemed “safe.” Chris Mooney in the Washington Post$ -- 5/5/18

Southern California air quality officials will craft rules governing warehouse, rail yard pollution -- Southern California air quality officials voted Friday to craft rules governing warehouses, distribution centers and rail yards in a controversial bid to combat transportation emissions in the nation's smoggiest region. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/5/18

Feinstein moves to curb "walls of death" in California waters -- California is the last frontier for driftnet fishing but the sun may soon be setting on that. Known for being decidedly dolphin unfriendly, driftnets — also known as gill nets — are uniformly banned across the United States yet still remain legal in California waters. But last week, Sen. Diane Feinstein moved forward with legislation to finally rid the state of the practice. Ted Andersen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

POTUS 45

Trump Is Said to Know of Stormy Daniels Payment Months Before He Denied It -- President Trump knew about a six-figure payment that Michael D. Cohen, his personal lawyer, made to a pornographic film actress several months before he denied any knowledge of it to reporters aboard Air Force One in April, according to two people familiar with the arrangement. Michael D. Shear, Maggie Haberman, Jim Rutenberg and Matt Apuzzo in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/18

U.S. Probes Cohen Over Cash He Built Up During Campaign -- Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, gained access to as much as $774,000 through two financial transactions during the 2016 presidential campaign as he sought to fix problems for his boss, public records show. Michael Rothfeld, Rebecca Davis O’Brien, Mark Maremont and Joe Palazzolo in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 5/5/18

Trump again changes story on Stormy Daniels payoff, disputing Giuliani and confusing his defense -- President Trump further confused his legal strategy on Friday and undermined his credibility, disputing an account from his attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani that Trump paid $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, just a day after he'd confirmed the remarks. Noah Bierman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/5/18

2 F.B.I. Officials, Once Key Advisers to Comey, Leave the Bureau -- Two top F.B.I. aides who worked alongside the former director James B. Comey as he navigated one of the most politically tumultuous periods in the bureau’s history resigned on Friday. Michael S. Schmidt in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/18

As a willing warrior for Trump, Sarah Sanders struggles to maintain credibility -- The West Wing shouting match was so loud that more than a dozen staffers heard it. Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey and Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 5/5/18

Beltway

Google Will Ask Buyers of U.S. Election Ads to Prove Identities -- Google will begin requiring those who buy ads related to federal elections in the United States through its sprawling advertising network to prove that they are citizens or lawful residents of the country. Daisuke Wakabayashi in the New York Times$ -- 5/5/18

-- Friday Updates

All members of Central American caravan now in U.S. -- A little after 9 a.m. a group of about 70 walked into the U.S. Port of Entry as friends planning to stay in Mexico waved goodbye and some cheered as the others walked into the U.S. Gustavo Solis and David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/4/18

Newsom launches first attack ad — one that could help a Republican rival in the California governor's race -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic front-runner in the 2018 governor’s race, is releasing a new campaign ad attacking Republican rival John Cox for being pro-gun and pro-President Trump. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/4/18

Obama backs California’s Feinstein in re-election fight -- Former President Barack Obama waded into California’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Friday, throwing his support to incumbent Dianne Feinstein. It’s his only primary endorsement in congressional races so far in 2018, his spokeswoman Katie Hill said. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 5/4/18

North Korea offers Trump chance to be 'consistent, stable, a good negotiator,' Feinstein says -- U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein says a meeting with North Korea offers Donald Trump a chance show he can be "consistent, stable, a good negotiator" and she believes the president is smart enough to approach a prospective summit with Kim Jong Un cautiously. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/4/18

Five things to watch at the California Republican Party convention this weekend -- With a month to go before the June primary, the California Republican Party gathers in San Diego today for its 2018 convention, to rally the faithful and endorse candidates. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/4/18

U.S. unemployment falls below 4% for first time since 2000 — mostly for a bad reason -- But while job growth rebounded from a disappointing March figure that was revised up Friday to 135,000, other aspects of the closely watched monthly report were lackluster. And the drop in the unemployment rate was mostly for a bad reason: The labor force shrank for the second month in a row. Jim Puzzanghera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/18

Caltrans union files grievance over homeless camp cleanups -- Arguing that picking up used hypodermic needles and cleaning up human waste is not in their job description, Caltrans workers have filed a grievance with the state over the conditions they face when clearing homeless camps. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/4/18

California to become first U.S. state mandating solar on new homes -- For seven years, a handful of homebuilders offered solar as an optional item to buyers willing to pay extra to go green. Now, California is on the verge of making solar standard on virtually every new home built in the Golden State. Jeff Collins in the Orange County Register -- 5/4/18

Why did the East Area Rapist stop raping and killing? Or did he? -- The first attack blamed on the East Area Rapist took place in a darkened bedroom in Rancho Cordova on June 18, 1976 – the victim a 23-year-old woman, living with her father and awakened by a stranger with a ski mask and knife. Marjie Lundstrom and Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/4/18

Reported rat infestation sparks walkout at Newport Harbor High School -- Officials from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District plan to visit Newport Harbor High School next week to investigate the campus for rats, which sparked a student and teacher walkout. Lora Young, a vector control spokeswoman, said a date was not set as of Thursday afternoon. Daniel Langhorne in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/18

New California legislation would allow state taxpayers to dodge a key part of President Trump's tax plan -- Assembly Bill 2217 from Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Marina del Rey) would create a tax-credit system linking charities, educational institutions, the state treasury and individual taxpayers in an effort to allow Californians to sidestep the new $10,000 federal cap on state and local tax deductions. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/18

Inside the $4.1 billion California measure that thinks small to fix parks, waterways -- A far-reaching measure before California voters this June would authorize the state to borrow $4.1 billion for investments in outdoor recreation, land conservation and water projects. But Proposition 68, which needs a simple majority vote to pass, is not your typical water and parks bond measure. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/4/18

Big Jump In Number Of Inmates Prescribed Psychiatric Drugs In California -- When 47-year-old Edward Vega arrived in jail, he couldn't quiet the voices in his head. He felt paranoid, as though he was losing control. "I knew if I didn't get my medication, I was going to hurt someone," says Vega. Anna Gorman KPCC -- 5/4/18

California Warns of a Second Energy Crisis -- California’s chief utility regulator is warning that the state could find itself in the throes of another energy crisis if it doesn’t address the droves of customers defecting from utilities. Mark Chediak Bloomberg -- 5/4/18

CA120: What’s wrong with public polling? -- Is something wrong with public polling in California? The 2018 election season has been raucous, even weeks before the first votes are cast. And one of the contributing factors has been the seemingly erratic public polling, particularly in the top-of-the-ticket races. The veteran political observers at CalBuzz have called this year’s polling a “muddled mess.” Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 5/4/18

Mark Leno on Playing the Legislative Long Game and His Run to 'Shake Up' City Hall -- Former State Senator and San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Leno talks about his time in rabbinical school, the strangest sign he was asked to make at his store, losing his partner to AIDS and the city's response to the crisis, pursuing same-sex marriage legislation in the state legislature, his run for mayor, and whether he can win as a change candidate. Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos KQED Political Breakdown -- 5/4/18

Hiltzik: Big utilities are desperately trying to stick customers for the bills from California wildfires -- Does there exist anywhere a whinier, more petulant, more entitled gang of businesses than California’s big utility companies? Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/4/18