Updating . .   

Pro-Antonio Villaraigosa group attacks a Republican as a Pelosi tool -- Here’s another example of how California’s top-two primary is creating some odd alliances, particularly in the governor’s race. Check out this mailer going to Republican households with the headline, “Don’t Vote for John Cox.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

Bad news for Dems: Trump’s rating is rising where it counts in California -- All that talk of a Democratic blue wave sweeping congressional races in California could be for naught if a new poll is on target: It shows President Trump’s approval rating surging to 50 percent in Orange County, site of four tight races that could determine if Republicans hold the House. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

Poll shows Rep. Duncan Hunter walking away with the primary, despite criminal investigation -- A new poll shows that despite an FBI investigation into potential misuse of campaign funds, Rep. Duncan Hunter is positioned to cruise through next month’s primary election. Joshua Stewart in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/22/18

National Democrats burst into Orange County races over primary fears -- After months of hand-wringing over the possibility of being shut out of crucial House races in California, national Democrats are overtly backing two of their own in crowded primaries as a last-ditch effort to prevent that from happening. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

New poll finds a volatile race for second place in California governor's contest -- The fight for second place in California's governor's race between Republican John Cox and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa remains unpredictable and volatile as the June 5 primary approaches, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll. Phil Willon, Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

200 USC professors demand Nikias resign; trustees express 'full confidence' in president -- Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had "lost the moral authority to lead" in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Harriet Ryan, Sarah Parvini, Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

A lot less pot is being sold in California than initially estimated, analyst says -- With tax revenue from pot sales in California falling short of projections, a financial analysis firm estimated Tuesday that total sales this year will be $1.9 billion, down significantly from the $3.8 billion the company expected. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Cops were looking for murder suspect, so they arrested his grandmother, lawsuit claims -- But the case has now expanded beyond a double-murder investigation, with family members of one suspect claiming they were held in jail for days in a bid to use them as bait to get the suspect to surrender. San Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/18

DA candidate Phillips called sexist, racist email 'work appropriate...appropriate anywhere' -- John Phillips wasn't sure if the email detailing what men can expect sexually by the third date with women of various ethnic groups was appropriate fodder to send to his nephew's workplace email. Darrell Smith, Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/18

Knight: San Francisco would defy federal law with safe injection sites -- San Francisco’s Department of Public Health made a splash in January when it announced in this column that it would open the nation’s first two safe injection sites in July. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris try to cut a deal with Trump -- President Donald Trump has referred to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as “the much overturned Ninth Circuit Court,” called its rulings “ridiculous,” and even threatened to break the court up. But when it comes to filling California’s vacancies on the federal appeals court, by far the largest and busiest in the country, the White House has been much more restrained. Emily Cadei in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/18

BART’s next big expansion — and what it means for commute traffic -- For more than a decade, residents and elected officials on both sides of the county line have dreamed of an alternative: a rail line linking the Central Valley, where land is plentiful and rents are cheap, to BART and the jobs-hungry economic engines of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/22/18

Why charter school backers are spending big in California's governor's race -- California teacher unions are convinced that if Antonio Villaraigosa is elected governor this year, education funding for traditional public schools will erode, leaving them worse off as they compete with charter schools for enrollment. Angel Hart in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/18

Push under way to increase California school funding by billions --Assembly Bill 2808 sets a goal of $35 billion more in base spending for the Local Control Funding Formula; that would put California among the top 10 states in spending but without a deadline or means to reach it. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 5/22/18

California school spending grows at fastest pace in the U.S. -- Let’s not forget California’s governmental budgets (handling all chores) were hammered by the Great Recession. School spending was certainly a victim, too. So some of this recent statewide surge in school outlays — which includes tracking salary, benefits (including funding for pensions), various supplies, transportation, and capital projects — is simply restoring educational spending to previous levels. Jonathan Lansner in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/18

Innovative high school for new immigrant students a model in California -- One of two international high schools in California, the small Oakland campus offers special programs for immigrant students. Theresa Harrington EdSource -- 5/22/18

Allow Dreamers to enlist in the military for citizenship, House members urge -- Dreamers should be able to enlist in the military and become legal residents, says a strong coalition of congressional Republicans and Democrats as they make a renewed push for their initiative. Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/18

Koreatown parking-lot homeless shelter approved by LA council committee -- A Los Angeles City Council committee today approved a Koreatown parking lot as a potential site for a temporary homeless shelter during a raucous early morning meeting attended by hundreds of people who filled the council chamber to capacity. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/18

Abcarian: USC students, grads and faculty say the only way to restore trust is to fire President Max Nikias -- The chorus of condemnation against USC is getting louder by the day. Students, recent graduates and faculty members have all launched crusades against an administration they see as indifferent to the well-being of its charges, unworthy of their trust and incapable of transparency when it is needed most. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Lazarus: Businesses really, really don't like this privacy bill, which is why you should -- It's my experience that the more fuss businesses kick up about consumer-related legislation, the more likely it is such a bill is needed and would be an effective deterrent to bad practices. David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Fox: Transforming Justice vs. Toughening Punishment Battle for Supremacy in 2018 Elections -- The growing movement to reform the justice system will clash with efforts to be tougher on crime in this election year. The change movement is highlighted by deep-pocketed support for district attorney candidates who are inclined to see the justice system as too hard in meting out punishment, especially to people of color. On the other hand, a sense of rising crime is leading to an effort to reform the reforms passed by voters earlier in the decade that allow some arrested criminals to avoid punishment. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/22/18

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning

‘Mayor Libby Schaaf Act’ could imprison officials who disclose ICE sweeps -- Immigration hard-liners’ anger toward Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf for her warning about a federal sweep for undocumented migrants in Northern California led an Iowa congressman to propose criminal penalties Monday for officials who talk about such operations in advance. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/22/18

Carlsbad joins cities opposing sanctuary status -- Carlsbad’s City Council waded into the national “sanctuary state” issue Monday evening, voting 4-1 to back the federal government’s lawsuit against California. Phil Diehl in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/22/18

How Antonio Villaraigosa staked his political capital on convincing voters to tax themselves in a recession — and won -- "Dream with me," Antonio Villaraigosa urged in his 2005 inaugural address as mayor of Los Angeles, sketching out a vision of a comprehensive public transportation system that could redefine his car-choked city. Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Politifact CA: Has Obama endorsed in the California governor’s race? No. -- A recent campaign mailer and TV ad feature former President Barack Obama warmly embracing California candidate for governor Antonio Villaraigosa, conveying the possible impression that Obama has endorsed the former mayor of Los Angeles. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 5/22/18

California appeals to save assisted death law -- Nearly two years after the law took effect, a judge in Riverside County ruled last week that the Legislature improperly passed the bill during a special session on health care funding. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Democrats try to end civil war in California race that’s key to House control -- A truce has been negotiated in a nasty battle between two Democratic congressional candidates in a California district that’s crucial to the party’s hopes of winning the House this fall. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

California rebukes Trump with health care push for immigrants -- California is poised to become the first state in the nation to offer full health coverage to undocumented adults even as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown by separating families at the border. Victoria Colliver Politico -- 5/22/18

In race to unseat attorney general, why rival Dave Jones says Becerra doesn’t belong in this courtroom -- Democratic Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is in a tough spot in his campaign to become California’s next attorney general: His opponents include a fellow Democrat who enjoys the power of incumbency with the governor’s seal-of-approval, and a Republican who’s been endorsed by the state GOP. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 5/22/18

Proposition 70: Who Decides How to Spend California Climate Funds -- Proposition 70 is about money raised by California's cap-and-trade program to control climate emissions. Under that program, industries buy permits at a state auction allowing them to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Craig Miller KQED -- 5/22/18

Proposition 68: Will voters approve $4.1 billion for parks and water projects? -- The last time California voters passed a statewide ballot measure to provide funding for parks, beaches, wildlife and forests, it was 2006. Arnold Schwarzenegger was in his first term as governor, Twitter was a fledgling app, and the iPhone hadn’t been invented yet. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/22/18

Like California, these other states have tried to break themselves apart -- As Silicon Valley VC king Tim Draper hammers away at his uphill battle to convince Californians to break up their state into three smaller states, it’s a good time to see what other Americans have done across the country with similar set-us-free campaigns. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/22/18

Ad campaign whacks Devin Nunes -- House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes of California has become a GOP hero and a Fox News regular in his role as the president’s congressional pit bull on the Russia investigation. But a new Democratic ad campaign aims to unseat the congressman by suggesting that he’s advancing his own stardom in Washington while neglecting his real job of representing his constituents back home in California’s Central Valley. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 5/22/18

For Adam Schiff, 2018 campaign is a road game -- Congressman Adam Schiff was in Iowa one day this month to speak at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Cedar Rapids. People in the traditional first caucus state asked if he was testing the waters for a 2020 presidential campaign. He shrugged off the speculation with typical dry wit. “I had to confess to taking guilty pleasure that my presence in Iowa might cause certain heads on Fox News to explode,” Schiff said in an interview Thursday. Kevin Modesti in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/18

Rep. Tony Cárdenas faces new calls to resign over sexual-assault accusation -- Two weeks before a primary election, Rep. Tony Cárdenas faced new calls to resign after demonstrators descended on the Democrat’s district office Monday and said they believe an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in 2007. Kevin Modesti in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/22/18

Sacramento's Black Community Wants Racial Justice After Stephon Clark's Death. But This Isn’t The First Push To Save Black Lives -- When teens start to flood through the doors of Liberty Towers Church in North Sacramento on Wednesday afternoons, Paris Dye is 10 steps ahead. She gives high-fives and hugs before continuing her task of laying out snacks and craft supplies. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/22/18

Mayor Eric Garcetti to do third round of interviews with LAPD chief candidates -- Garcetti described his timetable Monday at a news conference in answer to reporters' questions. The three finalists — LAPD Deputy Chief Robert Arcos, LAPD Assistant Chief Michel Moore and San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott — have already been interviewed twice by the mayor. Cindy Chang in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

San Diego County settles 4th suit accusing deputy of sexual misconduct; payments now exceed $900,000 -- A fourth alleged victim has agreed to settle a lawsuit against San Diego County, accepting $240,000 in damages for an alleged sexual misconduct claim lodged against sheriff’s Deputy Richard Fischer. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/22/18

Utility poles alarm experts in wake of Wine Country infernos -- State regulators and other experts, alarmed by infernos in the North Bay Wine Country and elsewhere, are attempting to determine whether PG&E and other utilities must undertake a comprehensive, up-to-date survey of utility poles in California. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/22/18

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

Supreme Court arbitration ruling could slow #MeToo movement -- Under the 5-4 ruling, employers can limit workers’ ability to band together in court to pursue redress for labor violations. The practice, known as forced arbitration, means workers can be contractually obligated to solve disputes out of court and individually, rather than in a class-action suit in front of a jury. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

On his way out, Gov. Jerry Brown offers prison guards a big raise -- California's state correctional officers would get their biggest raise since the recession if they approve a tentative agreement for a one-year contract their union struck with Gov. Jerry Brown's administration this month. The deal includes a 5 percent general wage increase that would take effect on July 1, 2019. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/22/18

California toy mogul Isaac Larian gives up on bid to buy hundreds of Toys R Us stores -- California toy mogul Isaac Larian said Monday he has given up his effort to buy several hundred Toys R Us stores from the bankrupt retailer after he and the company's debt holders were unable to reach an agreement. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

What happened to the 'affordable' $35,000 Tesla Model 3? -- It's March 2016. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is on stage for the dramatic unveiling of the Tesla Model 3. Tesla will make hundreds of thousands a year, he said. It will be fun to drive. It will be affordable. "In terms of price, of course, it'll be $35,000," he beamed, awash in thunderous applause. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

JetSuite strikes a deal for hybrid electric planes with start-up Zunum Aero -- Irvine charter jet operator JetSuite will add hybrid electric planes to its fleet starting in 2022. It is the first substantial commercial order of an aircraft technology that could cut fuel costs and emissions, and make flights quieter. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Hiltzik: After questions raised about CalPERS CFO's background and experience, he's 'no longer with' the pension fund -- Charles Asubonten, whose background and experience came into question months after he was hired as the chief financial officer of CalPERS, is no longer with the giant pension fund, the organization acknowledged Monday. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

Mark Zuckerberg to Apologize Again, This Time to European Parliament -- Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, plans to strike a conciliatory note when he speaks to members of the European Parliament on Tuesday, in the latest stop on his apology tour for the social network’s mishandling of user information. Sheera Frenkel in the New York Times$ -- 5/22/18

Former Uber engineer sues, tests new sex-based claims policy -- A former software engineer at Uber Technologies Inc filed a lawsuit on Monday against the ride-hailing service, claiming she was subjected to years of sexual harassment there and subjected to retaliation for complaining about it. Jonathan Stempel Reuters -- 5/22/18

Homeless  

San Diego Homeless will have 3-hour notice to remove tents from downtown sidewalks -- Homeless people with tents or other makeshift shelters on downtown sidewalks are usually warned that they have three days to move their property before city clean-up crews do it for them. Soon, they’ll have just a few hours. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/22/18

Housing  

Many renters who move to the Inland Empire don’t plan to stay -- Location is a bigger factor than a job offer when it comes to a renter’s decision to move to the Inland Empire area, and slightly fewer than a quarter of newcomers plan to live here for the long term, according to a new survey. Andrew Edwards in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 5/22/18

San Francisco mayor convenes summit to address high affordable-housing building costs -- A mix of escalating construction costs and changes to the federal tax code is hampering San Francisco’s ability to finance and build affordable housing. And the situation may only get worse even as the housing crisis forces thousands of families to flee to less-expensive cities. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

Frustrated San Francisco Supervisor Ronen wants affordable housing projects sped up -- The speed with which affordable housing projects are approved in San Francisco has increased in recent years, especially since 2017 when Planning Director John Rahaim issued a directive that developments with more than 30 percent below-market-rate units be given priority. But as Supervisor Hillary Ronen has discovered, a fast approval doesn’t necessarily translate to a rapid construction start. Dominic Fracassa and J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

Transit 

1 year in, BART’s police chief optimistic about ‘downward trend’ in crime, drug use -- Walking through the stream of daily commuters in San Francisco’s bustling Powell Station, BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas looked around the bright corridors Monday with cautious optimism. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/22/18

Cannabis

California GOP Congressman Leans on Cannabis Donors -- Democrats are trying to flip several traditionally conservative districts in Southern California, including Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s. But he has a unique connection to the cannabis industry and he's turning to it for support. Jesse Marx Voiceofsandiego.org

Guns 

After Texas Shooting, California Assembly Votes To Expand Gun Violence Restraining Order -- Democratic lawmakers on Monday passed legislation that would allow teachers and school staff to request temporary confiscation of a person’s firearms. Employers and co-workers at businesses could also request gun violence restraining orders, under the bill. Friday’s school shooting in Texas framed the debate. Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio Sophia Bollag Associated Press -- 5/22/18

Education 

Modesto school district settles dispute about discipline of minority students -- Modesto City Schools will hire a nationally recognized expert on race and discipline to address claims that school district practices have placed a disproportionate number of African-American, Latino and English-learner students in alternative programs, which have fewer educational opportunities. Ken Carlson in the Modesto Bee$ -- 5/22/18

Health 

Need A Ride To The Doctor? UC Davis Will Call Some Pregnant Women A Lyft -- Doctors say transportation can be a major barrier between patients and their health care. It’s especially difficult for those who live in rural areas, don’t own a car or can’t afford gas. Hospitals are increasingly trying out rides-hailing companies such as Lyft and Uber to get patients to appointments. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/22/18

Environment 

‘Climate Change Is Real,’ Carmakers Tell White House in Letter -- Automakers urged the White House to cooperate with California officials in a coming rewrite of vehicle efficiency standards, saying “climate change is real.” The plea came in a May 3 letter to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the industry’s leading trade group. Ryan Beene Bloomberg -- 5/22/18

Del Mar stands firm against 'planned retreat' -- Del Mar’s City Council agreed Monday night that “planned retreat” will not be part of its long-term strategy for dealing with sea-level rise, despite the state Coastal Commission’s request to include the idea. Planned retreat, also called “managed retreat,” is a strategy of removing seawalls, roads, homes and other structures gradually over the years in advance of rising sea levels. Phil Diehl in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/22/18

Also . . . 

Ex-boyfriend of woman killed in Aliso Viejo explosion to remain behind bars -- Saying that he posed a possible flight risk and danger to the community, a federal judge on Monday ruled that the former boyfriend of a woman who was killed in an explosion at her Aliso Viejo spa should remain in custody without the possibility of bail. Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/22/18

POTUS 45  

By Demanding an Investigation, Trump Challenged a Constraint on His Power --When President Trump publicly demanded that the Justice Department open an investigation into the F.B.I.’s scrutiny of his campaign contacts with Russia, he inched further toward breaching an established constraint on executive power: The White House does not make decisions about individual law enforcement investigations. Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 5/22/18

‘Too inconvenient’: Trump goes rogue on phone security -- President Donald Trump uses a White House cellphone that isn’t equipped with sophisticated security features designed to shield his communications, according to two senior administration officials — a departure from the practice of his predecessors that potentially exposes him to hacking or surveillance. Eliana Johnson, Emily Stephenson, Daniel Lippman Politico -- 5/22/18

Beltway 

White House budget director: I’ve talked to Kevin McCarthy about replacing Paul Ryan -- White House budget director Mick Mulvaney acknowledged having discussions with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy about replacing House Speaker Paul D. Ryan before Ryan retires from Congress next year, a conservative newsmagazine reported Monday. Mike DeBonis in the Washington Post$ -- 5/22/18

Dems grit their teeth and cheer for Trump on North Korea -- A successful meeting with Kim Jong Un would give Trump and the GOP a big morale boost just a few months before the November midterms. Elana Schor and Heather Caygle Politico -- 5/22/18

Democrats take aim at Trump scandals in midterm message -- Democrats plan to hammer the corruption allegations swirling around the Trump administration in the run up to the midterms, hoping to tap into a successful strategy that delivered them control of Congress in 2006. Heather Caygle Politico -- 5/22/18

 

-- Monday Updates 

Arizona prepares for mass exodus of Californians in event of catastrophic earthquake -- The state of Arizona started a full-scale, three-and-a-half-day-long exercise Monday to prepare for a mass exodus of Californians in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/21/18

In its first bust, West Covina police dog finds 60 pounds of meth in car -- The newest K9 cop at the West Covina Police Department made its first bust over the weekend, sniffing out 60 pounds of methamphetamine stuffed under the seats of a Nissan Rogue. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/18

3 California Democrats in a scramble for second in governor’s race -- With Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom a good bet to win a spot on the November ballot for governor, three other Democrats face the inexorable arithmetic of California’s top-two primary. And because the two leading vote-getters move on to the fall campaign, second place is as good as first. And third is the same as last. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/21/18

Democrats in California's attorney general race clash over campaign ads filmed on state property -- The two Democrats running for California attorney general clashed Monday over campaign television ads filmed in a Sacramento courtroom, with Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones arguing that Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra had broken the law. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/18

5 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist -- Five women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staffers about the doctor's behavior. Matt Hamilton, Harriet Ryan, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/18

Supreme Court deals defeat to workers' rights, upholding arbitration for individuals only -- The Supreme Court has sharply restricted the rights of American workers to join with others to challenge their company for allegedly violating federal laws on wages, overtime pay or civil rights. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/18

Tesla Model 3 dissed by Consumer Reports -- Consumer Reports on Monday said it could not recommend Tesla’s Model 3 sedan — the mass-market car considered pivotal to the automaker’s future — due to oddly inconsistent braking and issues with its touch-screen controls. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/21/18

Venice Beach property owners being offered over $1 million in refunds -- More than $1 million in refunds are being offered to Venice Beach property owners following complaints that a newly formed group had charged them but failed to promptly provide promised services, according to city officials. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/21/18

California Turns to Homeowners to Help Solve a Crisis -- A new state law that allows owners of single-family properties to build guest apartments is showing plenty of promise in easing the housing crunch. Virginia Postrel Bloomberg -- 5/21/18

Huge pop-up homeless shelters are planned for three Sacramento neighborhoods -- Sacramento's latest plan to shelter the homeless will involve erecting massive tent-like structures on vacant land in three neighborhoods, Mayor Darrell Steinberg told The Bee on Monday. Ryan Lillis and Cynthia Hubert in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/21/18

Five Things to Know About Water Bonds on Upcoming California Ballots -- Californians this year will vote on not one but two water bond measures totaling $13 billion. Given that the state still hasn’t spent all of the $7.5 billion from the Proposition 1 water bond passed in 2014, it raises a crucial question: Does California really need another $13 billion in water bonds? Matt Weiser Water Deeply via KQED -- 5/21/18

Veterans charity created by Nathan Fletcher raised and spent more than $1 million, report shows -- Nathan Fletcher was a far better fundraiser than mayoral candidate. In the years following his two failed campaigns for the San Diego Mayor’s Office, Fletcher collected more than $1 million to fight depression and suicide among the nation’s war veterans, according to an unaudited report published by the Three Wise Men Veterans Foundation Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/21/18

Why does this investor think three Californias are better than one? -- You could argue a Silicon Valley investor who saw the early potential of Tesla, Skype and cryptocurrency has a keen sense of knowing what we want before we do. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/21/18

Taylor: McClymonds seniors say college admission is great, but triumph lies in the future -- Yes, they’ve hurdled barriers — gun violence, access to resources, hunger — to earn their high school diplomas and acceptance letters from places of higher learning. But they want to do more than earn college degrees. They want to reshape the West Oakland neighborhoods where they were raised, neighborhoods where opportunities are scarce for people of color. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/21/18

Are Alzheimer’s Patients Safe Around Guns? Doctors Say It’s Worth Discussing -- A report this month from UC Davis, the University of Colorado and other institutions found that patients with dementia who own firearms are at heightened suicide risk. The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to more than double by 2050. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/21/18

Fox: Gov. Brown Knows Political Stunts -- Gov. Jerry Brown visited Los Angeles Friday to urge defeat of an initiative to repeal the gas tax. During his talk he called the initiative effort a “political stunt” and “devious, deceptive, unfair and un-Californian.” Interesting, considering that Brown, himself, is an expert at getting the political edge. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 5/21/18