Updating . .
All Conception crew members were sleeping when boat fire broke out, NTSB says -- All crew members were asleep when the Conception caught fire early on Labor Day, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday, a major revelation in the investigation of the worst maritime disaster in modern California history. Mark Puente, Richard Winton, Leila Miller, Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ Stefanie Dazio Associated Press -- 9/12/19
Some Conception passengers said they weren’t told about emergency escape hatch -- Months ago, Truth Aquatics owner Glen Fritzler spoke to Ralph Clevenger, who creates visual content for the company, about making a safety video that would play while passengers boarded his dive boats. Leila Miller, Richard Winton, Mark Puente in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Sick of Democrats and Republicans? There’s a new party in California -- California moderates, led by former South Bay Rep. Tom Campbell and San Francisco’s Quentin Kopp, are putting together a new political party aimed at voters unhappy with the state’s two major parties. The Common Sense Party already has more than 10,000 people signed on and is looking to gather the 65,929 registrations needed to qualify its candidates for the state ballot, said Kopp. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Giant sequoias — long survivors of the forest — succumbing to climate-driven wildfires -- The giant trees, once thought to be unflappable fixtures of the forest and largely resistant to fire, are among the latest victims of climate change. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Bringing Home Braden -- William Williams repeated the words as he thrashed down a steep slope of gnarled brush that bloodied his hands. Three hundred feet below him was a bulldozer, now 21 tons of crumpled yellow steel. The dozer driver had tumbled down the Merced River canyon while clearing a fuel break for the state’s Cal Fire agency. He couldn’t have survived. Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Mountain View cybersecurity giant Symantec begins layoffs -- Cybersecurity company Symantec is cutting 152 jobs at its Mountain View headquarters and 18 in San Francisco, along with 36 in Culver City (Los Angeles County), a California filing revealed, giving a sense of planned job cuts’ local impact. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Nestlé closes a dozen California delivery sites, cuts 500-plus jobs -- Nestlé is closing a dozen delivery sites in California and laying off more than 500 workers, a state filing reported, part of 4,000 job cuts nationwide as the company transitions away from direct store delivery to a warehouse model. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Trump really wants to solve homelessness in L.A., Giuliani says. Details are lacking -- Up to now, President Trump’s interest in the Los Angeles homelessness crisis has been more rhetoric than action, and it’s unclear whether a visit by members of his administration this week — or by Trump himself next Wednesday — will lead to substantive new policies. Chris Megerian, Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
California files support for Oakland in Wells Fargo mortgage suit -- California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a brief Thursday in support of Oakland’s lawsuit against Wells Fargo, alleging that the bank illegally discriminated against minority borrowers. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Two-thirds of California college students struggle with costs and work-school balance, survey finds -- Nearly two-thirds of California students say their biggest obstacle to succeeding in college are costs, including tuition and living expenses, and juggling work with school, according to a survey released Thursday by the California Student Aid Commission. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
California rail authorities demand immediate safety steps after Sacramento light rail crash -- California’s top rail safety official has ordered the Sacramento Regional Transit district to stop “testing or troubleshooting” trains on live mainline tracks and to stop scheduling dispatchers to work alone in the control center doing several jobs at once. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
‘Maker’ labs, coding class and reading clubs: Salesforce giving boosts SF, Oakland schools -- Seven years ago, billionaire Marc Benioff’s cloud-computing company Salesforce gave San Francisco schools the biggest corporate gift the district had ever seen. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Nearly all Sonoma County vineyards are certified sustainable -- Climate change looms large over California’s $40 billion wine industry, and vineyard owners are becoming increasingly vocal about the need to intervene. Their shift in focus from topics like water conservation to big-picture ideas like carbon sequestration reflects the conversation’s evolution over the last five years. Esther Mobley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
A streamlined future for the pre-fab granny flat -- San Jose this month gave its first builder — Bay Area startup Abodu — pre-approval to drop pre-fabricated homes in backyards across the city. The builder’s pre-approved plans allow customers to get expedited and lower-cost city reviews. It could speed up installation to as little as two weeks, not including site preparation. Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/12/19
Explaining the Democrats’ health care plans, in plain English -- Count on two things happening at Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate: • The candidates will distill their complex health care proposals into convoluted 30-second sound bites. • Few Americans will understand what they’re saying. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Freakish fun for Friday the 13th: A full moon 13 years in the making -- This should be freakishly fun. This week’s full moon — on Friday the 13th — will be the first of its kind since way back in 2006. Do the math. All we need now is an elevator to the 13th floor, and the creep factor will be off the charts. Patrick May in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/12/19
‘What diluted sewage looks like.’ American River in Sacramento tainted with feces -- A grocery sack containing what appeared to be human feces hung from a branch over the American River, a short boat ride upstream from one of Sacramento’s most popular summertime swimming areas. Ryan Sabalow and Vincent Moleski in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
Fox: Public Banking and the Slow Takeover of the Private Sector -- If the governor says okay, we will soon see public banks established in local jurisdictions pop-up around California, another step of government officials invading the private sector. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/12/19
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Who’s in, who’s out of AB 5? -- Doctors, real estate agents and hairdressers can keep their independent contractor status. But not truckers, commercial janitors, nail salon workers, physical therapists and — significantly — gig economy workers, who will gain the rights and benefits of employees in California under sweeping workplace legislation passed Wednesday. Judy Lin Calmatters -- 9/12/19
Skelton: Labor won big with bill to rewrite California employment law — but it’s flawed -- Independent trucker Robert Schott was driving his big rig down the I-10 near Pomona when I reached him on his cell to talk about the “gig” bill. He hated the measure. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
California would allow college athletes to profit under bill headed to Newsom -- A bill that would make California the first state to let college athletes profit from their name and images, as Olympians do, is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Scott Rodd Capital Public Radio -- 9/12/19
NCAA urges California governor not to sign 'fair pay' bill for college athletes -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Governors urged California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in a letter released Wednesday to reject a state bill that moves to pay college athletes. Jessica Campisi The Hill -- 9/12/19
Walters: Tax vote issue gets cloudier -- The state Supreme Court stirred up a legal hornet’s nest two years ago when it suggested — but didn’t explicitly declare — that a two-thirds vote requirement for specific local tax increases might not apply to measures placed on the ballot via initiative petition. The supermajority vote requirement dates back to Proposition 13, the iconic property tax limitation adopted in 1978. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 9/12/19
Vaccine bill critics want California voters to block new limits on exemptions -- Three women who stood on chairs to interrupt a state Capitol hearing on vaccine legislation are trying another route to stop newly enacted school immunization laws: California’s statewide election next November. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Legislature votes to ban private prisons, sends bill to Newsom -- The California Legislature has moved to phase out the use of private prisons in the state, giving Gov. Gavin Newsom an opportunity to fulfill a campaign promise. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Calif. Democrats cite Reagan vetoes to defend law aimed at Trump’s tax returns -- California Democrats have turned to an unlikely ally — Ronald Reagan — in their defense of a state law that requires President Trump to release his tax returns before he may appear on next year’s primary ballot. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
California could become the largest state to ban facial recognition in body cameras -- California could soon become the largest state to ban the use of facial-recognition technology in law enforcement body cameras, a milestone in the regulation of the fast-developing but loosely controlled technology. Reis Thebault in the Washington Post$ -- 9/12/19
Lions, tigers and bears no more: California lawmakers ban exotic animals at circuses -- Should Newsom sign Senate Bill 313, circuses in the state will no longer be allowed to use bears, tigers, elephants, monkeys or other wild animals in their acts. State Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) said circus animals are often chained and confined to trailers or cramped cages and physically punished with whips and muzzles if they don’t perform. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Remakes and fresh takes: On these 2019 bills, it’s now Newsom’s call -- For many lawmakers, the dawn of the Newsom Administration is an opportunity to take another swing at a bill that failed in the past. Numerous measures advancing to Newsom’s desk amount to reruns of legislation vetoed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, including measures to let bars stay open later, require college health clinics to provide abortion pills and extend the lenghth of time child sex abuse victims have to file lawsuits. Calmatters -- 9/12/19
Candidate launches drive for new leader of Orange County GOP -- There’s a mini revolt underway in the Republican Party of Orange County, aimed at ousting Chairman Fred Whitaker. Brian Burley, a Republican who’s challenging Rep. Harley Rouda, D-Laguna Beach in the 48th Congressional District race, launched a petition last week on Change.org demanding Whitaker’s resignation. Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 9/12/19
Final victim of California boat fire is recovered by divers -- Divers on Wednesday recovered the final victim of the California boat fire that killed 34 people on Labor Day. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department announced the discovery, saying DNA testing would determine the identity of the body. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Conception boat fire: Coast Guard warns mariners about lithium battery charging -- Could the batteries used to power a variety of scuba equipment have contributed to the deadly Conception dive boat fire earlier this month? Matthias Gafni and Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Mark Puente, Richard Winton, Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$-- 9/12/19
California Supreme Court lets new death penalty cases proceed, despite Gavin Newsom’s moratorium -- The California Supreme Court on Thursday rejected attempts from two men to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against them, indicating the court will not stop new death sentences from being imposed, even as Gov. Gavin Newsom has halted executions in the state. Nico Savidge in the San Jose Mercury$ Alene Tchekmedyian, Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
A Utah firefighter was killed by an air retardant drop. His widow is suing Cal Fire -- One year after a Utah firefighter was killed when a supertanker dropped nearly 20,000 gallons of fire retardant near his position, his widow is suing Cal Fire and the aircraft company for alleged negligence. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
Attorney, youth, public officials detail disturbing conditions in SF juvenile hall -- Teenagers, attorneys, youth mentors and parents blasted conditions inside San Francisco’s juvenile hall, describing at a public meeting Wednesday a range of problems, including inadequate medical care, visitation restrictions, shackling and intolerable sleeping conditions. Jill Tucker and Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Lopez: Gov. Newsom, you can be a coastal access hero. Meet me in Gaviota, and we’ll kayak to Hollister Ranch -- When Gavin Newsom was elected governor, he became chief steward of the most spectacular coastline in the world. Now he’s about to take his first big test, on a coastal access bill, and I can help him study. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
3 dead in apparent murder-suicide involving deputy LA city attorney -- Deputy City Attorney Eric Lertzman, 60, who worked at the city attorney’s office since 2005, was found dead at the home in the 9600 block of Vanalden Avenue, a spokesman for the office said. The coroner’s office identified the others killed as Sandra Lertzman, 60, and Michael Lertzman, 19. Joshua Cain and Eric Licas in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 9/12/19
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Uber: We’ll fight in court to keep drivers as independent contractors -- Uber’s top lawyer pledged that its drivers will remain independent contractors, despite California’s passage of a bill that hinders companies from claiming that workers are not employees. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
Koch group launches ads defending Silicon Valley against state AG probes -- A conservative advocacy group that serves as the Koch family's political arm is coming to Silicon Valley's defense to push back against antitrust probes Google and Facebook are now facing from a vast array of state attorneys general. Steven Overly Politico -- 9/12/19
How Tech Companies Are Trying to Gut the California Consumer Privacy Act -- With no federal law governing digital privacy, California’s Consumer Privacy Act is expected to set the national standard when it goes into effect on Jan. 1. Unless it's neutralized by the state Legislature, which is wrapping up its 2018-2019 session. Rachael Myrow KQED -- 9/12/19
As Trump vows to halt sale of flavored vaping products, two more Bay Area cities ban e-cigarettes -- The Richmond City Council on Tuesday voted to pass an ordinance suspending the sale of e-cigarettes until the products are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. And on Monday, Livermore officials — who passed similar legislation in July — decided to put the matter before voters on the March 3 election. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Bay Area Vaping Critics Praise Trump Administration Plans to Ban Flavored Products -- Dr. John Maa, chief surgeon at Marin General Hospital and former president of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society, called the move "an important step to protect youth." Tara Siler KQED -- 9/12/19
Juul threw millions of dollars at Washington. It hasn’t bought much -- Juul Labs has spent millions of dollars on lobbying, hired high-profile Trump administration officials, and blanketed Washington with ads touting its efforts against underage vaping. Theodoric Meyer Politico -- 9/12/19
Judge calls for retrial in French Laundry pregnancy discrimination case -- Jurors cleared the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group of wrongdoing in its pregnancy discrimination trial earlier this year, but a judge has ruled that the famous Napa chef must return to court. Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
How's Our Appetite for Lab-Grown Meat? -- Someday you could slice into a steak from a Petri dish, or savor sashimi from a test tube. By growing meat in labs, a slew of Bay Area startups promise a future of tasty dishes for carnivores without making billions of animals suffer. Lesley McClurg KQED -- 9/12/19
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
California lawmakers kill plan to triple electric-vehicle rebates -- Drivers looking to buy electric cars or other zero-emission vehicles in California will get less financial help from the state than many had hoped. Lawmakers have killed San Francisco Assemblyman Phil Ting’s bill that could have tripled the state’s rebate for drivers who buy electric or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Judge overturns Yuba County’s 1 percent sales tax, ruling it was misclassified on ballot -- The ruling found that Measure K, which passed last November with 53 percent of the vote, should have been placed on the ballot as a special tax – which requires a two-thirds majority for approval. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and two residents sued the county last December, calling the measure an “illegal tax.” Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
Berkeley cyclists cry foul over hefty fines for rolling through stop signs -- While San Francisco rushes to redesign intersections and put posts around its bike lanes, Berkeley has taken a different approach to traffic safety: penalties of more than $200 for cyclists who roll through stop signs. The enforcement campaign, carried out by police officers who patrol the city’s quiet bicycle boulevards on motorcycles, has caused anger to spill from Twitter into City Hall. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Transit
San Francisco’s Central Subway hits huge delay — won’t open till 2021 -- San Francisco transportation officials have delayed the opening of the Central Subway: It will now start operating in mid-2021 instead of the end of this year, The Chronicle has learned. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Homeless
Fremont chooses city hall parking lot for controversial homeless center -- The Fremont City Council voted unanimously to open a navigation center in the parking lot of City Hall after months of debate and contention from residents who said they didn’t want a homeless center near their schools or neighborhoods. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/12/19
Trump officials tour unused FAA facility in California in search for place to relocate homeless people -- A team of Trump administration officials toured a California facility once used by the Federal Aviation Administration this week as they searched for a potential site to relocate homeless people, according to three government officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private tour. Jeff Stein, Josh Dawsey and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 9/12/19
Sacramento mayor ‘wary’ of Trump’s offer for homeless aid. But says CA cities should listen -- Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and other California elected officials are skeptical as the Trump administration focuses attention on homelessness in California cities, but are hopeful more federal funding could be on the way to address the growing crisis. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
High rents in Riverside, San Bernardino counties contribute to ‘homelessness crisis’ -- A day after a White House delegation toured the greater Los Angeles area to learn about efforts to combat homelessness, Inland Empire officials and activists alike said Wednesday, Sept. 11, that Riverside and San Bernardino counties face a unique set of challenges in that fight because of their geographic vastness, demographics and economy. Deepa Bharath and Elizabeth Chou in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 9/12/19
An Echo Park lot could become homeless housing after a bitter clash at City Hall -- Los Angeles is pressing forward with a bitterly contested plan to put housing for the homeless on an Echo Park lot, defying the objections of a local nonprofit and a councilman who denounced the move as an attack on the Latino community. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Housing
California cap on rent increases moves to governor’s desk -- AB1482, which would impose a statewide cap on rent increases and just-cause eviction rules, now awaits the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who helped negotiate a deal between tenant advocates and landlords that cleared a path for the bill. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Matt Levin Calmatters -- 9/12/19
Sacramento’s New Rent Cap Law Goes Into Effect Today. Here’s How California’s Renter Bill Might Impact It -- Starting Thursday, tenants in Sacramento have new protections when it comes to rent increases and evictions. But these new city laws could be affected by a rent cap bill sitting on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, which he plans to sign. Randol White Capital Public Radio -- 9/12/19
California lawmakers act to keep landlords from refusing low-income renters -- California landlords would no longer be allowed to reject prospective tenants solely because they hold federal Section 8 housing vouchers under a bill passed by the state Legislature on Wednesday. Should Gov. Gavin Newsom sign it, Senate Bill 329 would prohibit landlords from issuing blanket denials against the 300,000 Californians who receive the vouchers. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
California lawmakers move to reinstate, revamp local affordable housing program -- California lawmakers have approved a bid to renew a program that pumped hundreds of millions of dollars a year into affordable housing and economic development that had been eliminated during the state’s budget crisis eight years ago. But it’s uncertain if Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign off on the plan. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Education
Ex-judge Aaron Persky fired from high school tennis coach job -- Ex-judge Aaron Persky, who was ousted for his handling of a former Stanford University swimmer’s sexual assault case, has been fired from his new job as a South Bay high school tennis coach. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/12/19
California legislation inspired by college admissions scandal goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom -- California lawmakers have sent the governor a package of reforms sparked by the recent college admissions scandal, including a bill approved Wednesday that would require special admits at public universities to be approved by three administrators. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Your Guide To The Biggest Changes To California Charter School Laws Since 1992 -- California school boards will soon have enhanced powers to block new charter schools from opening in their districts — if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a sweeping piece of charter school legislation now on his desk. But "high-performing" charter schools could also soon have an easier time securing the permissions they need to remain open. Kyle Stokes LAist -- 9/12/19
Boyle Heights parents wonder why it took two weeks to find out a boy was shot at school -- Even though police immediately began looking for evidence of a shooting on or near Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights in late August, it took two weeks for school officials to acknowledge that a bullet had struck a student on campus, raising concerns Wednesday about the notification process among some parents. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Cal State San Bernardino student has active tuberculosis, may have exposed 400 to illness -- A student at Cal State San Bernardino has active tuberculosis and may have exposed about 400 students and employees to the illness between April and August, according to county health officials. Ryan Hagen in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 9/12/19
Gov. Newsom, lawmakers strike deal on $15 billion education construction bond -- After intensive down-to-the-wire negotiations, legislative leaders and staff from the governor’s office have agreed on legislation to place a $15 billion preschool, K-12 and higher education construction bond before voters in March 2020. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 9/12/19
California community colleges work to solve housing for foster youths -- While California’s housing market poses problems for many college students, the challenge is particularly acute among former foster youth, as they prepare to leave the care system and enter the next chapter of their adult lives without built-in support from family. Ashley A. Smith EdSource -- 9/12/19
Cannabis
Nearly 3,000 illegal marijuana businesses found in California audit, dwarfing legal trade -- California’s black market for cannabis is at least three times the size of its regulated weed industry, according to an audit made public Wednesday, the latest indication of the state’s continued struggle to tame a cannabis economy that has long operated in legal limbo. James Queally, Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
California marijuana retailers want Gavin Newsom to punish Weedmaps with fines -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom should use all the legal muscle at his disposal to crack down on Weedmaps, the Irvine-based website that helps people find medical and recreational marijuana, according to a letter sent to the governor by a cannabis industry trade group. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
Immigration / Border
Trump administration bars access to immigration tent courts -- The Trump administration announced Wednesday that new immigration courts in tents on the Texas border with Mexico will be closed to legal observers, the press and the public. Immigration lawyers condemned the restrictions as a violation of the due process rights of asylum seekers. Molly Hennessy-Fiske in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Guns
California bill to clamp down on semiautomatic rifles heads for vote this week -- Californians would be barred from buying more than one semiautomatic rifle a month and those weapons would be off-limits to people younger than 21 under a bill set for a final vote in the Legislature this week. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/12/19
Divided Democrats Step Back From Assault Weapons Ban -- As Democrats make an aggressive push for new gun control legislation, they have made a calculated decision to stop short of pursuing their most ambitious goal: an assault weapons ban. Sheryl Gay Stolberg in the New York Times$ -- 9/12/19
San Diego’s law requiring guns be locked at home to take effect this week -- The Safe Storage of Firearms Ordinance requires all guns in a residence be stored in a locked container, or disabled by a trigger lock, unless they are being carried by or are under control of the owner. Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/12/19
Bill that would end gun shows at Del Mar Fairgrounds advances to governor’s desk -- For most of its 30-year history, the Crossroads of the West gun shows occurred several times a year in Del Mar, drawing thousands of attendees and minimal public scrutiny. Charles T. Clark in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/12/19
Water
Water dispute bedevils bill to blunt Trump’s environment aims -- The debate follows a well-worn script: Protected species require water also needed by cities and farms. The new element is Trump. Julie Cart Calmatters Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/12/19
Also . . .
‘Muted determination': San Diego firefighters recall 9/11 response -- Two firefighters shared their experiences 18 years after taking part in search-and-rescue efforts at Ground Zero following the collapse of the World Trade Center. Luke Garrett in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 9/12/19
California Church Leaders Lured Homeless Into Forced Labor, U.S. Says -- The 12 defendants, including the Rev. Victor Gonzalez, former pastor of Imperial Valley Ministries who the authorities say oversaw the conspiracy, were arrested this week in San Diego, El Centro, Calif., and Brownsville, Tex. They are all charged with conspiring to commit forced labor, document servitude and benefits fraud. Emily S. Rueb in the New York Times$ -- 9/12/19
POTUS 45
Judiciary Committee Democrats privately map out possible impeachment articles against Trump -- A group of Judiciary Committee Democrats has begun privately mapping a list of possible charges against President Trump, sketching out the contours of potential articles of impeachment even as House leaders publicly resist taking such action, according to a half-dozen lawmakers and congressional aides. Rachael Bade in the Washington Post$ -- 9/12/19
‘You’re a prop in the back’: Advisers struggle to obey Trump’s Kafkaesque rules -- In President Trump’s renegade orbit, there are unspoken rules he expects his advisers to follow. He tolerates a modicum of dissent, so long as it remains private; expects advisers to fall in line and defend his decisions; and demands absolute fealty at all times. These rules and more were broken by John Bolton, the national security adviser who left the White House suddenly Tuesday on acrimonious terms. Ashley Parker and Philip Rucker in the Washington Post$ -- 9/12/19
Beltway
Politifact CA: Kamala Harris claims she ‘took on Big Oil’ as California AG. How far did she go? -- Democratic presidential hopeful and California Sen. Kamala Harris says she "will take on powerful interests," if elected to the White House. Chris Nichols Politifact CA -- 9/12/19
What Kamala Harris Needs to Do Tonight -- The good news for Senator Kamala Harris of California is that all the political ingredients are there. Astead W. Herndon in the New York Times$ -- 9/12/19
Is It an Impeachment Inquiry or Not? Democrats Can’t Seem to Agree -- From his office on the first floor of the Capitol on Wednesday, the second-ranking House Democrat, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, was unequivocal: An impeachment investigation of President Trump is not underway. Over in the Rayburn Building, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, has been hard at work at what he says is exactly that. Nicholas Fandos in the New York Times$ -- 9/12/19
-- Wednesday Updates
Sweeping bill rewriting California employment law sent to Gov. Newsom -- The 6,700-word bill could upend the relationship between workers and bosses across businesses as varied as ride-hailing tech giants, construction, healthcare, trucking, janitorial services, nail salons, adult entertainment, commercial fishing and newspapers. Margot Roosevelt, Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ Carolyn Said and Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/11/19
Fox: AB 5 and the Ghost of Failed Bills Past -- If AB 5 to reclassify workers in the new economy becomes law it will set up future trouble for the state much like the bills in the 1990s to deregulate energy and the granting of wider pension benefits for public employees. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 9/11/19
Calif. Democrats cite Reagan vetoes to defend law aimed at Trump’s tax returns -- California Democrats have turned to an unlikely ally — Ronald Reagan — in their defense of a state law that requires President Trump to release his tax returns before he may appear on next year’s primary ballot. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/11/19
California could soon ban sale of new fur products under bill sent to governor -- State lawmakers in the Assembly on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation that would outlaw new items made from the fur of undomesticated animals, including mink, rabbit and coyote. If signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, California would be the first state in the nation to ban the sale of new fur products. Phil Willon, Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/11/19
Electric vehicle sales are up sharply in California, mostly due to Tesla -- Sales of new electric vehicles in California shot up 63.7% in the first half of the year, to 51,750 units, largely on the strength of the Tesla Model 3. But that doesn’t mean a golden age of electric vehicles has dawned. Pure electric cars still total only 5.5% of California car sales. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/11/19
Lombard Street reservation plan faces one final twist — in Sacramento -- San Francisco officials, from Mayor London Breed on down, have given their blessing to a pilot plan to charge a reservation fee of between $5 and $10 for a drive down the city’s famous crooked street, but it’s unclear if Gov. Gavin Newsom, himself a former mayor, will sign off on the plan. Phil Matier in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/11/19
As Trump vows to halt sale of flavored vaping products, two more Bay Area cities ban e-cigarettes -- As President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to force companies to stop selling flavored vaping products, two Bay Area cities this week moved forward on legislation banning the sale of e-cigarettes altogether, regardless of flavor. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/11/19
California considering toughest plastic pollution laws in United States -- With enormous and ever-growing amounts of plastic washing into oceans, rivers and lakes around the world, California lawmakers this week are considering passing the nation’s most far-reaching laws to reduce plastic pollution over the next decade. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/11/19
SF kept beds for mentally ill empty out of concern for patient safety, officials say -- The Department of Public Health decided to stop admitting people into a long-term care facility for mentally ill patients last year — and instead leave several beds empty every night — because officials said the facility was unsafe due to staff negligence and errors. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/11/19
California boat fire investigators hope burned remains of Conception hold vital clues -- The investigation into the boat fire that killed 34 people is expected to shift later this week to the burned out remains of the Conception, which officials hope can yield new clues. Authorities have been planning to raise the boat from the Santa Barbara Channel for days, but those efforts have been repeatedly put off due to bad weather. Officials now expect the salvage process to begin Thursday or Friday. Richard Winton, Mark Puente, Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/11/19
Ghost Ship trial: Inside the turbulent jury deliberations that led to dismissals, acquittal, deadlock -- The Ghost Ship jury was headed into its 10th day of deliberations when juror Maury Mossman typed up a note he was hesitant to deliver. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/11/19
Judge unlikely to let PG&E stop trial over 2017 Tubbs Fire -- A federal judge said Tuesday he is unlikely to let Pacific Gas and Electric Co. stop a planned state court trial about the utility’s responsibility for the 2017 Tubbs Fire that ravaged the Santa Rosa area. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/11/19
Lopez: Trump is going to solve L.A.'s homeless crisis just like Hurricane Dorian hit Alabama -- Finally, an answer to the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. President Trump is on the case. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/11/19
California cities, special districts pay much more than market rate for healthcare, study finds -- California cities and special government districts are spending far more than the market average on employees’ medical insurance, costing taxpayers billions of dollars, according to an analysis by Transparent California. Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/11/19
L.A. student took a bullet in the jaw, but the district didn’t disclose the shooting for 2 weeks -- A student was shot in the jaw on Aug. 27 at Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights, possibly struck by a bullet fired from off campus, an incident that Los Angeles school officials publicly acknowledged for the first time Tuesday. Howard Blume, Sonali Kohli, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/11/19
Bay Area super-commuting growing: Here’s where it’s the worst -- On a good day with no glitches, Lauren Hopfenbeck spends an hour and a half getting to work in San Francisco, but she’s not coming from some far-flung Central Valley city. She lives in San Leandro. Erin Baldassari in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/11/19
Poll: Democrats see Biden, Warren as close fits ideologically, view Sanders as more extreme -- Democratic primary voters nationwide see former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren as relatively close to their own political views but regard Sen. Bernie Sanders as significantly further to their left, a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll shows. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/11/19
Calbuzz: Why Biden is, and Should Be, the Dem Frontrunner -- As the Democratic candidates for president gather Thursday night in Houston for another “debate” – the first in which the top three contenders will share the stage – the race still hinges on one key question: Who among the candidates can defeat President Donald Trump in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania? Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 9/11/19