Updating . .
California may switch to shorter probation terms -- Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing to overhaul California’s probation system by greatly reducing the time a convict is under supervised release, but increasing rehabilitation programs at the outset of the probationary period, when they are considered the most effective. Don Thompson Associated Press in the San Jose Mercury$
E-bikes are wildly popular in the Bay Area. Can they really replace cars? -- When Liza Lutzker threw her daughters a back-to-school party at the Berkeley Rose Garden, she and her husband packed all the provisions on their electric cargo bikes: two boxes of firewood, food for 30 people, a water dispenser, plates, napkins, glasses and two kids. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
Sea lions are cash cows in the Bay Area. Farther south, fishermen say, ‘Shoot ‘em’ -- Sea lions are increasingly living in parallel universes along the California coast, a disparity best observed amid the noisy, stinking spectacle that rolls out daily at San Francisco’s Pier 39 shopping center. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
Newsom’s budget includes $900 million to address California teacher shortage -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget includes $900 million to recruit and retain teachers, part of a plan to attack a critical statewide shortage of instructors, especially in math, sciences and for students with disabilities. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
Five quintessentially Newsom moments from the governor’s news conference -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom began a news conference Friday to unveil his $222.2-billion state budget proposal with a plea for forgiveness and a warning: The exhaustive 90-minute presentation he gave for his first spending plan one year ago wasn’t an exception, it set a precedent. Taryn Luna, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
Day labor center in Westlake fights eviction, arguing it is ‘safety net’ for community -- Eight days before Christmas, a day labor center in the Westlake district of Los Angeles received an eviction notice. According to the landowner, the site has become a “nuisance” and a “blight.” As a result, the organization that runs it has been given until mid-January to vacate. Julia Barajas in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
A high-profile lawsuit targeting Huntington Beach over housing could end in a settlement -- In a letter sent to the Orange County city on Friday, state housing officials said a proposal to increase low-income housing development in the city would meet the terms of a state law that requires all communities to zone for enough affordable housing to meet projected population growth. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
Lopez: This immigration attorney understands her clients. She’s undocumented, too -- On Friday morning, attorney Lizbeth Mateo went to immigration court in downtown Los Angeles to represent a client with whom she has something in common. She’s undocumented, too. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
Lelyveld: How can we help the homeless? Let’s start by asking them -- I am an individual. I have individual needs. Unhoused people have them too. Start to ask them and they’ll tell you. They’ll be specific. Pet food for a dog. Sanitary pads. Loaded TAP cards to help them travel to the welfare office or a nonprofit that can provide them with showers and fresh clothes and a meal. On a larger scale, toilets and trash cans to help them live on the streets in a cleaner, more civilized way. Nita Lelyveld in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
California Policy & Politics This Morning
All California cities must follow state sanctuary law, appeals court rules -- California’s sanctuary law, which prohibits most types of law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration agents, is binding on the state’s 121 charter cities, including an Orange County community that has refused to enforce it, a state appeals court ruled Friday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Amy Taxin Associated Press Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$-- 1/11/20
Judge rules homeless mothers must leave vacant Oakland home -- An Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that a group of homeless mothers, who have taken up residence in a vacant West Oakland home, don’t have a legal right to the property and will be evicted by the Sheriff’s Department within five days. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
'We're Not Leaving': Homeless Mom Says After Judge Orders Oakland Home Vacated -- Judge Patrick R. McKinney ordered Dominique Walker to immediately vacate the property along with others in the house, including members of the group Moms 4 Housing. But Walker said she and the other women aren’t going anywhere. Molly Solomon KQED -- 1/11/20
California budget plan aids teachers, those in US illegally -- California’s governor revealed a spending plan on Friday that puts a new tax on vaping, gives $20,000 to teachers who commit to working in high-needs schools and gives taxpayer-funded health benefits to older adults living in the country illegally. Adam Beam and Don Thompson Associated Press -- 1/11/20
Highlights of California governor’s second annual budget -- California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom presented a $222 billion budget proposal to state lawmakers on Friday, setting off six months of hearings and negotiations before the Legislature must act by mid-June, in time for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. The state also will have an estimated $107 billion in federal funds to spend in the next budget year. Associated Press Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/11/20
Gavin Newsom’s budget calls for jail reforms after McClatchy, ProPublica investigation -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday demanded more accountability from his state community corrections board and called for more frequent jail inspections, tighter oversight and stricter standards for how sheriffs run local lockups. Jason Pohl in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/11/20
Trump's shadow looms large at Newsom's budget release -- Gov. Gavin Newsom had the top billing Friday when he introduced the the state's $222 billion budget, but looming large, even a coast away, was President Donald Trump — his unexpected co-star. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 1/11/20
What Gavin Newsom’s $222 billion budget says about California’s priorities -- Homelessness, education, climate action, health, consumer protection, school lunches: Gov. Gavin Newsom's agenda couldn't differ more from President Donald Trump's. Calmatters -- 1/11/20
San Diego student and 2 family members killed in Ukrainian jetliner crash -- A San Diego college student, her sister and their mother were among the 176 people who were killed Wednesday when a Ukrainian jetliner went down shortly after taking off from an airport in Tehran. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/11/20
As auto burglaries spike in East Bay, police pool resources -- Contrasting a streak of reduced violence in San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area, property crimes and auto burglaries have grown into an epidemic. While the trend has started to level off in San Francisco, it reached new heights in the East Bay last year as a cluster of cities saw the crimes spike by double-digit percentages. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
Bay Area hospital facing closure may have new buyer -- Seton Medical Center, the 127-year-old Daly City hospital, was on the verge of potential closure after a deal to buy the hospital from its bankrupt owner fell apart last month. Now it’s in talks to be sold to another buyer, according to the president of the hospital’s medical staff. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
New SF District Attorney Chesa Boudin fires multiple prosecutors -- Newly elected San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin fired multiple prosecutors on Friday afternoon as he reshapes the office and begins implementing his progressive vision two days after being sworn in. At least six attorneys were fired, possibly more, including several managing attorneys in the office’s criminal division. Evan Sernoffsky in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Madison Square Garden Co. sues governor, state lawmakers over Clippers’ $1.2 billion arena -- The Madison Square Garden Co., owners of The Forum in Inglewood, filed a lawsuit Friday against Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature, alleging the state officials violated California’s constitution by giving special treatment to a proposed Los Angeles Clippers arena project. Jason Henry in the Orange County Register -- 1/11/20
California population growth could halt in 2060, demographers say for first time -- Data included in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal suggests that California could nearly stop growing by 2060 — a stark reversal from a boom that has seen California’s population double over the past half-century. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 1/11/20
Transit
Adding a bus-only lane on the Bay Bridge: The idea seems simple. Except it’s not -- Adding a bus-only lane to the Bay Bridge seems like a simple idea. And it could be transcendent for anyone who commutes by transbay coach, sometimes a long game of sit and wait. But state Assemblyman Rob Bonta may face design challenges and stout opposition from motorists as he tries to revive a plan that’s been kicked around for years. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
MTS cracks down on trolley riders without tickets. Officials raise concerns about criminalizing poverty -- San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board of Directors to explore overhaul of citation system that some say can unfairly burden the indigent. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/11/20
Homeless
California’s Newsom Proposes New Approach to Homeless Spending -- Bolstered by a multibillion-dollar surplus amid a booming economy, the Democrat proposed spending $1.4 billion to address homelessness in the fiscal year beginning in July, including $750 million which would be distributed in a manner Mr. Newsom described as a “radical shift.” Christine Mai-Duc in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 1/11/20
Housing
The difference between Concord and the developer of 13,000 homes? Just $500 million -- Concord officials insisted Friday that the $6 billion redevelopment of the Concord Naval Weapons Station will move forward despite the developer suspending work and threatening to quit over a labor dispute. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
Newsom’s 2020 budget leaves some housing advocates wanting more -- While campaigning for office, Newsom had said the state needed 3.5 million new homes to escape the housing crisis, and he aimed to get them built by 2025. But on Friday, Newsom pulled back from that goal, saying his office is refining that number using new data. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/11/20
Education
UC Santa Cruz Workers Join Striking Grad Students, Rally for Higher Pay -- The housing affordability crisis is continuing to spark strikes at UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County's largest employer. On Thursday, about 200 people rallied on the UCSC campus to support graduate students and university workers who are striking for higher wages. Erika Mahoney KQED -- 1/11/20
Newsom’s budget boosts UC Riverside medical school funding -- The fiscal 2020-21 spending plan would boost ongoing School of Medicine funding from $15 million annually to $40 million a year, according to the office of state Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside. The money is on top of a commitment in the current state budget – estimated at $80 million to $100 million – to finance the school’s expansion. Jeff Horseman in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 1/11/20
Mercy High School in San Francisco to close in June -- One of San Francisco’s last all-girls Catholic high schools announced Friday it will close its doors at the end of this school year amid financial distress. Mercy High School, a college preparatory school founded in 1952, will shut down in June. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/11/20
Cannabis
Newsom’s budget calls for changing how California regulates its cannabis industry -- Newsom’s draft 2020-21 budget calls for collapsing the three state departments that currently oversee the marijuana industry – the Bureau of Cannabis Control for retailers, distributors and testing labs; the Department of Food and Agriculture for cultivators; and the Department of Public Health for product manufacturers – into one new Department of Cannabis Control by July 2021. That will give businesses, which often deal with multiple parts of the supply chain, one point of contact. Brooke Staggs in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 1/11/20
Beltway
Biden seeks to upstage Buttigieg in fight for California -- Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg chased California votes on Friday in dueling events, looking to sway Democrats in the state that delivers the largest haul of delegates in the presidential contest. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 1/11/20
Bloomberg adds 3 key hires in delegate-rich California -- Michael Bloomberg is adding three experienced California Democrats to his presidential campaign in the state that awards the most primary delegates, including the former head of Sen. Kamala Harris’ state campaign operation. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 1/11/20
Pete Buttigieg faces Black Lives Matter protesters from South Bend during Watts visit -- Pete Buttigieg has left South Bend, but South Bend hasn’t left him. Activists from the Indiana city are making sure his hometown problems follow him around. Matt Pearce in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/11/20
-- Friday Updates
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget envisions an activist agenda but limits on higher spending -- For the seventh time in eight years, California’s government is poised to collect a sizable cash surplus under projections in the $222.2-billion state budget Gov. Gavin Newsom submitted to the Legislature on Friday — a remarkable streak even in the face of steadily higher spending, most notably on K-12 education and healthcare for low-income residents. John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/10/20
Gavin Newsom seeks more money for schools, health care for undocumented seniors -- Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a $222 billion state budget Friday that he said represents a snapshot of his priorities for California. “This is not a what, not a why, but a how document,” he said. Alexei Koseff and John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/10/20
California state budget breaks record, tops $220 billion -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $222.2 billion budget proposal Friday with plans to spend part of a projected $5.6 billion surplus on green technology and homeless aid. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/10/20
Newsom Zeroes in on Education Gaps, Homelessness and Climate Change in State Budget -- Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $222 billion state budget this morning, saying it attempts to confront two of California's persistent problems: risks caused by climate change and homelessness. Marisa Lagos KQED -- 1/10/20
California budget plan aids teachers, those in US illegally -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to give $20,000 stipends to teachers at high needs schools and extend health care to older low-income immigrants who are in the country illegally. He outlined the plans during an announcement Friday of his $222 billion budget proposal. Adam Beam and Don Thompson Associated Press -- 1/10/20
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils new housing funding in 2020 budget -- Reiterating that housing affordability remains one of his top priorities in the new year, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday unveiled a budget proposal that builds upon last year’s historic housing investments. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/10/20
Newsom proposes Medicaid benefits for undocumented senior citizens -- Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing that California provide Medicaid benefits to undocumented senior citizens, setting up another high-stakes standoff with President Donald Trump over health and immigration. Angela Hart Politico -- 1/10/20
Anti-vaccine protester accused of throwing blood at California lawmakers is charged with two felonies -- Rebecca Dalelio, 43, has been charged with one felony count of assault on a public official and one felony count of vandalism. If convicted, she could face up to three years in county jail. Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/10/20
Huntington Beach must observe state’s sanctuary law, SB 54, appeals court rules -- California’s 4th District Court of Appeals announced Friday, Jan. 10, that its panel of three judges has unanimously overturned a lower court’s ruling that allowed Huntington Beach to ignore California’s contentious “sanctuary state” law. Susan Christian Goulding in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/10/20
Uber won’t share sex assault details with California regulators, citing privacy -- Uber told regulators Friday it would not provide names and contact information for sexual assault victims, arguing that an order filed last year violates the privacy and agency of victims who haven’t given their consent. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/10/20
Trump’s homeless czar went undercover in Fresno. Now he’s making plans for California -- In Fresno, Marbut left a lasting impression when he “embedded” in camps and recommended policies that some worried downplayed the importance of providing shelter to homeless people. Fresno rejected his major recommendations. Kate Irby and Manuela Tobias in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 1/10/20
Lawsuit aims to halt construction of homeless shelter in Griffith Park -- The Los Angeles City Council voted in December to push forward with the planned shelter and begin awarding funding for the nearly $6.6-million project, which is slated to include a 10,800-square-foot structure with approximately 100 beds and trailers for showers, restrooms and administrative offices. It is expected to break ground in late February or early March. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/10/20
BMW driver arrested after allegedly running down man panhandling in Palmdale, police say -- A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon Thursday after authorities say he intentionally rammed his BMW into a man who was panhandling in Palmdale. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/10/20
The rape crisis among California’s farm workers -- Farm worker survivors of sexual assault and those who are there to help them, California’s rape crisis centers, face many obstacles: Survivors’ lack of English proficiency, immigration status, nature of employment, fear of employer retaliation, and distrust of authorities. Scott Soriano Capitol Weekly -- 1/10/20
Nearly 150-year-old Western Appliance retailer closing -- In an emotional post on its website, San Jose-based Western Appliance said that both family health problems and larger changes to the appliance retail industry have made the business “untenable.” Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/10/20
Banks: They signed a contract on a Papa John’s franchise. Then came the founder’s racist remarks -- It seemed like a good idea three years ago, when Jarvis and Josslyn Young first considered opening a Papa John’s pizza franchise in South Los Angeles. Sandy Banks in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/10/20
Dilapidated SF piers near Oracle Park could become offices, retail -- The Port of San Francisco is seeking proposals to redevelop historic maritime structures at piers 38 and 40 as part of a larger plan to transform and renovate up to 13 aging piers. The piers are close to Oracle Park and just north of bustling South Beach Harbor and hundreds of docked ships. Pier 38 is vacant, and much of Pier 40 is used for storage and parking. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/10/20
'History has proven her right': Barbara Lee's anti-war push succeeds on Iran -- Longtime anti-war dissident Barbara Lee’s name wasn’t on the resolution the House overwhelmingly approved on Thursday to halt hostilities with Iran. That distinction went to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a freshman Democrat who served multiple tours in Iraq as a top-level CIA analyst. Sarah Ferris Politico -- 1/10/20
Fox: Hot CA Democratic Primary Could Burn State Republicans -- Traditionally, Republican voters turn out in higher percentages relative to their registration numbers compared to Democrats in primary elections. That may not hold true when California voters go to the polls on March 3. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 1/10/20