Updating . .
Judge rips PG&E for ghastly safety record leading to fires -- A U.S. judge ripped into Pacific Gas & Electric on Wednesday, saying its executives have put greed before safety and telling the utility that has been blamed for huge California wildfires in recent years that it should plan to have at least 1,100 more tree trimmers to reduce the chances of causing even more devastation. Michael Liedtke Associated Press -- 2/19/20
California governor: Lower bar for forced mental health care -- California should lower the legal bar for providing forced treatment to the mentally ill and building more homeless shelters, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday in his second State of the State address. He took the unusual step of devoting most of the annual speech to just two related issues: affordable housing shortfalls and homelessness. They have quickly eclipsed the state’s other problems since the Democratic governor took office a year ago. Adam Beam and Don Thompson Associated Press -- 2/19/20
California’s homelessness crisis ‘a disgrace,’ Gov. Gavin Newsom says in State of the State speech -- Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to marshal the full force of his administration to alleviate California’s worsening homelessness crisis, a humanitarian imperative for the state and political necessity for a governor whose ambitious progressive agenda could be eclipsed if he fails to take effective action. Phil Willon, Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/19/20
Trump heads to Central Valley after slamming California on immigration, homelessness -- President Trump’s visit to California continues Wednesday with stops in the Central Valley to discuss water policy and then on to Rancho Mirage for a fundraiser hosted by Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison. Colleen Shalby, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Bettina Boxall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Lopez: So Trump wants to solve homelessness in California? Here are five things he can do -- They want to help. That’s what we keep hearing from President Trump’s minions about California’s massive homelessness crisis. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Does California need ‘another cook in the kitchen’ to fix homelessness? Newsom says yes -- California lawmakers will gather Wednesday to hear Gov. Gavin Newsom deliver his annual State of the State address and will no doubt applaud a ny promise he makes to zero in on homelessness. But that doesn’t mean they’ll agree with him. Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/20
California primary preview: Nevada lining up behind Bernie Sanders -- The race is for second place in Saturday’s Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada, as the months Sen. Bernie Sanders invested in organizing Latino voters here are making him the candidate to beat in the first voting state whose diverse electorate resembles California’s. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/20
California could revoke PG&E’s license under new proposal -- California officials would be able to appoint someone new to control Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s operations or reconsider the investor-owned company’s operating license, under a new enforcement process that the state’s top utility regulator proposed on Tuesday. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/20
Housing crisis: Legislation inspired by homeless Oakland moms aims to fill vacant homes -- Inspired by a group of homeless Oakland mothers who took up residence in a vacant West Oakland home to call attention to California’s housing crisis, state legislation was introduced Wednesday that aims to reduce the number of empty homes in California and give tenants the first right of refusal to buy foreclosed properties. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/20
ICE arrests 3 at Sonoma County courthouse; local officials furious -- Federal immigration officials arrested at least three people Tuesday in or near Sonoma County Superior Court in a move that outraged local officials. Alejandro Serrano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/20
How is this poor, rural district keeping kids in school? -- School officials in Parlier have teamed with doctors to open a clinic and keep kids healthy. Now chronic absenteeism is down. Manuela Tobias Calmatters -- 2/19/20
For California lawmakers, charity can begin at home -- It's legal for Assemblyman Rob Bonta's nonprofit to give to his wife's employer. But an author of the state's political ethics law says it shouldn't be. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 2/19/20
13-year-olds arrested in connection with library blaze that killed firefighter -- Two 13-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with a deadly fire at a public library in Central California that left one firefighter dead and another unaccounted for, officials said Wednesday. Colleen Shalby, Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Los Angeles County eliminates criminal fees. Will California follow? -- Los Angeles County will stop billing people millions of dollars a year for the costs of their incarceration in an effort to lighten the financial burden on former inmates. Jackie Botts Calmatters -- 2/19/20
On eve of Trump visit, critics ask why Newsom hasn’t fought president’s water moves -- During President Trump’s visit to California this week, the commander in chief who campaigned on a pledge of shipping more water to Central Valley farms plans to stop in Bakersfield to boast about a promise kept. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/20
Legal marijuana use still costs people jobs. A new California bill takes on the issue -- California voters legalized pot in 2016. But for many seeking jobs in state government, cannabis use has become an obstacle to getting hired. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Fox: Ignoring the Promises Made for High-Speed Rail -- A new business plan has been issued for California’s high-speed rail and the only thing that is moving fast is the bullet train moving away from the promises made to voters when the bond supporting the train was on the ballot. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 2/19/20
A decorated detective, a suspected mobster: How a secret alliance ended in claims of blood and betrayal -- The Escalade was headed down a dreary and industrial stretch of road in Commerce when the first bullet buried itself in the driver’s back. He stomped on the gas. Bullets slammed into the car. Blood leaked from his gut. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Greeted in L.A. by jeers and cheers, Trump slams city leaders -- Two weeks before California’s primary election, Donald Trump landed in the blue state Tuesday for the fourth time in his presidency to meet with organizers of the 2028 Olympic Games before attending a fundraising dinner in Beverly Hills. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Trump swoops through LA for brief, though vital, visit -- President Donald Trump swooped through Los Angeles for a rare visit to the heavily Democratic region on Tuesday, Feb. 18, his agenda topped by formally signing off on the 2028 LA Olympics and fund-raising at a posh Beverly Hills hotel. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/19/20
New coronavirus case identified in Bay Area -- The first case of new coronavirus in Napa County was announced Tuesday afternoon. This brings the total number of cases in the Bay Area to five. The infected patient is being treated at Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center. A second patient, who had tested negative for the pneumonia-like virus but is now showing symptoms, is also at the hospital under observation. Both patients are under quarantine. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Julia Prodis Sulek in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/19/20
Medical report underscores the limits of screening travelers for coronavirus -- Two German citizens who appeared healthy when they were evacuated from Wuhan, China, in early February were in fact infected with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and might have been capable of spreading it to others, according to a medical report released Tuesday. Karen Kaplan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Bernie Sanders opens up big lead in California poll -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has swept into a commanding lead in California heading into the March 3 Democratic presidential primary, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Public Policy Institute of California. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeremy B. White Politico Bryan Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 2/19/20
California Made It Easier For Voters To Switch Parties, But Retraining Election Staff Could Pose Challenges -- California voters can now change their party preference or update the address on their registration by filling out a short form at their county election office or voting location. Scott Rodd Capital Public Radio -- 2/19/20
Trump blasts Garcetti on immigration as he returns to LA -- President Donald Trump punctuated his return to Los Angeles on Tuesday by lambasting the city’s Democratic mayor on immigration, sustaining a running feud with California’s big-city leaders. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 2/19/20
Walters: Two crises should not be wasted -- A crisis, it’s been said, is a terrible thing to waste. Stanford economist Paul Romer coined the phrase in 2004 in referring to the nation’s waning education levels and it’s since been adopted and adapted by others. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 2/19/20
Housing, Health Care, Homelessness: After A Year, Where Does Gov. Gavin Newsom Stand On His Key Promises For California? -- On the campaign trail, Gavin Newsom made bold promises: He would boost California’s housing supply by millions of units, solve the state’s homelessness crisis and create universal health care financed through a single-payer system. Chris Nichols Capital Public Radio -- 2/19/20
New penalty, extended deadline drive increase in California health insurance sign-ups -- New numbers released Tuesday show many more Californians signed up for health insurance this year than last year, even as state officials are extending the deadline for people to enroll in coverage. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ Rachel Bluth and Samantha Young Capital Public Radio Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
SF Mayor Breed regrets letting Nuru friendship influence her judgment -- As Mayor London Breed braces for the potential fallout from her disclosure last week that she accepted $5,600 in gifts from ex-Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, she admitted to a lapse in judgment that allowed her personal life to bleed into her professional one. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Catherine Ho in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/20
Orange County DA, public defender clash again in court over mishandled evidence -- Fired Orange County sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Atkinson had a chronic problem when it came to booking evidence. Twenty-six times in two years, Atkinson wrote in his official reports that he had booked property he had seized — drugs, weapons, videos — when he had not. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/20
DA sponsors bill to require open hearings on release of sexual predators -- San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan on Tuesday threw her support behind a state bill that aims to cement the public’s right to attend court hearings that deal with the potential release of sexually violent predators into the community. David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/19/20
What happened at Devin Nunes water forum with Interior Secretary? We can’t tell you. Here’s why -- Rep. Devin Nunes held a major water forum in Tulare County on Tuesday afternoon that excluded The Fresno Bee. U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, the nation’s top ranking administrator of federal waterways, was a speaker. His department manages the Central Valley Project, which delivers water from Shasta Dam to San Joaquin Valley farms. Carmen George and Kate Irby in the Fresno Bee -- 2/19/20
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Lower taxes, higher wages in Mexico’s border zone have not stimulated businesses as promised -- At Margaritas, an empty bar near the border in Tijuana, manager Moy Maymontes said it is hard to measure the impact of what he called a “well-intended program.” He said a recent spike in violence in the area is keeping Americans at home. Tourists make up at least 70 percent of his restaurant guests, he said. Wendy Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
PG&E Reports $3.6 Billion Quarterly Loss as Wildfire Costs Mount -- The San Francisco-based utility, which filed for bankruptcy protection last year due to billions in wildfire-related claims, reported on Tuesday a full-year loss of $7.7 billion, compared with a $6.9 billion loss in 2018. Katherine Blunt in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/19/20
Wine vs. weed in Napa Valley -- Napa Valley is famous for its cabernet sauvignon. But with the cannabis industry moving in fast, some of the region’s storied vintners are sounding the alarm that California’s newest legal crop could damage the flavor — and brand — of their prized wines. Those grape growers worry that pot won’t pair well with the terroir they have spent a century and a half cultivating. Alexander Nieves and Debra Kahn Politico -- 2/19/20
Car loan company lays off 137 people, its entire Anaheim staff -- Gateway One services subprime car loans, with most of its business coming from borrowers referred by dealerships. It is owned by Detroit-based TCF Financial Corp., a banking company that has more than 300 locations, mostly in the Midwest. TCF purchased Gateway One in 2011. At one point, Gateway One had relationships with more than 3,200 car dealers in 30 states. Jack Katzanek in the Orange County Register -- 2/19/20
Uber shuts downtown L.A. office, laying off about 80 -- Without advance notice, staffers were informed Thursday their jobs would be shifted to a large customer support office the company maintains in Manila, according to sources who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing severance. Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Transit
$3.25 to ride Muni? Not so fast, SF supervisors say -- San Francisco transit officials are weighing whether to raise Muni fares by a quarter next year, to $3.25. The hike, though small, could be significant: Muni is already one of the most expensive transit systems in the country. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/19/20
Homeless
Faulconer Touts Statewide Homelessness Solutions -- Mayor Kevin Faulconer said he has started assembling a group that will support state and local ballot measures that “decrease homeless, increase public safety, grow the economy and clean up public spaces and the environment.” Lisa Halverstadt Voiceofsandiego.org -- 2/19/20
Wildfire
Winter Is Wildfire Prep Season in California -- In fear of next deadly blaze, towns run mass-evacuation drills, rewrite building codes, build fuel breaks. Erin Ailworth in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 2/19/20
Bill would force companies to keep insuring homeowners in wildfire zones. Will it work? -- Insurance companies fleeing high-risk fire zones would have to stay put and even offer discounts if homeowners in those areas prepare for wildfires on a community-wide scale, under a new bill proposed in Sacramento on Tuesday. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
Education
UC Santa Cruz grad students still on strike in shadow of firing threat -- UC Santa Cruz grad students and faculty are responding to an ultimatum issued by UC President Janet Napolitano Friday to submit their grades or risk being fired. Graduate students continued their wildcat strike Tuesday morning in front of the UCSC main entrance, an action rising from a monthslong campaign for a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in the form of a substantial raise for teaching assistants who say they cannot afford the cost of living in Santa Cruz. Elaine Ingalls in the Santa Cruz Sentinel -- 2/19/20
Special education in California in need of overhaul, researchers say -- Special education in California should be overhauled to focus on the individual needs of students, with better training for teachers, more streamlined services and improved screening for the youngest children, according to a compilation of reports released today. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 2/19/20
Immigration / Border
Trump's Changes to Immigration Could Take Years to Undo — Even With a New President -- As the 2020 presidential contest ramps up, President Trump is doubling down on restricting immigration to the U.S. — a key campaign pledge he made during his first run for the White House and one that he is hoping will earn him a second term. For many voters, immigration could be a defining issue in November — whether they support or oppose his policies. Tyche Hendricks KQED -- 2/19/20
9 Ways Trump Has Overhauled Immigration to the US -- During President Trump's first term, the transformation of federal immigration policy has been far-reaching and so broad that experts say the effects could last for years — even if he isn't reelected. Tyche Hendricks KQED -- 2/19/20
An Immigrant From Brazil Has Changed Lives as a Coach. Is That Enough to Stay in the U.S.? -- Hicu Motta turned a group of working-class girls into first-class rowers. But immigration authorities rejected his bid for a green card. Miriam Jordan in the New York Times$ -- 2/19/20
Water
Photos: See how sparse the Sierra Nevada snowpack looks compared to last year -- Two NASA satellite images released late Monday by the National Weather Service office in Sacramento starkly illustrate how much less snow is covering the Sierra Nevada this week compared to the same time a year ago. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/19/20
Environment
California law requires rooftop solar on new homes. How the rule is already being tested -- SMUD wants the California Energy Commission instead to approve a SMUD plan to produce power at a few new solar farms around Sacramento County and ship that power to new housing tracts, freeing those builders from having to install panels on house roofs. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/19/20
Leaf Blowers Could Be Banned In Sacramento On Bad Air Days -- The city of Sacramento already has several rules on the books regulating leaf blowers — and as many residents might attest, they often are not enforced. Nick Miller Capital Public Radio -- 2/19/20
Also . . .
Criminalist’s widow feels vindicated by jury’s verdicts in wrongful-death suit -- Rebecca Brown’s heart was in her throat. Almost five years after she filed a lawsuit to prove San Diego police detectives contributed to her husband’s suicide, jurors were filing into the courtroom with a verdict. They gave her $6 million. John Wilkens in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/19/20
Drew Carey endorses petition to reform domestic violence laws following death of ex-fiancee Amie Harwick -- An online petition to reform domestic violence laws following the death of Amie Harwick, a prominent marriage and family therapist who authorities allege was attacked by an ex-boyfriend, had attracted more than 16,000 supporters as of Tuesday afternoon — including Harwick’s former fiance, TV star Drew Carey. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
In the Noah’s Ark of citrus, caretakers try to stave off a fruit apocalypse -- Spread over 22 acres, UC Riverside’s 113-year-old Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection was founded as a place to gather and study as many citrus specimens as possible — right now, the inventory numbers at over 1,000. It’s an open-air temple where innovations in irrigation, fertilization, pest control, breeding and more have allowed California’s iconic $7-billion citrus industry to thrive for over a century. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/19/20
POTUS 45
Trump announces a blitz of pardons and commutations -- President Donald Trump announced a host of pardons and commutations on Tuesday, ranging from Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor jailed on corruption charges, to Bernie Kerik, the former New York police commissioner. Caitlin Oprysko Politico -- 2/19/20
Barr has told those close to Trump he is considering quitting over the president’s tweets about Justice Dept. investigations -- Attorney General William P. Barr has told people close to President Trump — both inside and outside the White House — that he is considering quitting over Trump’s tweets about Justice Department investigations, three administration officials said, foreshadowing a possible confrontation between the president and his attorney general over the independence of the Justice Department. Matt Zapotosky, Josh Dawsey, John Wagner and Rachel Weiner in the Washington Post$ -- 2/19/20
Beltway
Trump's California visit: President soaks up campaign cash, riles up Democratic leaders -- California — with its plastic straw bans, sanctuary laws and liberal Hollywood elite — has been a frequent target for President Donald Trump. He's revved up his base by framing the state as the embodiment of liberal excess, and he routinely takes shots at Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank. But despite his professed disdain, he hasn't stayed away. Sam Metz in the Desert Sun -- 2/19/20
-- Tuesday Updates
California loosens its individual mandate for health insurance -- Concerned too many Californians were unaware they would face a hefty fine for not having health insurance, officials on Tuesday loosened a state law meant to push uninsured residents into buying medical coverage. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/20
Trump pardons ex-49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. over Louisiana casino case -- President Trump has pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. for a conviction related to an attempt to win a Louisiana casino license. DeBartolo pleaded guilty in federal court in 1998 to a felony charge of failing to report that Louisiana’s former governor allegedly extorted $400,000 from him to win the license. Trapper Byrne in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Myah Ward Politico -- 2/18/20
Trump’s California visit raises questions about Newsom’s water policy credibility -- During President Trump’s visit to California this week, the commander in chief who campaigned on a pledge of shipping more water to Central Valley farms plans to stop in Bakersfield to boast about a promise kept. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/20
The new thing for California politicians? Sweet charity -- The California Legislature’s Latino Caucus recently circulated a memo offering a potential perk for members: A trip to Cuba to learn about “culture, history and possibly government structure and policy making.” The caucus’ nonprofit foundation, the memo said, would help pick up the tab. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 2/18/20
Rural California's delegate gold mine suddenly matters in Democratic primary -- Vast farm regions once considered California flyover country have suddenly become stopover country for presidential campaigns two weeks before Super Tuesday. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 2/18/20
Nonprofit demands details on California insurance commissioner’s meetings with executives -- A California consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to force Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his agency to hand over detailed calendar appointments with industry executives who contributed to his campaign. Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/18/20
PG&E jolted by billions in quarterly losses amid wildfire costs, is on track to end bankruptcy in June -- PG&E posted a $3.62 billion loss for its fourth quarter that ended in December, but the embattled utility said Tuesday it’s on track to emerge from a bankruptcy quagmire linked to the company’s liabilities for a string of lethal wildfires. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/18/20
SDG&E to spend up to $1.5 billion in next three years on wildfire prevention -- Since the Witch, Guejito and Rice wildfires blistered San Diego County in the fall of 2007, San Diego Gas & Electric has spent more than $1.5 billion in ratepayer funds to help prevent another round of catastrophic blazes. Now, the power company expects to spend a similar amount — from $1 billion to $1.5 billion — over the next three years. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/18/20
Where is our homelessness funding going? New bill seeks to find out -- How much are we spending to help the homeless? Where is that money going? And, is it helping? Those are the questions Assemblymember David Chiu, D-San Francisco, hopes to answer with a new bill introduced Tuesday. Marisa Kendall in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 2/18/20
Kamala Harris endorses George Gascón in competitive Los Angeles County D.A.’s race -- Harris — who served as San Francisco district attorney for seven years before Gascón took over the office in 2011 — called Gascón a “proven leader” in the criminal justice reform movement. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ Larry Altman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/18/20
A surprise big spender funds attack campaign mailers in key L.A. school board races -- The barrage of campaign mail flooding voters in a Los Angeles school board race includes images of a child holding what appears to be a gun, with the message that school board member Jackie Goldberg is responsible for putting children at risk from gun-related violence. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/20
First group of coronavirus evacuees leaves Miramar -- Two weeks after they boarded chartered planes in China, the first group of evacuees who served their 14-day coronavirus quarantines at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar prepared to board charter buses or be picked up by family members Tuesday, undergoing one final medical test before getting the final go-ahead from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/18/20
Living at the intersection of rich and poor -- Carmen Preciado has always been able to identify the precise spot along Middlefield Road that marks the end of her world and the beginning of another. “When I go to the other side, it’s just like: ‘Oh, this is a rich people area,'” said Preciado, a 31-year-old single mother and life-long Redwood City resident. “You can see the difference.” Erica Hellerstein Calmatters -- 2/18/20
Mayor Breed’s fix for choked streets: congestion pricing and Sunday parking meters -- With Market Street purged of cars, San Francisco Mayor London Breed now seeks to unclog the surrounding arteries and curbs. Her solutions would require drivers to open their wallets. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/20
California takes a first step toward improving its failing county jails -- California’s county jails would face greater scrutiny and potentially tougher consequences for poor conditions inside their cells under a series of proposed changes unveiled by a state oversight agency last week. Jason Pohl and Ryan Gabrielson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/18/20
'It’s ruined my life': Academy of Art ex-student owes $431,000 and has no job -- A federal lawsuit by four ex-employees accuses the Academy of Art of using illegal schemes to bait students like Dunn. The former recruiters say the school illegally adjusted their pay up or down based on how many students they registered, dangled trips to Hawaii as an incentive, and lied to the government about it to collect millions in financial aid. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/20
City College asks voters for $845 million to upgrade decaying campuses with ‘rat problems,’ ‘freezing’ classrooms -- As City College of San Francisco slashes hundreds of classes and sheds instructors to try and balance its books, college leaders are asking the city’s taxpayers for help shoring up the school’s aged and decaying buildings — and even its newer ones. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/20
Long Beach Poly teacher placed on leave again after students allege verbal and physical abuse -- Although the Long Beach Unified School District declined to provide details about the ongoing investigation into Libby Huff, or the nature of the complaints that have been made against her, an online anonymous compilation attributed to students contains 31 statements regarding her alleged inappropriate actions in the classroom. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/20
SF ballot measure ties office growth to housing — and opponents say that’s a bad idea -- San Francisco’s skyline is growing, and the economy is booming as developers prepare to build another wave of office projects. But a powerful, longtime South of Market activist wants to hit the brakes, and he’s asking voters to help. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/20
Central Americans have long migrated north. Today, their studies are getting their due -- It was a rare thing, a few decades ago, to hear anyone in academia talk about Central Americans. Esmeralda Bermudez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/20
SpaceX expands space tourism, offering flight in astronaut capsule -- SpaceX is teaming up with a space tourism company to offer a flight aboard its Crew Dragon capsule that could propel customers higher into space than private citizens have ever gone before. Space Adventures said Tuesday that the four-person mission would enable tourists to “see planet Earth the way no one has since the Gemini program.” Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/18/20
A’s broadcast plan includes no Bay Area radio station: It’s streaming only -- Oakland is moving all of its audio content to TuneIn, a free app available on mobile devices and PCs that also streamed the A’s games last year. But the broadcast plan announced Tuesday morning includes no terrestrial station in the Oakland/San Francisco region. Susan Slusser in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 2/18/20
Boyarsky: CA Primary Presents Big Test for L.A. County’s New Voting System -- After the fouled up Iowa caucuses gave vote-counting a bad name, there will be heavy pressure on Los Angeles County officials to make sure their brand new electronic voting system works for the March 3 primary election. Bill Boyarsky Fox & Hounds -- 2/18/20