California Policy and Politics Wednesday Morning  

A holiday season with vaccines, boosters and rising COVID-19 infections -- Millions of Americans will return to the Thanksgiving table this week for the first time in two years, with vaccines and boosters in their arms and rapid tests at their disposal. Jaweed Kaleem, Emily Baumgaertner in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

‘We're in a better spot’ — why Bay Area can be thankful in COVID pandemic -- Perhaps lost among the recently dire warnings of another COVID-19 surge on the horizon is this key message: California, and especially the Bay Area, is in a much better position coming into this holiday season than last. We have much to be thankful for, pandemic-wise, the experts say. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/24/21

Another COVID holiday: Is California in a better place this year? -- The answer is no in many parts of California: Eighteen counties, mostly rural ones, have more hospitalized COVID-19 patients today than a year ago. But urban counties are faring better. Ana B. Ibarra and Hannah Getahun CalMatters -- 11/24/21

No ‘vaccine passports’ for Stanislaus County services after leaders pass resolution -- Stanislaus County leaders passed a resolution Tuesday opposing any COVID-19 vaccination requirement for people using county facilities or services. County supervisors added language to the resolution that affirmed the rights of individuals and families to make their own health decisions. Ken Carlson in the Modesto Bee$ -- 11/24/21

Lakewood man charged with threatening to bomb agency that denied him COVID relief loan -- A Lakewood man has been charged with threatening to bomb the offices of a federal agency that denied his request for an emergency pandemic loan for a business that he runs out of his home. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

About 1 million Californians could have to repay pandemic unemployment money to EDD -- About 1 million Californians who got unemployment payments from the pandemic-related federal benefit program now have to prove to the state they had a prior work history – or face paying back benefits. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/24/21

Policy and Politics  

California’s biggest labor group recommends Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez as its next leader -- Lorena Gonzalez, a San Diego Democrat assemblywoman who authored prominent bills on gig workers and warehouse employees, could become the first woman and person of color to lead California’s biggest labor organization. Jeong Park in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/24/21

Conservative group sues to overturn California law requiring diversity on corporate boards -- The National Center for Public Policy Research filed the complaint on Tuesday, claiming “the diversity quotas injure Plaintiff’s right to vote for the candidate of its choice, free of a government-imposed race, sex, and sexual orientation quotas,” according to the lawsuit filed in the District Court for the Eastern District of California. Kim Bojórquez in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/24/21

Former San Diego Mayor Faulconer served with subpoena as part of Ash Street litigation -- Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has been subpoenaed to appear for a deposition next month as part of the city’s legal effort to cancel the lease-to-own deal for the longtime Sempra Energy headquarters at 101 Ash Street. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/24/21

Walters: LA County’s board is too small for 10 million people -- California’s independent redistricting commission is struggling to satisfy all demands as it draws new legislative and congressional district maps to reflect the 2020 census. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 11/24/21

Street  

D.A. Chesa Boudin files felony charges against 9 people in mass thefts in San Francisco -- San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed felony charges Tuesday against nine people arrested in connection with the retail theft rampage in Union Square and other stores across the city. Andres Picon, Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

LAPD is increasing patrols at shopping centers after brazen takeover robberies -- In the case of Nordstrom, about 18 to 20 people turned up in four cars, smashed a display window with a sledgehammer and an electric scooter and then stormed into the store, grabbing about $5,000 of merchandise before fleeing. Richard Winton, Gregory Yee, Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

Mayor Breed touts local seasonal shopping, plays down theft spree -- In the face of a retail smash and grab spree last week by marauding thieves at Union Square, San Francisco Mayor London Breed stood in front of a Marina storefront at noon Tuesday to proclaim that shopping in the city is safe as can be, despite the recent unfavorable publicity. Sam Whiting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/24/21

Alarming rise in follow-home robberies in upscale L.A. prompts police crackdown -- Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore announced Tuesday he is setting up a task force to apprehend follow-home robbers, saying the department has not seen violent hold-ups “like this in decades.” Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

3 suspects charged in robbery of retired Oakland police Capt. Ersie Joyner -- Alameda County prosecutors on Tuesday announced they had filed murder, robbery and other charges against three men suspected in the Oct. 21 robbery of retired Oakland police Capt. Ersie Joyner, who fatally shot one of his assailants. Andres Picon in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/24/21

Police Commission backs a 12% increase in LAPD budget for next year -- More than half of the increase would cover police salary, related expenses and overtime costs, according to a letter Moore sent to the commissioners last week. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

Mater Dei locker room ritual left bloodied football player with brain injury, broken nose -- Locker room fight led Santa Ana PD to recommend that the District Attorney's Office file felony battery charges against the other player. Scott M. Reid in the Orange County Register -- 11/24/21

Homeless  

Buscaino aims for November 2022 for anti-camping ballot measure after council defers action -- If Councilman Joe Buscaino wants Los Angeles voters to decide whether to bar homeless encampments in public spaces, he may have to gather tens of thousands of voter signatures first. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

LA program will send unarmed outreach teams to nonviolent 911 calls involving the homeless -- The Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement program will begin in December, with teams comprising one outreach worker, one mental health clinician or licensed behavioral health clinician and one community ambassador available 24/7 to respond to diverted calls out of Venice and Hollywood. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/24/21

Education  

Researchers urge changes to improve California’s education funding law -- California’s landmark funding reform law needs to be fixed to help meet its promise of raising the achievement of underperforming student groups, conclude two recently published research studies. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 11/24/21

Environment  

Richmond reaches settlement to proceed with coal ban by 2027 -- After legal battles with the coal industry, Richmond has reached an agreement with its shipping port and its suppliers to halt shipments and storage of coal by the end of 2026, eliminating the dust-generating fuel at one of only three California ports that now receive it. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/24/21

Also . . .   

DCFS leader Bobby Cagle to resign -- The director of Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services, Bobby Cagle, told county leaders Tuesday that he planned to step down next month from running the nation’s largest child welfare agency. Matt Hamilton, James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

L.A.’s infamous Thanksgiving traffic gridlock expected to return with vengeance -- In Los Angeles, the official start of the holiday season isn’t marked by changing leaves or a fine dusting of snow, but by the blinking red-and-white taillights snaking along the 405 Freeway as millions of people head out of town for Thanksgiving. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/24/21

 

 

Tuesday Updates   

With hospitals full, Central California pleading to send COVID-19 patients to L.A. -- The COVID-19 surge still affecting Central California is so dire that health officials are pleading with state officials to make it easier to transfer hospital patients to areas like Los Angeles County. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/23/21

Troubled state COVID-19 lab escapes sanctions despite reports of muddled test results -- State inspections at the Valencia lab conclude deficiencies found in earlier investigation and reported by whistleblowers have been resolved. Tony Saavedra in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/23/21

Hiring shortages and COVID complicate schools’ year of recovery -- This was supposed to be a recovery year for schools and for students. But it doesn’t always feel like it for Jennifer Davis, who teaches seventh-graders at the Language Academy near San Diego State University. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/23/21

Biden administration asks court to allow vaccine mandate -- The Biden administration on Tuesday asked a federal court to let it move ahead with a workplace rule that would require employees at larger companies to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face weekly testing. Geoff Mulvihill Associated Press -- 11/23/21

Wildfire   

Thanksgiving sides include Santa Ana winds, fire danger and potential power shutoffs -- Santa Ana winds are expected to howl across the Southland on Thanksgiving, delivering the potential for critical fire weather conditions and power shutoffs just as people gather for their holiday meals. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/23/21

Wildfires will affect California Christmas tree business for years — and it’ll cost you -- The real Christmas tree harvest was impacted by wildfires, floods and extreme weather in Oregon, which is the number one producer of Christmas trees in the nation and where many West Coast sellers buy their trees. As a result, the season is expected to have a limited number of trees at a higher cost. Brianna Taylor in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/23/21

Policy and Politics  

In historic vote, O.C. supervisors approve majority-Latino district for five-member board -- In a historic vote, the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Monday created a majority-Latino district for the first time while also giving power to Asian voters. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/23/21

Will California become an abortion hub? How a Supreme Court decision could affect the state -- People in California seeking abortions would still be able to get them if the Supreme Court, which will likely release its decision on the Mississippi case in June, overturns Roe v. Wade. Gillian Brassil in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/23/21

Fresno State College Republicans host speaker connected to white nationalist movement -- The Fresno State College Republicans group recently hosted a digital event with Tyler Russell, a Canadian nationalist with reported ties to American white nationalist movements. Russell is the host of Canada First, a live-stream broadcast. Ashleigh Panoo in the Fresno Bee$ -- 11/23/21

Street  

A new breed of brazen takeover robbers hitting California luxury retailers, raising ire -- The mayhem began Friday night, when thieves smashed a Louis Vuitton storefront window in San Francisco’s Union Square and ransacked the store. Criminals also targeted about a dozen nearby stores for theft and vandalism, police said, including a Burberry and Hermes store, as well as an eyeglass shop and cannabis dispensaries. Richard Winton, Christopher Goffard in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/23/21

3 arrested after brazen smash-and-grab attempt at Nordstrom at the Grove -- Three people were arrested early Tuesday after thieves broke into a Nordstrom department store at the Grove mall late Monday, smashing one window. Rick Caruso, the developer behind the Grove, confirmed there was a break-in at the Nordstrom but no entry was made to the Grove. Gregory Yee, Richard Winton, Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/23/21

Oakland reels from weekend violence as chief asks for help: ‘There is a clear problem in this city’ -- Oakland’s debate over how to address violent crime was reignited Monday as the city reeled from a slew of incidents over the weekend, including officers shooting and killing an armed carjacking suspect in Rockridge. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/23/21

How a high-living thief reaped millions from a Coachella resort she never built -- Serena Shi’s taste for luxury seemed insatiable. She spent $133,000 on clothes at Valentino. Her two Mercedes-Benzes — a sports car and an SUV — cost $294,000. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/23/21

Gas  

San Diego gas prices keep going up as Thanksgiving nears -- Gasoline prices in the San Diego area are keeping their stubborn march upward, with The Automobile Club of Southern California reporting that the price for a gallon of regular at local stations on Monday averaged $4.66, which is just six cents shy of the all-time record. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/23/21

Climate  

Citing climate risks, California is denying fracking permits in droves -- Oil companies that blast water and chemicals into the earth to extract fossil fuels are having trouble getting new permits for their California operations even sooner than expected. Dustin Gardiner, J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/23/21

Energy  

Another energy storage plant in SLO County? This Canadian company is eager to build -- A massive new energy storage project could be coming to San Luis Obispo County to harness unused power and then send it back out to the grid when it’s needed most. MacKenzie Shuman San Luis Obispo Tribune -- 11/23/21

Cannabis  

As California prepares to raise marijuana tax, a cannabis entrepreneur calls for tax revolt -- Fresh off of news that California is set to raise the cannabis cultivation tax despite projections of a $31 billion surplus, one marijuana entrepreneur is calling for a potential tax revolt this summer. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/23/21

Education  

Most California college students who qualify for ‘food stamps’ aren’t using them -- Cheyann Wakefield was frustrated the first time she tried to apply for CalFresh, the social service formerly known as food stamps. The Fresno City College student was denied when she tried applying while attending college less than half time. Then she reapplied while working 36 hours and attending college and was only eligible for $20. Ashleigh Panoo in the Fresno Bee$ -- 11/23/21