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Updating . . .
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
5.2 earthquake packed a major punch across L.A. region -- A magnitude 5.2 earthquake, centered about 18 miles southwest of Bakersfield, was felt across a wide swath of Southern California on Tuesday night. Its size rattled nerves but caused no major damage or injuries. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Garofoli: Republicans are trying to make Kamala Harris’ S.F. pastor ‘another Jeremiah Wright.’ Here’s why it won’t work -- As Barack Obama’s popularity soared during the 2008 primary, his opponents tried to reverse the trend by associating him with inflammatory comments made by his longtime Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/7/24
Oakland police union calls for Mayor Sheng Thao’s resignation -- In their most forceful comments to date, leaders of the Oakland police union on Tuesday called for Mayor Sheng Thao to immediately resign and said they would back the recall effort if she doesn’t step down. Sierra Lopez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/7/24
Newsom marvels at Harris’ quick start: ‘I pity Donald Trump right now’ -- Gov. Gavin Newsom marveled at Kamala Harris’ first 48-hour sprint as the Democrats’ likely presidential nominee, after being pelted with questions on his own podcast about why he’s not running. Christopher Cadelago Politico -- 8/7/24
Arellano: Can Antonio Villaraigosa charm his way into becoming California governor? -- You don’t interview Antonio Villaraigosa so much as you turn on an audio recorder, sit back and watch a show unfold. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Walters: Should tech giants have to pay California newspapers for their content? -- When I began my journalism career 64 years ago, newspapers were virtual licenses to print money because they were the dominant medium for advertising retail businesses such as supermarkets and department stores and the larger public via classified ads. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 8/7/24
Workplace
San Francisco biotech companies slash hundreds of jobs amid restructuring wave -- Vir Biotechnology announced a plan to permanently cut 141 employees, or approximately a quarter of its workforce, at its facility at 1800 Owens St., according to a state filing. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/7/24
Californians say they were fired for leaving their jobs in sweltering heat. Is the state on their side? -- While California has rules to protect farmworkers from excessive heat, inspections and citations are significantly down. A bill before the Legislature would make it easier to file workers’ compensation claims for heat illnesses. Jeanne Kuang CalMatters -- 8/7/24
Wildfire
California battles onslaught of wildfires with help from mutual aid: ‘More resources than rest of US combined’ -- So many intense wildfires all at once require an intricate chess game for maneuvering firefighters and equipment around the U.S. Julie Cart CalMatters -- 8/7/24
Education
Did Sacramento charter schools misuse public money? Report alleges major violations -- A new bombshell report investigating St. Hope Public Schools could threaten the existence of the two charter schools it operates in Sacramento. Jennah Pendleton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/7/24
Historically Black medical school in South L.A. receives largest gift ever -- Charles. R. Drew University of Medicine and Science received $75 million as part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Homeless
Judge: Marin County business can’t blast music at homeless camp -- The preliminary injunction Friday came two months after a temporary restraining order imposed the same restriction. The difference is that new order will last the entirety of a related lawsuit. Adrian Rodriguez in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/7/24
Street
S.F. police are using drones to arrest bipping suspects, officials say -- San Francisco police announced Tuesday that they used drones to surveil and arrest three people at multiple crime scenes last month. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/7/24
Months after their arrests, UC Irvine students’ fates remain uncertain -- School cases remain unresolved and criminal charges haven't been filed. Students say limbo is a form of punishment. Victoria Le and Jonathan Horwitz in the Orange County Register -- 8/7/24
L.A. police officials say they cannot enforce new measure targeting Airbnb party houses -- The Police Commission says it has “neither the infrastructure nor the staffing” to implement L.A.’s Responsible Hotel Ordinance, which took effect July 1. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Breathe
The Salton Sea is now smelly all year long and making people’s asthma worse. The culprit? Bacteria -- The rotting, polluted lake is poisoning residents and wildlife. Interest in the lithium deposits under the Salton Sea could bring attention to the environmental crisis. Jireh Deng in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Power Bills
As California power bills rise, lawmakers express frustrations with state energy goals -- Sen. Steven Bradford cast blame on his fellow lawmakers Tuesday for California’s struggles to keep energy affordable and reliable, adding to a growing chorus of concerns over the cost of power. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/7/24
6 ways the Google antitrust ruling could change the internet -- Maybe you could choose a Google-quality search engine tailored to children or news. Or would Android, Google search and Chrome be split up? Shira Ovide in the Washington Post$ -- 8/7/24
Top of the Ticket Walz
Introducing Coach Walz: Five Takeaways from Philadelphia -- The campaign to defeat former President Donald Trump is going to be fun. Jess Bidgood in the New York Times$ -- 8/7/24
Harris, Walz emphasize ‘freedom’ and ‘joy,’ and press attacks on Trump, Vance in raucous first rally -- In Philadelphia, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz make a lively first joint appearance as the Democratic Party’s nominees for president and vice president. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
What Harris picking Gov. Tim Walz as VP means for her electoral strategy -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz may be able to shore up support among people the Democratic party has recently struggled with — white, blue-collar workers and men — even as Vice President Kamala Harris’ candidacy has reenergized Democratic women, younger, Black and Latino voters. Myah Ward Politico -- 8/7/24
Garofoli: Trump called Walz a ‘radical’ Californian. Here’s why that wasn’t an insult -- Donald Trump’s first attack on Vice President Kamala Harris’ newly announced running mate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota was a low blow. He derided him as a Californian. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/7/24
Where Tim Walz stands on key issues: Abortion, climate, marijuana and more -- A schoolteacher turned politician, Walz was first elected to public office nearly two decades ago. He’s been busy since. Here’s where he is on several topics. Ben Brasch in the Washington Post$ -- 8/7/24
55 Things to Know About Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ Pick for VP -- The governor of Minnesota had a career in the National Guard and as a high school teacher before he got into politics in the early 2000s. Anusha Mathur Politico -- 8/7/24
Why Pelosi and other House Dems were privately pushing Walz -- House Democrats have often chafed at President Joe Biden’s favoritism for the Senate. So, when they pushed Tim Walz for vice president, they had more than ideology on their minds — they wanted one of their own. Sarah Ferris, Nicholas Wu, Meredith Lee Hill and Daniella Diaz Politico -- 8/7/24
Barabak: Tim Walz is having a moment. But he won’t win or lose the election for Harris -- Barack Obama wasn’t elected president because he chose to run alongside Joe Biden. Mitt Romney didn’t lose his White House bid because Paul D. Ryan was his pick for vice president. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Tim Walz, a Fan of The Boss, Proclaimed a ‘Bruce Springsteen Day’ in Minnesota -- The governor and newly-minted vice-presidential nominee has embraced the bard of the working man, honoring the New Jersey rocker last year when he came to St. Paul for a concert. Nick Corasaniti in the New York Times$ -- 8/7/24
Trump
Trump Campaign’s Attacks on Walz Over Felony Voting Rights Raise Eyebrows -- Critics of the former president were quick to point out that, if not for policies like the one Tim Walz signed in Minnesota, Donald Trump himself would be barred from voting. Maggie Astor and Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 8/7/24
Trump Criticizes Harris and Walz in Fox News Appearance and Suggests a Debate Will Happen -- After saying days ago that he would not participate in a September debate on ABC, Mr. Trump said, “We’ll be debating her, I guess, in the pretty near future.” Maggie Astor in the New York Times$ -- 8/7/24
Vance
JD Vance in texts with far-right figure: Profane and off-the-cuff -- Private messages show Trump’s running mate entertaining conspiracy theories and scorning the late Sheldon Adelson. Isaac Stanley-Becker and Beth Reinhard in the Washington Post$ -- 8/7/24
With Walz now on the ticket, Vance previews expected GOP attack lines -- Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance sees one similarity with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the man he’s now tapped to face off against: “We’re White guys from the Midwest." Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ -- 8/7/24
Arizona Republican becomes first fake elector to plead guilty for role in Trump scheme -- An Arizona Republican who falsely claimed to be a legitimate presidential elector for former President Donald Trump — part of a sweeping effort by Trump and his allies to subvert the 2020 election — has pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme. Kyle Cheney Politico -- 8/7/24
Kamala
Skelton: After past disappointments, Harris shows courage in VP choice -- Kudos to Vice President Kamala Harris. She didn’t do the blatantly political thing and select a popular governor from a key battleground state to be her running mate. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Also
JD Vance and Tim Walz Dew Agree: Diet Mountain Dew Rules -- Vice presidential candidates both have professed their love for the super-caffeinated soda; ‘good stuff’. Natasha Khan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/7/24
Kennedy Fights to Stay on Ballot, but Everyone’s Talking About the Bear -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s disclosure that he had left a cub’s carcass in Central Park overshadowed his court battle to remain on New York State’s ballot this fall. Jesse McKinley, Chelsia Rose Marcius and Emma G. Fitzsimmons in the New York Times$ -- 8/7/24
Tom Girardi’s fraud trial begins: A liar who stole millions? Or the victim of a thieving CFO? -- Former legal titan Tom Girardi is on trial, accused of four counts of wire fraud for allegedly looting $15 million from clients over a decade. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/7/24
Viet America Society will refuse OC officials’ demand for return of $2.2 million, says nonprofit’s lawyer -- Despite recent demands from Orange County officials, Viet America Society will not return $2.2 million in COVID-relief funds after repeatedly missing county deadlines to show the money was properly spent, the organization’s lawyer said Tuesday, Aug. 6. Destiny Torres, Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 8/7/24
California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Kamala Harris picks Tim Walz for VP -- By choosing Walz, Harris is elevating a Midwestern governor, veteran and former schoolteacher to help shore up support among blue-collar, white voters in the Rust Belt. Eugene Daniels, Elena Schneider and Holly Otterbein Politico Erin Doherty, Andrew Solender Axios Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times$ John McCormick and Tarini Parti in the Wall Street Journal$ Reid J. Epstein in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Neighbors fight flames as Edgehill fire consumes homes in San Bernardino; one person detained -- A fast-moving wildfire burned through a hillside community in San Bernardino on Monday afternoon, sending residents running and engulfing homes with black smoke and rippling, sky-high flames. Gina Ferazzi, Rosanna Xia and Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/6/24
Park Fire still growing with containment at 30% as temperatures expected to hit triple-digits -- Recent favorable weather including residual rainfall moisture offered the 6,528 firefighters battling the blaze a brief respite, officials said. But forecasts of triple-digit temperatures, drier conditions and higher wind speeds are expected to increase fire activity into this week. Ari Plachta in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/6/24
California lawmakers got ticket freebies as they cracked down on Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift debacle -- Ticketmaster’s troubled handling of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour prompted California lawmakers to spend months cracking down on the ticketing industry — while they enjoyed thousands of dollars worth of free tickets themselves from interest groups, a Politico analysis shows. Lara Korte Politico -- 8/6/24
AI Regulation Still in the Mix as California Legislature Returns to Session -- California legislators returned from summer recess on Monday, and among the bills they’re considering are several that, piece by piece, aim to regulate generative artificial intelligence. Rachael Myrow KQED -- 8/6/24
How California conservatives are fighting back -- Republican power in California has been waning for decades. The party hasn’t elected a candidate to statewide office since 2006, and it now represents a superminority in the Legislature. Alexei Koseff CalMatters -- 8/6/24
LA Council member Kevin de Leon’s ballot measure shell game -- Late last month, de León moved $550,000 from a war chest created to back a 2026 run for lieutenant governor to a newly formed Kevin de León Believing in a Better California Ballot Measure Committee. It’s all likely designed to help him win a tough race for another term on the Los Angeles City Council. Will McCarthy Politico -- 8/6/24
Orange County demands group linked to supervisor’s daughter return millions of dollars -- Orange County is demanding that a group linked to Supervisor Andrew Do’s daughter return millions of tax dollars after it failed to show it did the work it was hired to do. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/6/24
Elon Musk moves X out of San Francisco. City leaders shrug -- After 18 years, Elon Musk will move X, formerly known as Twitter, out of San Francisco, according to Mayor London Breed’s office. The social media company has a long history with the city, but the billionaire entrepreneur, who acquired the platform in 2022, has often used it to bash the city’s progressive politics and homelessness crisis. Trisha Thadani in the Washington Post$ Kate Conger and Ryan Mac in the New York Times$ Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 8/6/24
Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge -- In a major blow to Google, a federal judge on Monday ruled that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by illegally maintaining a monopoly on web searches. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ Jan Wolfe and Miles Kruppa in the Wall Street Journal$-- 8/6/24
Using poker chips, OC Registrar of Voters randomly selects ballot argument for Anaheim school bond -- Pulling a poker chip out of a bag, the OC Registrar of Voters on Monday randomly selected which ballot argument against a $496 million Anaheim Union High School District bond measure will be printed in the information guide sent to voters for the November election. Michael Slaten in the Orange County Register -- 8/6/24
Walters: Texas scores a goal on California as Chevron moves headquarters to Houston -- The war between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state’s once-immense oil industry entered a new phase a few days ago when Chevron, California’s oldest and best known producer of gasoline and other petroleum products, announced it was moving its corporate headquarters to Texas. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 8/6/24
California Power Bills
Why Californians Have Some of the Highest Power Bills in the U.S. -- Utilities are investing billions to upgrade infrastructure and build out green energy, passing budget-breaking costs to households; trying to keep the chocolate from melting. Phred Dvorak, Ariana Drehsler in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/6/24
Gavin Newsom has a plan to lower California electricity bills. Here’s what it would do -- Gov. Gavin Newsom is working on a legislative proposal to modestly lower electricity bills, especially in the short term, according to two sources familiar with the plan but unauthorized to discuss details. Ari Plachta in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 8/6/24
Top of the Ticket Walz
Who Is Tim Walz, the Minnesota Governor Kamala Harris Picked to Be V.P.? -- Mr. Walz captured Democrats’ attention with his “weird” takedown of Republicans. Here’s a look at the new vice-presidential candidate. Neil Vigdor in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Tim Walz Has Championed Climate as Governor -- Kamala Harris’s V.P. pick, known for his folksy persona and rural Midwestern roots, has elevated the issue of climate change in his state. Coral Davenport in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Walz Has Faced Criticism for His Response to George Floyd Protests -- Some believe that Gov. Tim Walz should have deployed the Minnesota National Guard sooner when riots broke out following the police murder of George Floyd. Mitch Smith in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Harris
A Race at Warp Speed: For Harris, There Are Advantages in a Late Start -- This presidential campaign is playing out in fast forward. Strategists in both parties say speed is likely to benefit Vice President Kamala Harris. Adam Nagourney in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Harris prepares to name running mate and launch multistate tour -- Vice President Harris holed up at her residence at the Naval Observatory on Monday to finalize the selection of her running mate, perhaps the biggest decision of her nascent campaign, as plans coalesced for the joint campaign swing that Democrats hope will generate excitement for the ticket this week. Patrick Svitek and Tyler Pager in the Washington Post$ -- 8/6/24
Cracks in Economy Pose Risk to Harris’s Momentum -- Recent economic turbulence threatens to reinforce voters’ view that the American economy is shaky, giving former President Donald Trump’s campaign a chance to shift onto stronger ground in his race against Vice President Kamala Harris. Annie Linskey and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/6/24
Trump
Influencer gives Trump a Tesla, a Rolex … and a campaign finance violation? -- Video game streamer Adin Ross’s gifts worth tens of thousands may fall foul of fundraising law. Lauren Aratani The Guardian -- 8/6/24
Trump’s fusillade of falsehoods on debt and taxes -- In the space of two minutes, the fomer president misled on budget cuts, the national debt and the impact of his tax cut. Glenn Kessler in the Washington Post$ -- 8/6/24
As Trump fumes, Republicans wince at ‘public nervous breakdown’ -- Donald Trump spent Monday morning labeling the turmoil in the global financial markets the “Kamala Crash,” giving Republicans hope that he might turn his focus to an economic message. It didn’t last. Adam Wren, Natalie Allison, Olivia Beavers and Lisa Kashinsky Politico -- 8/6/24
Trump keeps attacking their spouses. Top GOPers keep supporting him anyway -- Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is the latest to find a family member in Donald Trump’s crosshairs. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 8/6/24
Jenna Ellis, Former Trump Lawyer, Will Cooperate in Arizona Election Fraud Case -- Ms. Ellis is the first of 18 defendants to reach a deal with prosecutors in a case that charges them with trying to overturn Arizona’s election results in 2020. Danny Hakim in the New York Times$ Yvonne Wingett Sanchez in the Washington Post$ Kyle Cheney Politico -- 8/6/24
Trump and His Allies Seize on Market Downturn to Attack Harris -- Economists blamed a variety of factors for Monday’s slide. But Donald Trump was trying to disrupt weeks of momentum for Vice President Kamala Harris and her party. Jim Tankersley, Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Vance
Usha Vance Defends JD Vance’s ‘Childless Cat Ladies’ Claim as a ‘Quip’ -- Usha Vance said in a Fox News interview that her husband, who is Donald J. Trump’s running mate, had been trying to make a “substantive” point through jest. Tim Balk in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Vance Is Touring the Same Battleground States as Harris This Week -- The Republican vice-presidential nominee will hold events that overlap with the stops Vice President Kamala Harris has planned, sometimes even in the same city. Michael C. Bender in the New York Times$ -- 8/6/24
Education
California’s two biggest school districts botched AI deals. Here are lessons from their mistakes -- Educators can learn caution from AI mistakes in Los Angeles and San Diego. But they also face pressure to adopt the technology quickly. Khari Johnson CalMatters -- 8/6/24
Street
Federal prison leaders excoriated for ‘unconscionable’ conditions at shuttered FCI Dublin women’s prison -- A blistering report found an “unconscionable” pattern of derelict care and oversight at the FCI Dublin federal women’s prison and raised the alarm that similar problems may be plaguing other federal prisons across the nation. Jakob Rodgers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 8/6/24
Environment
As California salmon population plummets, monster wildfire threatens spawning habitat -- The Park fire is burning along creeks that provide vital spawning habitat for California’s spring-run Chinook salmon. Biologists worry the fire will cause harm. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/6/24
Also
Pelosi: ‘I was asking for a campaign that would win’ in talks with Biden -- Nancy Pelosi didn’t want President Joe Biden to step down, the former speaker told ABC News Monday morning. What she wanted, she explained, was “a campaign that would win.” Irie Sentner Politico -- 8/6/24
Dead Bear Cub Story Is Latest Twist in RFK Jr.’s Campaign -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he left a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park a decade ago and staged it to look as if it was hit by a cyclist, the latest development in the independent candidate’s long-shot campaign for the presidency. Joseph Pisani in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 8/6/24
New video shows world’s largest wildlife crossing starting to take form -- New aerial footage shows the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing starting to take form over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills. Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/6/24
Gigantic Marilyn Monroe statue in Palm Springs will be moved after uproar -- The 26-foot statue of the famed actress has drawn the ire of residents and critics alike. The mayor of Palm Springs announced recently that the Forever Marilyn statue will move to a city park. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 8/6/24