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California Policy and Politics Tuesday
Breed ‘is going to get blamed’: How Ricky Pearsall shooting complicates S.F. mayor’s race -- Mayor London Breed says she’s improving public safety as she seeks reelection. The high-profile shooting of a top 49ers pick complicates her message. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/3/24
S.F. nonprofit scandals: This is Mayor Breed’s plan to boost oversight -- San Francisco is moving to tighten controls on city contractors after a series of recent scandals involving misuse of taxpayer dollars by nonprofit organizations. Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/3/24
Ricky Pearsall shooting: Here’s what data shows about Union Square crime trends -- Robberies and other crimes have actually declined significantly in the district over the past six years, according to data maintained by the police and analyzed by the Chronicle. In fact, Union Square has seen steeper declines across most crime categories than the rest of San Francisco, which has itself experienced sharp drops in most crime types since 2018. Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/3/24
49ers’ Ricky Pearsall left hospital the day after being shot through the chest. How is that possible? -- It appears Pearsall managed to escape injury to the heart and spine, two of the most serious injuries from gunshot wounds to the chest. In a video from the scene on Saturday, he was seen clutching a large bandage on the right side of his chest as he walked to the ambulance. Aidin Vaziri, Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/3/24
Five years after 34 died in Conception boat fire, NTSB says Coast Guard hasn’t reformed -- Five years after California’s worst modern maritime disaster, relatives of the Conception boat fire victims are angry about what they call the slow pace of accountability, while a top U.S. safety official says the Coast Guard continues to stall on reforms. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
Skelton: Newsom’s power this election is at home, not away -- Here’s an important politician who’s suddenly without an important political gig in this extraordinarily important election season. But he could find a significant gig right here in California. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
Walters: California’s economy lags behind other states, here’s why it’s so sluggish -- California’s unemployment rate, 5.2% of its labor force in July, is no longer the nation’s highest after months of having that dubious distinction. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 9/3/24
California Democrats strike back against local conservative rebellions on LGBTQ rights, abortion -- Some California communities are resisting progressive policies from Sacramento. Democrats in the Legislature say they are going too far and are responding with bills to shut them down. Alexei Koseff CalMatters -- 9/3/24
California lawmakers dismiss bill to give convicted murderers serving life without parole a chance at release -- SB 94 would have offered those serving life in prison without the possibility of parole petition for for re-sentencing. Stephanie Lam in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/3/24
First in nation attempt to fine social media for child harms collapses in California -- A California bill that attempted to penalize social media companies for harming young users is dead for the year, the author confirmed to POLITICO, arguing amendments had watered down the effort in a victory for Silicon Valley opponents. Jeremy B. White Politico -- 9/3/24
What Californians have at stake in the Trump-Harris election when it comes to health care -- Kamala Harris investigated the market power of huge California health care companies. Donald Trump compelled hospitals to disclose prices. Here’s a look at their 2024 priorities on health. Ana B. Ibarra CalMatters -- 9/3/24
In a Scenic California Town, Worsening Landslides Force Power Shutoffs -- The movement of the ground in Rancho Palos Verdes is threatening homes. But as the city searches for solutions, many residents are committed to staying. Corina Knoll, Loren Elliott in the New York Times$ -- 9/3/24
This Joshua Tree search and rescue team tries to head off calamity before it strikes -- Joshua Tree’s Preventative Search and Rescue Program seeks to protect visitors from extreme heat, razor-sharp cacti, thirsty bees — and their own ignorance. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
Workplace
Sheriff’s Department weighs demoting whistleblower for spreading ‘gossip’ -- A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sergeant, who successfully sued for whistleblower retaliation in 2015, says she was transferred after filing another grievance. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
‘Get to know your enemy.’ How Hollywood workers are learning to use AI -- The Times spoke with a cinematographer, an editor, a costume designer and two voice actors about why they are taking steps to educate themselves about AI. Christi Carras in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
Hot, dirty and dangerous: Aerial firefighting is a labor of love -- As fire season lengthens and intensifies across the West, the pilots who do the grueling, sometimes deadly work of aerial firefighting are in high demand. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
Oil
How a small California city scored a big payout from Chevron -- In mid-August, this Northern California city extracted a half-billion dollar payout from Chevron, one of the most powerful companies in the world. It didn’t require a lawsuit, or a refinery disaster, or years of negotiations. Will Mccarthy Politico -- 9/3/24
Plastic
Has a UC Berkeley chemistry lab discovered the holy grail of plastic recycling? -- Hartwig said there are some caveats to the work. For instance, the plastic has to be sorted before the process can be applied. If the products are contaminated with other plastics, such as PVC or polystyrene, the outcome isn’t good. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
COVID
Post-Labor Day poses new COVID risk for California. Will the wave get worse? -- COVID remains at stubbornly high levels in California, and officials warn that transmission could again accelerate following the busy Labor Day holiday weekend. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/2
Homeless
Sacramento closed its sanctioned homeless camp, evicting dozens who were promised housing. What happened? -- A unique lease gave a community of mostly disabled seniors a safe haven while they awaited promised permanent housing. The city evicted them last week. Ryan Fonseca in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/3/24
Gray Wolf
Gray wolf population growing fast in California — up sixfold in the past five years -- Recovery of iconic predator considered a wildlife success story by some, but a headache by ranchers. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/3/24
Education
What will it take to implement the English Learner Roadmap in all California schools? -- The policy is seen as groundbreaking, but many districts have yet to follow it. A new bill would change that. Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 9/3/24
Street
Behind Matthew Perry’s Deadly Trade With L.A.’s ‘Ketamine Queen’ -- Prosecutors allege an M.B.A. graduate from an affluent Los Angeles suburb was the drug dealer at the center of the city’s ketamine craze. Sara Ashley O’Brien and Shalini Ramachandran in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/3/24
Willie Mays Highway
‘Willie Mays Highway’ bill approved by California Legislature -- The California Legislature approved a resolution from State Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and colleagues statewide to name a portion of Interstate 80 in San Francisco after the late baseball icon, Willie Mays. Thomas Gase in the East Bay Times$ -- 9/3/24
Top of the Ticket
House Democrats ask Trump if he illegally accepted $10 million from Egypt -- A recent Washington Post article detailed a now-closed Justice Department investigation spurred by intelligence from 2016 indicating that the Egyptian president sought to give Donald Trump money. Carol D. Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis in the Washington Post$ -- 9/3/24
Trump Got Lucky in His Campaign. Then Harris Did. Will Her Luck Run Out? -- The first presidential debate and a series of domestic and foreign challenges will test the vice president. Catherine Lucey in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/3/24
Harris to transfer nearly $25 million to help down-ballot Democratic candidates -- The boost to House, Senate and state-level candidates follows a $540 million fundraising haul for the vice president over six weeks. Michael Scherer in the Washington Post$ -- 9/3/24
Biden Plays Second Fiddle to Harris as They Rally for Union Support -- The president introduced his No. 2, Kamala Harris, at a Labor Day event in Pittsburgh as the Democrats campaigned in crucial Midwestern “blue wall” states. Jonathan Weisman and Nicholas Nehamas in the New York Times$ Holly Otterbein and Eli Stokols Politico -- 9/3/24
Kamala Harris Calls for U.S. Steel to Remain American Owned -- Vice president and President Biden visit company’s hometown of Pittsburgh for Labor Day, as Nippon Steel works to shore up support Bob Tita in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/3/24
With his 1776 Commission on patriotism, Trump helped spark a culture war -- Trump attempted to use federal power to define how America’s history is taught — and promises to try again. Laura Meckler in the Washington Post$ -- 9/3/24
Assessing JD Vance’s Appeals to the Middle Class on the Campaign Trail -- In rallies and interviews, Mr. Vance has sought to portray the Republican ticket as a champion of everyday people, first-time home buyers and autoworkers by misleadingly describing Vice President Kamala Harris’s policies and positions on housing, trade and manufacturing. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 9/3/24
A political summer like no other — and the photographs that defined it -- A look at the eight weeks that saw President Joe Biden leaving the presidential race and Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in, an assassination attempt against Donald Trump, and the Republicans and Democrats securing their presidential nominees. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 9/3/24
California Policy and Politics Monday
Was fighting a gunman the best option for 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall? ‘You need to go with your gut’ -- Police investigating the attack on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall believe he fought back against a gunman — a move that defies the advice often given by law enforcement to submit to an armed person’s demands. But some public safety experts who spoke with the Chronicle said it’s difficult to second-guess Pearsall’s actions in a complicated, fast-moving situation. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/2/24
Southern California heat wave to bring temperatures up to 119 degrees -- Portions of the Los Angeles Basin could reach 113 degrees by the weekend while the mercury could climb to 119 in the Coachella Valley. Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/2/24
Skelton: Newsom’s power this election is at home, not away -- Gov. Gavin Newsom should now narrow his focus from national politics to pivotal races in his own backyard. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/2/24
McManus: Trump calls Harris a Marxist, a communist, even a fascist. Why his wild punches don’t land -- Over the six weeks since Kamala Harris succeeded President Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, Donald Trump has charged relentlessly that she’s a radical whose views are out of step with voters. Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/2/24
Here’s how an SFPD sergeant may have saved 49er Ricky Pearsall’s life -- Sgt. Joelle Harrell was standing near the corner of Grant and Post just before 4 p.m. on Saturday when she heard three pops about a block south of her. For a moment, she wondered if it was the skateboarders who often frequent Maiden Lane — but the noise was too loud. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/2/24
S.F. mayoral candidate Mark Farrell seeks to blame London Breed for Ricky Pearsall shooting -- Mayoral candidate Mark Farrell blasted Mayor London Breed in the aftermath of the shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in Union Square on Saturday, seeking to thrust the incident to the forefront of a heated mayoral race in which public safety is a major concern for voters. Aidin Vaziri, Aldo Toledo, Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/2/24
Amid intense lobbying by tech companies, Newsom faces a difficult choice on AI policy -- After a legislative session marked by a flurry of lobbying by technology companies and powerful people with a stake in their success, Gov. Gavin Newsom finds himself in position to shape the future of AI regulation. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/2/24
Workplace
A year after ‘hot labor summer,’ California Legislature chills on union demands amid budget concerns -- A year ago, thousands of workers went on strike across California, and what became known as “hot labor summer” was reflected in mandatory wage increases and other state policy wins remarkable even for a Democratic-controlled Legislature sympathetic to union concerns. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/2/24
Nearly 2,500 Bay Area hotel workers strike at seven hotels in biggest walkout since 2018 -- Housekeepers, hosts, bellmen, servers, cooks, dishwashers and market assistants are striking at the 1,921-room Hilton Union Square, the city’s biggest hotel, as well as the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, Grand Hyatt at SFO, Palace Hotel and Westin St. Francis. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/2/24
How Will the Nationwide Hotel Strike Affect My Labor Day Plans? -- Though hotel chains say they’ll continue to operate normally, travelers could see disruptions as employees walked off the job in cities from Boston to Honolulu. Here’s what to know. Derek M. Norman in the New York Times$ -- 9/2/24
Water
Court orders California county to ensure groundwater pumping doesn’t harm streams and fish -- Every year in Sonoma County, steelhead trout and coho salmon return to spawn in creeks along the Russian River that are fed by groundwater. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/2/24
Education
LAUSD’s 100 priority schools show support for equity, but some say program isn’t enough -- LAUSD's Priority Schools are trying to boost performance where there is greater need. Some advocates and educators say it doesn't go far enough. Mallika Seshadri EdSource -- 9/2/24
Does Google’s monopoly impact search results? Mountain View tech titan faces reckoning -- The founders of internet search and digital advertising giant Google wrote in a 1998 paper that goals for online advertising “do not always correspond” to useful internet search results. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/2/24
Top of the Ticket
Trump aims to drag down Harris as he scrambles to keep up in tight race -- The Republican nominee’s advisers and allies are clear-eyed about the unlikelihood of improving his standing. That leaves one option: damaging hers. Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey and Marianne LeVine in the Washington Post$ -- 9/2/24
Trump eyes plan that may give Elon Musk role in auditing U.S. agencies -- Behind closed doors, former president Donald Trump and his advisers have been talking for months about forming a commission led by prominent business executives to comb through the government books to identify thousands of programs to cut. Jeff Stein and Trisha Thadani in the Washington Post$ -- 9/2/24
With boost from grieving families, Trump sharpens attacks on Harris -- The former president’s campaign aimed to turn the controversy over his actions at ArlMeandering? Off-Script? Trump Insists His ‘Weave’ Is Oratorical Genius.ington National Cemetery into an attack on the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Dan Lamothe and Hannah Knowles in the Washington Post$ Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 9/2/24
Meandering? Off-Script? Trump Insists His ‘Weave’ Is Oratorical Genius -- Former President Donald J. Trump’s speeches often wander from topic to topic. He insists there is an art to stitching them all together. Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ -- 9/2/24
Former GOP officials sound the alarm over Trump’s Orbán embrace -- Groups seeking the former president’s favor have highlighted pro-Russian Hungarian leaders and talking points. Heidi Przybyla and Nicholas Vinocur Politico -- 9/2/24
Hardened Voter Pessimism About America’s Trajectory Begins to Soften -- WSJ poll finds that the share who say the U.S. is headed in the right direction is the highest since at least 2021. Sabrina Siddiqui in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/2/24
California Policy and Politics Sunday
S.F. 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall released from hospital — mom says bullet missed vital organs -- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in an attempted robbery Saturday afternoon in the city’s Union Square shopping district, was released Sunday from San Francisco General Hospital, team officials said. Michael Cabanatuan, Demian Bulwa, Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/1/24
‘Scary situation’: Ricky Pearsall shooting rattles Giants at nearby Oracle Park, prompts safety alert -- News of the shooting a little more than a mile from Oracle Park filtered into the public a few hours before the Giants began their game against the Miami Marlins, so the clubhouse heard about it in a variety of ways. Shayna Rubin in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/1/24
49ers’ Ricky Pearsall shot in chest during robbery in S.F.’s Union Square -- Pearsall, the 49ers' first round pick in the most recent NFL draft, was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries and in "serious but stable condition," according to a statement from the 49ers. Christian Leonard, Chase DiFeliciantonio, Aldo Toledo, Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Hannah Wiley in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/1/24
Gavin Newsom calls special session on gas prices -- Unable to jam through bills he says will lower California gas prices, Gov. Newsom calls the Legislature back into session. Sameea Kamal and Alexei Koseff CalMatters Taryn Luna and Laurel Rosenhall in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/1/24
Legislature delays oil well monitoring by more than 3 years, restores funding -- California oil companies will have until July, 2030 to monitor wells near homes and schools for leaks into air and water. The decision came after last-minute negotiations. Julie Cart CalMatters -- 9/1/24
California lawmakers reject bill requiring more disclosures after police killings -- A bill to stop law enforcement investigators from questioning the families of people killed by police before revealing their loved one is dead failed when the Democratic-controlled state Senate declined to bring it up for a vote before the legislative year ended on Saturday. Brian Howey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/1/24
Protesters push for action on reparations bills on final day of California Legislature -- Before the sun rose Saturday morning, Reggie Romain was on the road, traveling from Southern California with a group of demonstrators to Sacramento with a forceful request: “We got to get these bills,” he said, under the dome of the state Capitol. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/1/24
“They are finally taking this seriously”: Sacramento lawmakers OK speed cameras for PCH in Malibu -- As the October anniversary approaches of the deaths of four Pepperdine students killed last year by a driver on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, lawmakers in Sacramento on Friday took a major step toward making the 21-mile stretch of highway safe. Thomas Curwen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/1/24
‘Too unstable’: Landslide forcing electricity cutoff to Rancho Palos Verdes homes -- Weeks after homes in Rancho Palos Verdes’ Portuguese Bend neighborhood lost gas due to dangerous land movement, Southern California Edison officials have delivered another blow to those living on this complex of worsening landslides: Electricity will be cut off Sunday at noon. Grace Toohey and Daniel Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/1/24
Palm Springs tests who should pay when a Black community is destroyed -- The city destroyed homes owned by Black residents, and victims and descendants are demanding reparations. But what about the tribe that owned the land? Emmanuel Felton in the Washington Post$ -- 9/1/24
Lopez: Need a sidewalk fixed in L.A? Get in line. A crew might come by in 10 years, if you’re lucky -- It’s taken me a few weeks of research, but I think I finally have some answers about what to do if you live in the city of Los Angeles and would like to have sidewalks that don’t resemble obstacle courses. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/1/24
Education
San Diego School Superintendent Is Fired After Misconduct Investigation -- Lamont Jackson, who led California’s second-largest school district, engaged in “unwelcome, sex-based behavior” toward two female employees, the investigation found. Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 9/1/24
Top of the Ticket
Trump, Vance and GOP struggle to address abortion issues -- Heading into the campaign’s final stretch, Republicans careen between their base and swing voters on the powerful issue of reproductive rights. Hannah Knowles and Cleve R. Wootson Jr. in the Washington Post$ -- 9/1/24
Trump Contorts Himself on Abortion in Search of Political Gain -- The former president is willing to make as many rhetorical and policy shifts as he deems necessary to win in November, vexing some social conservatives. Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 9/1/24
Others Have Politicized Arlington, but Trump’s Approach Has No Precedent -- Donald J. Trump isn’t the first candidate to run afoul of the ban on partisan activity in Arlington National Cemetery. But no one else has responded as hostilely as his campaign has. Chris Cameron in the New York Times$ -- 9/1/24
Trump defends photo shoot at Arlington in back-to-back campaign appearances -- The former president’s remarks underscore how the incident has spiraled into a headache for the campaign. Kierra Frazier Politico -- 9/1/24
Harris says Trump ‘disrespected sacred ground’ after Arlington Cemetery incident -- In response, Trump’s campaign has re-upped criticism of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris over the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan and the resulting deaths of 13 service members. Connor O’Brien Politico Neil Vigdor and Nicholas Nehamas in the New York Times$ -- 9/1/24
Clash of the Tech Titans: Silicon Valley Fractures Over Harris vs. Trump -- Public bickering about the presidential candidates is souring friendships and sparking feuds in the usually left-leaning industry. Preetika Rana in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/1/24
Former Miss Teen USA Contestant Rebukes Vance for Using Her Flub to Attack Harris -- Caite Upton wrote on social media that “online bullying needs to stop,” after JD Vance posted a clip of her mangled answer from the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant to mock Kamala Harris. Neil Vigdor in the New York Times$ -- 9/1/24
Doug Emhoff hosts $25K-a-person Harris fundraiser at three-star Michelin restaurant in S.F. -- The small group of longtime supporters — who donated a minimum of $25,000 to attend, according to the Examiner — were treated to a meal at Quince, a North Beach restaurant with three Michelin stars. Molly Burke in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/1/24