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California Policy and Politics Thursday
Trump’s DOJ civil rights pick built her name antagonizing California Democrats -- A resident of liberal haven San Francisco, long-time Trump ally Harmeet Dhillon built her brand on culture-war battles over trans rights and pandemic restrictions. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 12/12/24
UCLA police chief, blasted for security lapses that led to protest violence, is out -- UCLA Police Chief John Thomas, who was blasted for serious security lapses and failing to protect students during a melee at a pro-Palestinian encampment last spring, has left his job at the university, the campus police department said Wednesday night. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
California Sen. Alex Padilla urges Biden administration to protect immigrants before Trump takes office -- Democratic lawmakers including California Sen. Alex Padilla are urging President Biden to take action now to protect immigrants with temporary legal statuses and work authorizations. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
Will filling out student aid form target undocumented parents for Trump’s mass deportations? -- National and California experts say Trump’s mass deportation plans make filling out the federal financial aid application for college a risk to students with undocumented parents. California’s own application has more safeguards. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 12/12/24
Judge enters default judgment in suit against Kanye West’s private school -- A judge entered a default judgment against Kanye West’s Christian private school in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday in connection with a lawsuit filed by a former employee. Stacy Perman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
California awarded $135 million for electric buses, trucks -- The Biden administration is awarding Inflation Reduction Act money to help clean the air before President-elect Trump takes over. Alejandro Lazo CalMatters -- 12/12/24
As children’s book bans soar, sales are down and librarians are afraid. Even in California -- Book bans are tanking sales of children’s books. Schools and libraries aren’t buying books about LGBTQ+ issues and race as they brace for culture war pushback. Jenny Gold in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
Workplace
L.A. City Council backs $30 minimum wage for hotel and LAX workers in 2028 -- The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to hike the minimum wage for more than 23,000 tourism workers, handing a huge victory to labor unions whose members have struggled to keep up with the rising cost of food, rent and other expenses. David Zahniser and Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
Is the S.F. Bay Area full of people making millions? This data shows a dramatic trend -- The Bay Area has a far higher share of people making more than $1 million than any other region in the country, a recent analysis of payroll data found. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/12/24
Animation Guild board defends contract deal as some members critique AI terms -- As Hollywood grapples with worries about the threat of artificial intelligence, the union that represents animators is facing dissent over its latest deal with major studios. Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
Insurance
Farmers Insurance promises to write more California home insurance policies ahead of planned reforms -- Wednesday’s announcement was the latest move by insurers to signal willingness to reverse their pullout from the California home market in response to regulatory changes they’ve sought. Farmers in May announced plans to resume coverage for businesses, and Allstate in April said it would consider writing new homeowners policies. Ethan Varian in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/12/24
Homeless
Federal health care dollars are helping to house homeless Californians. Trump could stop that -- Gov. Newsom launched an ambitious program that uses Medi-Cal to help Californians access housing, healthy food and more. Now, its fate is in the hands of President-Elect Trump. Marisa Kendall CalMatters -- 12/12/24
Environment
Half Moon Bay homeowners battle California Coastal Commission over right to build seawall -- A legal battle playing out between the California Coastal Commission and homeowners who want to build a large seawall near Half Moon Bay could have repercussions along the entire California coast. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/12/24
Education
The clock is ticking, ethnic studies remains an unfunded mandate; what will Newsom do? -- The governor appears to back additional protections against bias in the law creating an ethnic studies mandate, and could make funding contingent on the changes. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 12/12/24
Street
‘It is unacceptable’: L.A. County hate crimes reached an all-time high last year -- The grim encounters were among the record-breaking number of hate crimes reported across L.A. County last year, an increase fueled by an onslaught of harassment directed at Jewish, Black and LGBTQ+ people, according to a county report released Wednesday. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
Gaping wounds, puffy hands, heart infections: S.F. drug users suffer from more than overdoses -- Kyle Jenkins never envisioned that he’d need a wheelchair by age 36. Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/12/24
New California jail monitor goes on the road to hear about in-custody deaths -- California saw a record number of deaths in county jails two years ago. Now, a new state official is holding public meetings to hear from people concerned about safety in the lockups. Nigel Duara CalMatters -- 12/12/24
POTUS 47
Trump says he will begin deportations and pardon Jan. 6 participants immediately -- President-elect Donald J. Trump said in a new interview that he will use the opening hours of his presidency to pardon people convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault, begin deportations of undocumented immigrants and increase oil production. Michael D. Shear in the New York Times$ -- 12/12/24
Justice Department: Jan. 6 defendants who accept pardons will make ‘a confession of guilt’ -- Some defendants claim that Trump can issue “pardons of innocence,” but federal prosecutors told a judge that pardons would not wipe away their guilt. Kyle Cheney Politico -- 12/12/24
Biden commutes nearly 1,500 sentences, promises ‘more steps in the weeks ahead’ -- Following Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter, he faced pressure from some Democrats, as well as outside advocacy groups, to use his clemency powers more widely before his term ends in January. Biden indicated in his statement that he “will take more steps in the weeks ahead.” Andrew Howard Politico Leo Sands and Meryl Kornfield in the Washington Post$ Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Mark Landler in the New York Times$ -- 12/12/24
FAA administrator will resign on Trump’s inauguration day -- FAA administrator Mike Whitaker announced he will resign instead of serving as the head of the agency in the second Trump administration, offering President-elect Donald Trump the chance to determine who will take the job next. Oriana Pawlyk Politico -- 12/12/24
Trump’s bringing several billionaires — and their conflicts — to Washington -- From Howard Lutnick to Warren Stephens, several of Trump’s uber wealthy picks could face scrutiny in the Senate. Jasper Goodman, Alice Miranda Ollstein and Eli Stokols Politico -- 12/12/24
Inflation Is Stuck. Can Trump Unstick It? -- The problem presidents face with inflation is that there is only so much they really can do to cool it off. Justin Lahart in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/12/24
Who is Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to replace FBI director Chris Wray? -- Trump’s choice to run the nation’s premier law enforcement agency is the author of a list of “deep state” officials to target. Niha Masih in the Washington Post$ -- 12/12/24
Also
One of last survivors of Pearl Harbor attack dies at 100 -- When Bob Fernandez joined the Navy in August 1941, his innocence was forgivable. Thomas Curwen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/12/24
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
After reducing deficit, Newsom proposals bring extra costs to California -- Tax revenues have exceeded estimates in California, but Gov. Gavin Newsom’s costly new proposals and other programs could swallow up any extra budget funds. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Why Newsom’s electric vehicle mandate is in trouble -- Sales growth has stalled as potential buyers balk at high sticker prices and unreliable public charging. The EV market will take an additional hit if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on vows to scuttle federal EV tax credit subsidies for buyers and slap tariffs on automobiles made in Mexico, driving prices higher. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Most reports ordered by California’s Legislature this year are shown as missing -- State agencies and commissions assigned to prepare reports to the Legislature on how well new laws are working often fail to submit them on time, or at all. Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 12/11/24
Barabak: California produced a female House speaker and vice president. So why are women losing ground? -- When California lawmakers convened in Sacramento for a special session this month, they marked a milestone. For the first time ever, women held nearly half the seats in the 120-member Legislature. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
After court loss, Albertsons backs out of merger with Kroger, sues grocery chain -- Plans for the largest grocery merger in American history are over. Queenie Wong and Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ Patrick Thomas and Dean Seal in the Wall Street Journal$ Jaclyn Peiser in the Washington Post$ Danielle Kaye in the New York Times$ -- 12/11/24
Walters: Will resistant Marin County change after a pro-housing governor just moved in? -- Gavin Newsom has just two years remaining of his governorship. As it winds down, he is stepping up efforts to build a national profile toward what many pundits assume will be a 2028 presidential campaign. That apparently includes writing his autobiography. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/11/24
San Diego County aims to further limit cooperation with immigration authorities, but sheriff pushes back -- Sheriff Kelly Martinez says her office already follows state law that limits how law enforcement can cooperate with immigration authorities. Alexandra Mendoza in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/11/24
Fire guts Bidwell Mansion, a Chico landmark and jewel of California history. Can it be saved? -- A historic Victorian home in Chico that has been a Northern California landmark for more than 150 years has been gutted by a fire. Darrell Smith and Daniel Hunt in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/11/24
Ex-Aryan Brotherhood member turned life coach found guilty of California EDD fraud and perjury -- A reputed former member of the notorious Aryan Brotherhood prison gang who gained fame for turning his back on the prison gang and embracing nonviolence was found guilty Tuesday in Lake Superior Court of perjury and fraud for lying on government loan applications and illegally collecting unemployment benefits. Sharon Bernstein in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/11/24
Wildfire
Firefighters struggle to contain wind-driven fire in Malibu threatening homes -- The Franklin fire continued to menace the coastal city overnight, burning close to some homes and forcing some water drops by helicopters. A red-flag fire danger warning remains in effect for the area until 6 p.m. But winds are expected to ease after that, and firefighters hope to make progress. Ruben Vives, Nathan Solis and Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Franklin fire destroys at least 7 structures as gusty winds fan flames through Malibu -- A ferocious wildfire fanned by strong winds burned through Malibu on Tuesday, destroying homes, triggering power outages and forcing thousands to evacuate along the coast in the dark while firefighters struggled to contain the flames. Richard Winton, Ruben Vives, Karen Garcia, Nathan Solis, Matt Hamilton, Hannah Fry, Connor Sheets and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Through a window, Pepperdine students watch Malibu fire engulf campus -- The students huddling in Pepperdine University’s library watched through the windows as flames crested the Santa Monica Mountains. Some students prayed. Others called their parents as the wind blew embers across campus, setting palm trees on fire and drawing orange flames closer and closer to their building. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Fire made a run at this celebrity-studded Malibu enclave. Some neighbors stood their ground -- The Franklin fire made a run at the area, but the extent of the damage remains unclear. One home with a pool was nearly demolished; another was little more than a chimney and a pile of smoldering rubble. Residents said some cars were also damaged, and some animals were killed in the fire. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Malibu is a magnet for destructive fires. But this time, it might have caught a break -- The conditions late Monday were primed for an explosive wildfire. Grace Toohey, Nathan Solis and Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Homeless
Garofoli: This was the most consequential political decision of 2024 — and it wasn’t made by voters -- The year’s most consequential political story had nothing to do with the election. Rather, it came in June, when the Supreme Court gave cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property, even if they didn’t have shelter beds for them. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/11/24
Housing
Sacramento-area school district to build affordable housing for teachers, employees -- Twin Rivers Unified School District plans to build workforce housing for its employees who are struggling to find affordable, well-maintained rental units within the community they work, district leaders said Tuesday. Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/11/24
Workplace
California judges say they’re underpaid, and their new lawsuit could cost taxpayers millions -- California judges receive raises based on what the state gives to other public employees. A new lawsuit alleges the state is miscalculating judicial wage increases. Adam Ashton CalMatters -- 12/11/24
Fewer California workers were dying on the job. Then fentanyl happened -- The increase is largely because workers died from “exposure to harmful substances.” What does that mean? Workers are increasingly dying — on the job — of drug overdoses. Jeanne Kuang and Jeremia Kimelman CalMatters -- 12/11/24
H-1B
Will Trump ban H-1B visas? The issue could divide him and Elon Musk -- The Trump administration is expected to restrict high-skilled immigration. But his close adviser Elon Musk’s Tesla depends on H-1B workers. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/11/24
Delta tunnel
California water agency votes to spend $141 million on Delta tunnel project -- The board of California’s largest urban water supplier voted on Tuesday to spend $141.6 million for a large share of the preliminary planning work on the state’s proposed water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Sites Reservoir
Gov. Gavin Newsom urges completion of California’s largest new reservoir project in 50 years -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday reaffirmed his support for building Sites Reservoir, a proposed $4.5 billion project that would be the largest new reservoir constructed in California in 50 years, as a way for cities and farms to better prepare for droughts made worse by the warming climate. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/11/24
Bird flu
Marin child with suspected bird flu may have gotten it from drinking raw milk -- The child has since recovered. No other household members, who also consumed the same raw milk but in smaller amounts in their coffee, had symptoms, which suggests there was no human-to-human transmission. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
Street
Mayor and LAPD chief tout double-digit drop in homicides compared with last year -- City and police leaders announced double-digit declines in homicides compared with 2023, including a halving of gang-related slayings, but the recent election results show public safety remains a concern. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
POTUS 47
Trump outran the law. His allies haven’t -- Dozens of Trump’s top aides and political allies are still on the hook in five states where prosecutions are pending over the bid to subvert the 2020 election — and a presidential pardon can’t help them. Kyle Cheney and Megan Messerly Politico -- 12/11/24
Trump names Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece -- Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host now deeply enmeshed in the broader Trump orbit, was married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom when he was mayor of San Francisco. The former prosecutor announced her engagement to Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. in 2022, though questions about the couple’s current relationship status dogged tabloid headlines on Tuesday. Julia Wick in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/11/24
RFK Jr. becomes latest troubled Trump pick -- His problems have been largely drowned out by the likes of Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, but the HHS pick has sparked some concern among Republicans. Ursula Perano Politico -- 12/11/24
Trump pick for DOJ civil rights draws blowback from advocacy leaders -- Harmeet K. Dhillon, Trump’s pick for assistant attorney general in charge of the civil rights division, is a California-based attorney and former state Republican Party official who has championed conservative opposition to corporate diversity initiatives, transgender rights and coronavirus lockdown policies. David Nakamura and Maeve Reston in the Washington Post$ -- 12/11/24
Debate Over Hegseth’s Fitness Highlights a Gender Divide in the Senate -- As many of the Senate’s Republican men dismiss allegations against President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, only a small group of G.O.P. women have voiced even a hint of skepticism. Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 12/11/24
Also
S.F. agencies cancel contracts with major nonprofit accused of enriching a former department head -- San Francisco city officials are cutting ties with a major nonprofit provider after an investigation found the organization enriched a former department head who signed contracts worth up to $1.5 million in city funds with the group. St. John Barned-Smith, Michael Barba in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/11/24
General Motors scraps robotaxi development in new fallout from 2023 crash -- General Motors will no longer invest in robotaxi development at its autonomous-vehicle unit Cruise, a major blow to the automaker that was once a leader in the technology but struggled to recover after a grisly crash in San Francisco last year. Trisha Thadani in the Washington Post$ -- 12/11/24