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California Policy and Politics Friday
Chinese government planted agent in SoCal with mission to influence local government, feds allege -- The Chinese government allegedly used a Chino Hills man in an effort to advance policies favorable to the People’s Republic of China in Southern California local government, according to a criminal complaint released Thursday. Hannah Fry and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Cate Cadell in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/24
New California voter ID ban puts conservative cities at odds with state -- A new law prohibits local governments from mandating voter identification, but Huntington Beach is fighting back. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/24
Aliso Canyon likely to stay open for years under closure plan; residents outraged -- Regulators voted Thursday to continue using the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility probably into the next decade, over the objection of local activists and residents who demanded a swifter closure of the site of the largest methane leak in U.S. history. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
California nets large population increase in 2024 — nearly returning to pre-pandemic level -- California’s population grew by almost a quarter of a million residents this year, nearly bouncing back to the record-high population levels the Golden State had reached before the pandemic, though the state is growing more slowly than the country as a whole and other large states in the South, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday. Harriet Blair Rowan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/20/24
PG&E power bills will rise after state keeps nuclear power plant open -- PG&E customers face higher bills following state approval Thursday night for money to operate California’s only nuclear plant — after a meeting punctuated by angry audience comments and heckling. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
State approves higher SDG&E rates -- Customers will pay 2.6% more on their electric bills and those with natural gas hookups will pay 1.8% more after the CPUC voted to approve the rate increase. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/20/24
Garofoli: Daniel Lurie off to good start, helps end S.F. Marriott strike -- The rap on San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie during the campaign was that he was “dangerous” because of his inexperience. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/24
As Democrats rip Elon Musk, this Bay Area mayor wants to stay neutral -- While Democrats struggle with how to respond to Elon Musk’s powerful new role in the Trump administration, the mayor of the city with the most to lose by incurring Musk’s wrath is confident in his approach to dealing with the world’s richest man. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/24
How to revive California’s downtowns? This Assembly member is looking for answers -- Los Angeles was one of nine stops on Matt Haney’s tour of the state’s downtowns. From Sacramento to San Diego, he’s in search of a prescription for California’s ailing urban cores. Thomas Curwen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Owner of sixth-largest S.F. hotel surrenders it to lenders -- The 686-room Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SoMa was given up by owner Highgate last week, according to property records. The hotel at 50 Third St. is the city’s sixth largest. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/20/24
Walters: Tax loopholes cost California and its cities $107 billion but get little scrutiny -- Among the hundreds of bills introduced in every session of the California Legislature, a few deal with what state officials term “tax expenditures,” which requires some explanation. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/20/24
Workplace
‘I have no safety net’: Mental health patients anxious as Kaiser SoCal strike hits week 10 -- Top California Democrats are pressuring Kaiser to make a deal with the union representing Southern California therapists, while patients say they’re just holding on. Joe Garcia CalMatters -- 12/20/24
California board backs rules aimed at protecting workers from deadly silicosis -- California regulators voted to continue imposing workplace rules to protect countertop cutters from silicosis, an incurable disease that has been killing young workers. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Amazon strike hits Southern California warehouses during holiday rush -- Workers at several Amazon warehouses across the country went on strike early Thursday morning, part of an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the e-commerce giant to recognize burgeoning unions at its facilities. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Starbucks Workers Begin a Strike in 3 Cities on Friday -- The walkout in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle comes after talks between the company and the workers’ union failed to produce an agreement on raises. Noam Scheiber in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/24
How far Northern California counties are creating more jobs for young people -- People living in the northernmost reaches of California refer to their community as the “Redwood Curtain,” a nod to the region’s abundance of redwoods and natural beauty — but also its remoteness. Fiona Kelliher CalMatters -- 12/20/24
Housing
How fighting affordable housing nearly bankrupted one of America’s richest towns -- The Silicon Valley town of Portola Valley faces a financial emergency and state sanction after years of attempting to block affordable housing. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Battle over luxury Verdugo Mountains housing development spills into court -- For a year and a half, the activist group No Canyon Hills has protested a 300-acre development coming to the Verdugo Mountains. Now the developer is suing. Jack Flemming in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Cannabis
Cannabis conundrum: Legal doesn’t mean clean; illicit isn’t always dirty -- California cannabis regulators and industry defenders argue that despite the proliferation of pesticides found in legal weed, licensed products are still safer and purer than those sold on the underground market. Paige St. John in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Water
Drought deepens in the Southwest, driven by little rain and extreme heat -- The parched conditions are most pronounced in Arizona, Nevada and southeastern California. Las Vegas has not had measurable rain in 158 days. Diana Leonard in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/24
Covid for Cows
Avian Flu Has Hit Dairies So Hard That They’re Calling It ‘Covid for Cows’ -- The virus has spread rapidly in California, the nation’s largest producer of milk. Farmers are frustrated that their herds are getting infected despite various precautions. Soumya KarlamanglaOrlando Mayorquín and Jesus Jiménez in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/24
Street
California man linked to Madison school shooter may have plotted own attack -- On Tuesday evening, a San Diego County Superior Court judge granted a gun violence emergency protective order that the Carlsbad Police Department filed against local resident Alexander Paffendorf, according to online records reviewed by The Times. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ Patrick Marley, Hannah Natanson and Sarah Blaskey in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/24
How a California prisoner allegedly took over Alaska’s fentanyl trade from inside his cell -- Imprisoned in California since 1998, Heraclio Sanchez Rodriguez is now accused of leading one of the largest drug trafficking networks in Alaska’s history. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
Can California change a dark culture at Chowchilla women’s prison? -- Efforts to reform life inside the walls of the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla are making headway. But most female prisoners have experienced levels of trauma that make it hard to build trust. Hannah Wiley in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
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Government shutdown looms as House rejects GOP funding bill -- A day after a bipartisan proposal fell apart, lawmakers are racing to pass legislation to fund federal operations past the deadline of 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Jacob Bogage and Marianna Sotomayor in the Washington Post$ Catie Edmondson in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/24
Trump says any shutdown ‘is a Biden problem to solve’ -- President-elect Donald Trump worked Friday morning to foist the blame for any potential government shutdown onto the current White House, insisting that the funding fight on Capitol Hill “is a Biden problem to solve.” Andrew Howard Politico -- 12/20/24
‘Co-president’ Elon Musk? Trump ally tests influence in spending fight -- The unelected tech billionaire’s outsize role in sending the federal government careening toward a potential shutdown alarmed Democrats, academics and watchdog groups. Cat Zakrzewski, Jacqueline Alemany, Marianne LeVine, Liz Goodwin and Colby Itkowitz in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/24
Elon Musk Shook Up U.S. Politics. Will the U.K. Be Next? -- Musk’s “bromance” with pro-Trump politician Nigel Farage is causing a stir among Britain’s political class. Max Colchester in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/20/24
Trump stuns Washington with push to repeal debt ceiling -- With time running out to avert a government shutdown, the president-elect demanded that lawmakers lift the borrowing limit as well. Jeff Stein and Liz Goodwin in the Washington Post$ -- 12/20/24
Here’s What Could Happen in a Government Shutdown -- During Donald J. Trump’s first term as president, roughly 800,000 of the federal government’s more than two million employees were sidelined for over a month starting in December 2018. The economy took a major hit. Noah Weiland in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/24
Trump Tossed a Debt Limit Grenade Into Spending Talks. Here’s Why -- President-elect Donald J. Trump was forced to negotiate with Democrats over the borrowing cap during his first term. Alan Rappeport in the New York Times$ -- 12/20/24
Also
Dozens of people get sick after L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants event; health officials investigating -- More than 80 people became ill after eating raw oysters at the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants event earlier this month. County health officials are investigating a possible norovirus outbreak from oysters that were later recalled. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/20/24
This nonprofit helps Californians get back on their feet with bikes -- People who have spent time in jail can learn how to repair and sell bikes if they get into a cohort program for Community Cycles of California, a San Jose-based non-profit that helps people who typically face barriers to employment develop business skills. Zayna Syed CalMatters -- 12/20/24
California Policy and Politics Thursday
LAUSD principals say demands are too high, hours too long. They are joining the Teamsters -- LAUSD principals and other middle managers muscle up and vote to affiliate with Teamsters amid concerns that district is demanding too much. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
California man linked to Madison school shooter may have plotted own attack -- A Southern California man who was in contact with the Madison, Wis., school shooter allegedly was plotting to attack a government building, according to records and media reports. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
London Breed on her six years as S.F. mayor: ‘My mark is on everything in this city’ -- No place in San Francisco better embodies both the highs and lows of Mayor London Breed’s tenure than United Nations Plaza, the public square in the heart of the city that has long been a symbol of its ills. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/24
‘Unite us’: Top Oakland leaders urge Barbara Lee to run for mayor in new letter -- Some of Oakland’s top elected officials and community leaders are urging Rep. Barbara Lee, who is ending her House career, to run for mayor. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/24
California’s Democratic senators split in Adam Schiff’s first major vote -- In one of his first major votes as a senator, Adam Schiff broke with the majority of Democrats — including fellow Californian Alex Padilla — and voted against legislation that included a GOP provision to ban gender-affirming care for children of service members. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/24
California’s fourth-largest home insurer to drop all condo, rental policies -- On the eve of a slate of reforms meant to incentivize insurance companies to write more policies in California, Liberty Mutual has told state regulators it will stop offering new condo and renter policies in 2025. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/19/24
California’s lemon law is changing and car buyers have fewer protections in the new year -- Californians who purchase a clunker car in 2025 face a confusing year as new lemon law rules take effect and the state Supreme Court limited warranty protections for used vehicles. Lawmakers are revisiting the rules, but consumers could see weaker protections until new laws are passed. Ryan Sabalow CalMatters -- 12/19/24
California declares first statewide emergency over bird flu -- California on Wednesday declared a statewide emergency over bird flu, with Gov. Gavin Newsom warning that “conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property” meant greater efforts were needed to defeat the spread. Emma Anderson Politico Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Lia Russell in the Sacramento Bee$ Kirk Maltais in the Wall Street Journal$ Lena H. Sun in the Washington Post$ Apoorva Mandavilli in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/24
More L.A. cats appear to be infected with H5N1 bird flu -- Experts believe three more cats in Los Angeles County have been infected with H5N1 bird flu. Two others succumbed to the disease earlier this month after drinking recalled raw milk from Fresno-based Raw Farm LLC dairies. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
Toll Authority approves measure to further increase Bay Area bridge tolls starting in 2026 -- Hikes approved Wednesday will go on top of increases already approved by voters through Regional Measure 3. Nollyanne Delacruz in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/19/24
The Port of Los Angeles is expecting a record December -- The Port of Los Angeles is on track to process more than 10 million container units this year and is expecting a record-breaking December. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
Barabak: For many Black women, Kamala Harris’ defeat felt like a betrayal. Now what? -- The day Joe Biden faced reality, stepped aside and cleared the way for Kamala Harris to replace him atop the Democratic ticket, Teja Smith felt a mix of exhilaration and dread. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
Walters: New decisions boost California’s zero-emission vehicle mandate, but major hurdles remain -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decree that by 2035 all new cars sold in California must be powered by batteries or other zero-emission systems has received a double dose of legal and political support. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/19/24
Workplace
A California recovery program keeps watch on addicted health workers — but not doctors -- California doctors are asking the state to create a ‘safe harbor’ program for addiction recovery. They say the current system discourages doctors from participating because they regard it as punitive. Kristen Hwang CalMatters -- 12/19/24
‘It’s living hell’: Nurses say a California addiction recovery program ended their careers -- California nurses say an addiction recovery program managed by their licensing board has become a trap that drives them out of their careers and leaves them in debt. Kristen Hwang CalMatters -- 12/19/24
Inland Empire child care workers do vital job but rarely earn good wages -- Child care’s expense is linked to a lack of supply, which is linked to a lack of workers, which is linked to low pay and poor benefits in the industry, panelists said. Deborah Brennan CalMatters -- 12/19/24
Prop houses and other Hollywood businesses seek to promote filming in California -- Nearly three dozen local film, television and streaming production businesses and associations have launched an advocacy group aimed at improving conditions for filming in the state. Stacy Perman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
Education
Why income and tense politics are limiting access to civics classes in California -- All high school students are required to take civics, but a lack of money can limit opportunities. And in some communities, parent objections pressure teachers to avoid certain topics. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 12/19/24
College protests swept across California last year. Why have they stopped? -- Campus administrators have been swift in enforcing their protest rules this fall, a marked change from last spring where protest encampments grew unchecked for days or weeks. Meanwhile, students are asking courts to weigh in on policies in court. June Hsu and Lizzy Rager CalMatters -- 12/19/24
State takes another step toward mandatory testing for reading difficulties in 2025 -- A panel of reading experts has designated the tests that school districts can use to identify reading difficulties that kindergartners through second graders may have, starting next fall. John Fensterwald and Zaidee Stavely EdSource -- 12/19/24
Street
L.A. County will pay $7.5 million settlement to girls sexually abused by sheriff’s deputy -- The settlement comes six months after Sean Essex — who worked for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for more than two decades — was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing the three young daughters of a woman he was dating, as well as another girl he met several years earlier. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
L.A. sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to beating transgender man who flipped him off -- Nearly two years after he was caught on camera beating a transgender man in a 7-Eleven parking lot, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to a civil rights violation for using excessive force, prosecutors said Wednesday. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
O.C. diocese will pay $3.5 million to settle sexual abuse allegations against former school leader -- The settlement concludes a lawsuit filed in 2019 against the diocese and brings the amount the Catholic Church has paid out in civil cases involving Msgr. Michael Harris to at least $10 million. Harris has denied molesting minors and was never criminally charged. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24
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Trump Sinks Bipartisan Spending Deal, Demands Streamlined Bill -- President-elect Donald Trump torpedoed a bipartisan deal struck by congressional leaders to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend, insisting that Republican lawmakers tear up the sprawling agreement and pass a narrower bill that also includes an increase in the nation’s borrowing limit. Lindsay Wise, Katy Stech Ferek and Alex Leary in the Wall Street Journal$ Marianna Sotomayor and Jacob Bogage in the Washington Post$ Catie Edmondson and Carl Hulse in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/24
Elon Musk fueled backlash to spending plan with false and misleading claims -- A bipartisan deal to avert a government shutdown collapsed Wednesday amid a sustained campaign against the package led by billionaire Elon Musk — one featuring a series of false and misleading statements. Daniella Diaz and Katherine Tully-McManus Politico -- 12/19/24
Musk Draws First Blood With Spending Bill Bombshell -- With a 4:15 a.m. ET social-media post on Wednesday, Elon Musk declared that a must-do spending bill “should not pass.” By early evening, the bill was dead, leaving the government barreling toward a weekend shutdown just before Christmas. Ken Thomas in the Wall Street Journal$ Michael D. Shear and Ryan Mac in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/24
Inside a Huge Spending Deal: Disaster Money, a Football Stadium and More -- One of the biggest chunks of funds — and one of the more politically popular — is the aid portion of the legislation, which provides $100 billion for communities ravaged by Hurricanes Milton and Helene and other disasters. Included in that money is $21 billion to help farmers whose crops were ravaged by natural disasters. Catie Edmondson in the New York Times$ -- 12/19/24
GOP lawmakers air doubts about Trump's last-minute spending demands -- Most Republican lawmakers don't have the appetite for a government shutdown and don't think they have time to address the debt ceiling before Friday. Katherine Tully-McManus, Nicholas Wu and Jordain Carney Politico -- 12/19/24
Americans rush to buy cars and appliances before Trump’s new tariffs -- Americans are scrambling to stock up on cars, appliances and other big-ticket imports in anticipation of new Trump administration tariffs — a spending spree that could reignite the very inflation buyers are hoping to avoid. Abha Bhattarai and Jaclyn Peiser in the Washington Post$ -- 12/19/24
Trump’s transition is happening over private emails. Federal officials are nervous -- Federal officials say they’re worried about sharing documents via email with Donald Trump’s transition team because the incoming officials are eschewing government devices, email addresses and cybersecurity support, raising fears that they could potentially expose sensitive government data. Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico -- 12/19/24
Majority of Americans oppose Trump’s proposals to test democracy’s limits -- A majority of Americans oppose Donald Trump’s plans to use the U.S. military to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, to instruct the U.S. Justice Department to investigate his political rivals and to pardon rioters charged with breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a nationwide Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. Colby Itkowitz, Emily Guskin and Scott Clement in the Washington Post$ -- 12/19/24
Also
It cost $1.7 million to have the LAPD work — and wear Dodgers caps — at World Series parade -- The response was much like that of a father when handed the bill for his daughter’s wedding reception. Joy trumps outrage every time. Steve Henson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/19/24