California Policy & Politics This Morning
California voters returning ballots in big numbers, election officials say -- Eddie Tong of Sacramento carried his pink vote-by-mail ballot into the county elections office Friday, intent on making sure his preference in the country’s bruising presidential race showed up in next month’s tally. Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/22/16
Was Steve Westly talked about for Energy Secretary, but shot down? -- Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmental activist, may not be the only possible candidate for California governor to receive a mention for President Barack Obama’s first energy secretary, according to a hacked email posted by WikiLeaks. Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/22/16
Trump attorneys seek to block testimony from Times columnist -- Attorneys for Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and Trump University are seeking to block Los Angeles Times consumer columnist David Lazarus from testifying in a class-action fraud case brought by former Trump University students. James Rufus Koren in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/22/16
El Dorado County voters still waiting to get mail ballots -- Some El Dorado County voters have inundated their elections office with calls after not receiving mail ballots for the Nov. 8 election. Brad Branan in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/22/16
Rep. Loretta Sanchez bounces back from past comments to receive Muslim group's co-endorsement for U.S. Senate -- Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez, who was criticized by Muslim groups last year after a comment about Muslims' support for establishing a strict Islamic state, appears to have made amends. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ (after clicking the link you must scroll down to see the item) -- 10/22/16
Big money fuels both sides in Rep. Issa's reelection bid -- Capital Hill Democrats have spent $670,000 on retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate’s challenge of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, a strong indication of their belief that they can unseat the eight-term incumbent in the congressional district straddling the Orange-San Diego county line. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 10/22/16
Why These Central Valley Republicans Stand by Donald Trump -- Politically speaking, the Central Valley is a pretty red region in our mostly blue state. So, with the most controversial candidate in memory at the top of the GOP ticket, I wondered how Republican voters in the valley are feeling. Vanessa Rancano KQED -- 10/22/16
Democrats using Trump against Republican opponents -- Donald Trump’s name appears just once on the Nov. 8 ballot. But Democrats hope it becomes an anchor that drags down other Republican candidates. That’s why California Democrats are doing all they can to link Trump, an unpopular figure in the Golden State, with Republicans running for Congress, Assembly and even county supervisor. Jeff Horseman in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 10/22/16
California Politics Podcast: Propositions, Polls, Parole -- This week, we discuss polling on the 17 ballot propositions California voters are being asked to consider on Nov. 8. And then we focus, in particular, on Gov. Jerry Brown's prison parole proposal, Proposition 57. With John Myers of the Los Angeles Times and Marisa Lagos of KQED News. Link here -- 10/22/16
Westbound Bay Bridge drivers exiting to islands must change sides -- Drivers speeding — or creeping — westbound across the Bay Bridge have grown accustomed to taking an odd, and short, left exit to get to Yerba Buena and Treasure islands. Starting Saturday, they’ll have to break that habit and take a new ramp on the right. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/22/16
Bay Bridge bike, pedestrian path to open Sunday -- After a three-year wait, bicyclists and pedestrians will finally have their own path across the Bay Bridge to Yerba Buena and Treasure islands — but only sporadically at first. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/22/16
Mosques are building bridges by opening their doors -- On Dec. 11, as people were starting to gather for Friday afternoon prayers at a Coachella Valley mosque, 23-year-old Carl James Dial threw a Molotov cocktail into the building’s lobby. Deepa Bharath in the Orange County Register -- 10/22/16
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Why everyone wants to join the transportation tax bandwagon across California, US -- Nearly one-third of California’s 58 counties will ask voters to approve transportation taxes this November, part of a record-setting number of measures appearing on ballots across the nation. Steve Scauzillo in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 10/22/16
Opponents of Metro's sales tax measure say LA benefits over their communities -- An organized group called "No on M" is urging Los Angeles County voters to reject Measure M, a proposal on the general election ballot to raise sales taxes for billions of dollars in transportation projects. Meghan McCarty KPCC -- 10/22/16
Housing
Measure B will chart course for future housing in San Diego county -- The one thing that both supporters and opponents of Measure B agree on is that’s its passage will set a precedent. Whether it will be good or bad depends on perspective. J. Harry Jones in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/22/16
Your guide to Measure JJJ: How it might change LA -- As the city of L.A. continues to appear on lists as one of the most expensive places to rent in the country, its voters are considering a ballot measure that would force local developers to provide housing for lower-income renters. Leo Duran KPCC -- 10/22/16
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Long Beach residents critical of plan to add international flights at airport -- Demand for international flights is on the rise in Southern California but neighbors of the Long Beach Airport are fighting a plan to bring flights from Mexico and Latin America to the regional airfield. Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/22/16
Southern California jobs numbers show economy is in ‘cruise control’ -- California led the nation in year-over-year employment growth in September but job gains for that month fell short of the previous month, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. Kevin Smith in the Long Beach Press Telegram$ -- 10/22/16
Bay Area gains jobs, but region’s employment picture may be cooling -- The Bay Area employment picture in September saw “modest” improvement over the previous month’s tepid gains, but signs have emerged that the region’s job market may be losing steam. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/22/16
Fresno wants to build citywide high-speed internet system -- Six years ago, Fresno went gaga competing for Google Fiber, a pilot program to build an ultra-high-speed fiber optic network in one major U.S. city. Fresno lost the competition but not the dream. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 10/22/16
Transit
San Francisco conference explores how tech will transform transportation -- Cars are getting smarter, more connected and closer to a future where they can drive themselves. Against that backdrop, an array of technologists, investors, car executives, transit experts and others convened at San Francisco’s Dogpatch Studios on Thursday for a conference delving into changes in how people get around. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/22/16
Education
UC Berkeley Greek groups halt parties after sex assaults reported -- For the first time, UC Berkeley student leaders — not administrators — have suspended parties at fraternities and sororities after two women said they were sexually assaulted at off-campus Greek events last weekend. Michael Bodley and Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/22/16
Cannabis
Public universities won’t need to change policy if marijuana becomes legal -- Come Nov. 8, California may be joining states such as Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, allowing residents to possess limited amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Mark Muckenfuss in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 10/22/16
Punch the clock and pass the brownies -- After getting busted himself, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes says it’s time for Americans to have an “overdue conversation” about marijuana in the workplace. Rob Hotakainen McClatchyDC -- 10/22/16
Environment
State letter to farmers demands water to fix nitrate problem -- A state water agency has told some farmers in Tulare County that their operations caused nitrates to get into drinking water, and that the contamination must be replaced with a clean source. Lewis Griswold in the Fresno Bee -- 10/22/16
Refinery, Shipping Firm Dispute Finding They’re Responsible for Oil Spill -- Refinery operator Phillips 66 is rejecting a finding by the Coast Guard that a marine terminal at its Rodeo facility played a role in an oil spill in San Pablo Bay last month. Ted Goldberg KQED -- 10/22/16
Health
Sexually transmitted diseases surge in California -- Cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States reached new highs in 2015, including an increase in syphilis not seen since the mid-1990s, a result of “eroded” prevention efforts, according to federal health officials in a report this week. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 10/22/16
Surfers take part in waterborne illness study -- Nearly 700 local surfers played a role in a groundbreaking epidemiological study looking into the risks of surfing in compromised water. Using a phone app, they logged when they went into the water and how often they got sick. Daniel Wheaton in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/22/16
Fewer California Doctors Accept Medi-Cal, Despite Surge in Number of Patients -- Although enrollment in California’s low-income health plan has surged in the last three years, fewer physicians are accepting these Medi-Cal patients, according to a new report. That means 40 percent of doctors provide 80 percent of Medi-Cal visits statewide. Hannah Guzik California Health Report -- 10/22/16
Also . . .
Former Sonoma County deputy probed in Taser use on military vet -- A criminal investigation was launched after a rookie Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy allegedly used excessive force by deploying a Taser on a military veteran and beating him with a baton during a domestic dispute call, officials said. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/22/16
San Francisco company created a bike lock that makes thieves vomit -- Daniel Idzkowski and Yves Perrenoud created a steel U-lock called the SkunkLock that emits a noxious, vomit-inducing odor into the face of the person attempting to cut it. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/22/16
San Francisco Police Union Announces Breakdown in Use-of-Force Negotiations -- Negotiations between San Francisco officials and the police union over new rules governing officers’ use of force have reached an impasse, according to a statement released by Police Officers’ Association President Martin Halloran Friday evening. Alex Emslie KQED -- 10/22/16
Beltway
Facebook Employees Pushed to Remove Trump’s Posts as Hate Speech -- Some of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s posts on Facebook have set off an intense debate inside the social media company over the past year, with some employees arguing certain posts about banning Muslims from entering the U.S. should be removed for violating the site’s rules on hate speech, according to people familiar with the matter. Deepa Seetharaman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/22/16
Candidate Trump wants campaign kept out of Trump University trial -- Lawyers for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are asking a San Diego judge in the upcoming fraud trial over Trump University to keep out any evidence relating to his presidential campaign. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/22/16
President Obama To Visit San Diego -- Barack Obama will make what's likely to be his final trip to San Diego as president on Sunday, as he arrives in town to speak at a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. KPBS -- 10/22/16
Donald Trump is in a funk: Bitter, hoarse and pondering, ‘If I lose. . .’ -- As he took the stage here in this mountain town Friday afternoon, Donald Trump was as subdued as the modest crowd that turned out to see him. Jenna Johnson in the Washington Post$ -- 10/22/16
Clinton adding staff in Utah as her campaign eyes expansion into red states -- Hillary Clinton’s campaign is adding staff and stepping up surrogate visits to Utah, a once-reliably Republican state that recent polls have shown suddenly competitive amid Donald Trump’s struggles. John Wagner in the Washington Post$ -- 10/22/16
-- Friday Updates
Ex-California state senator gets prison for taking bribes -- Former California state Sen. Ron Calderon was sentenced Friday to 3 years in prison in a corruption scandal in which he acknowledged taking bribes in exchange for his influence in Sacramento. U.S. District Court Judge Christina Snyder imposed the sentence in Los Angeles after listening to Calderon emotionally ask to remain under house arrest or "at least get me home to my family sooner." Brian Melley Associated Press Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ (You must scroll down after clicking the link to see the item) -- 10/21/16
Pentagon identifies American killed in Iraq on Thursday -- The Pentagon has identified the American killed in Iraq on Thursday as a 34-year-old Navy chief petty officer named Jason C. Finan. The Pentagon said Finan's hometown is Anaheim, California, and that he was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three. Associated Press -- 10/21/16
Borenstein: Richmond hopes voters OK record tax, largely illegal elsewhere and 15 times state norm -- The Richmond City Council wants to charge homeowners the highest property transfer tax rate in the state, nearly 15 times what most Californians pay. Daniel Borenstein in the East Bay Times -- 10/21/16
DNS servers vulnerable spot for hackers -- For two hours, users around the country had trouble accessing certain websites on the Internet because Dyn, a firm that hosts domain name servers, was attacked electronically. Wendy Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/21/16
West Coast now under web attack as East Coast recovers -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly investigating. The attack raised fears that this could be a trial run for an attempt at a major disruption of the U.S. presidential election. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/21/16
Mexico’s Demand For Potent California Marijuana Creates Southbound Smuggling -- California’s cultivation of marijuana has created an unprecedented phenomenon: southbound smuggling of the drug across the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexico’s demand for potent California strains is on the rise as Mexican drug cartels have mostly failed to make a competitive homegrown product. Jean Guerrero KPBS -- 10/21/16
Poll shows doubts about economic boost hurting stadium measure -- Voter skepticism that San Diego would get an economic boost from a downtown stadium and convention center annex is a significant hurdle for the Chargers ballot measure, according to a Union-Tribune/10News poll released Friday. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/21/16
Sean Parker, pushing pot legalization, invisible in California campaign -- Parker, founding president of Facebook and co-founder of the file-sharing service Napster, has contributed $7.3 million toward the Proposition 64 legalization effort. Another $1.5 million went to New Approach PAC, a committee affiliated with the legalization drive. Christopher Cadelago and Jim Miller in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 10/21/16
How would legalizing marijuana affect drug war at San Diego's border? -- The answers are a game of speculation, experts acknowledge, although recent drug-smuggling trends and the experiences of other states that have pioneered recreational marijuana laws provide some clues as to what drug-trafficking at our border might look like. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 10/21/16
Some pot-growers fear a big business takeover if it becomes legal. Not these two -- As soon as I began paying attention to marijuana last year, I started bumping into the guy in the white robes and the flowing beard. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/21/16
Metro's sales tax could reduce your time stuck in traffic by 15% — but not until 2057 -- What the advertisement doesn’t mention is that Measure M’s promised traffic relief would not arrive until 2057. By then, voters in their 20s and 30s would be old enough to retire. Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/21/16
Kamala Harris continues to cash in on California's Democratic Party support -- The California Democratic Party says it has increased its direct support of Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris’ U.S. Senate campaign to more than $690,000. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/21/16 (You must scroll down after clicking the link to see the item)
Golden State Warriors tickets for free? Oakland and Alameda County pols use free suites for friends, family, cronies -- The Golden State Warriors may be the hottest ticket in sports, but for dozens of East Bay politicians, landing free seats is easier than a Stephen Curry layup — and they’re regularly using that precious perk for personal and political capital. Thomas Peele in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/21/16
Hiltzik: In Beverly Hills, real estate money is talking very loudly at the ballot box -- Beverly Hills being what it is, and the luxury hotel and condo market being what it is, spending more than $6 million to pass a city ballot initiative to secure approval for a major project would seem like a bargain. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/21/16
California adds 30,000 jobs as unemployment holds at 5.5% -- California’s unrelenting economy refused to slow in September, amassing another 30,000 new jobs even as more people seeking work opted into the labor market, according to state data released Friday. Natalie Kitroeff in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/21/16
Bay Area gains jobs, led by South Bay, East Bay, San Francisco area -- The Bay Area added 3,600 jobs during September, and Santa Clara County and the East Bay, in a welcome rebound from a weak August for those two areas, powered to sturdy employment gains, officials reported Friday. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 10/21/16
Hundreds of American kids are suddenly paralyzed, and doctors still don’t know why -- Erin Olivera waited weeks for doctors to tell her why her youngest son was paralyzed. Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/21/16
Fox: Are Bonds Free? -- Voters in California have hundreds of local bonds to consider in this election but I suspect many voters don’t understand how the bonds are funded. They won’t find out by reading ballot summaries. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 10/21/16
CA120: Despite missteps, Trump’s backers stay faithful -- At this point, the only thing left for Donald Trump to do is to shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue. On Jan. 23, he said that he could do that and not lose any votes. Jonathan Brown Capitol Weekly -- 10/21/16
Trump attorneys seek to bar his campaign comments at trial -- Trump's lawyers don't want any statements he made during the presidential campaign mentioned in an upcoming civil trial over Trump University. Elliot Spagat Associated Press -- 10/21/16
Economists: A Trump win would tank the markets -- If GOP nominee pulls off a Brexit-like surprise, Wall Street would face a Brexit-like stock plunge. Ben White Politico -- 10/21/16