California Policy and Politics Monday

These Bay Area suburbs are the furthest behind on their housing goals -- Walnut Creek has reached just 4% of its state-mandated housing target for 2031, the lowest share of any Bay Area city with a goal of more than 5,000 homes. Some smaller cities in the region are even further behind their own targets. Olivia Borgula in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/6/26

For some families, the answer to the housing crisis is in the backyard -- California has led the charge on legalizing ADUs, passing a string of laws over the past decade. Several surveys in the state consistently show that about 3 in 10 ADU owners have a family member living in the unit, while about 4 in 10 rent them to strangers. Julie Z. Weil in the Washington Post$ -- 7/6/26

Californians can protect their personal data with one click. Help us test if it works -- If you haven’t heard yet, the state is offering a new way for Californians to protect their data — and we want your help tracking its rollout and effectiveness. Colin Lecher and Mohamed Al Elew Calmatters -- 7/6/26

Did the milk expire? California bans 'sell by' food labels to cut food waste -- In Kimberley Kausen’s home, a passed “sell by” date on a jug of milk means different things to different family members. For her daughter, it means the jug belongs in the trash. For her husband, it means the milk is still good for a few more days. Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press -- 7/6/26

Some beachgoers are creating living rooms with a view on the sand. Cities are cracking down -- Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and other Orange County towns are cracking down on elaborate shade coverings, citing safety issues. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/6/26

Yosemite Offers Many Wonders. Crushing Crowds Are Now One of Them -- Visitors are enduring especially long waits at the popular national park after the Trump administration eliminated a summer reservation system. Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 7/6/26

On the California Coast, a Picture-Perfect City Falls on Hard Times -- Santa Monica is in recovery mode after a string of problems, including financial woes and vacant storefronts. Paul Kiernan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/6/26

Also

The Pacific Ocean is running a fever. Why that’s an ominous sign -- A marine heat wave covering an area eight times the size of the United States could soon fuel serious storms and extreme heat. Ben Noll in the Washington Post$ -- 7/6/26

An outdoor paradise in California has a high suicide rate. Locals are determined to turn it around -- Since 2022, there have been nearly 40 confirmed suicide deaths in Truckee, South Lake Tahoe and four lakeside counties, an area with a combined population of about 73,000, according to an analysis by the Tahoe Daily Tribune. Nearly one-quarter of these involved firearms. Eli Victoria Ramos in The Guardian -- 7/6/26

A tiny eye implant invented by a Stanford scientist is helping blind people read again -- A chip the size of a pencil point inserted into the eye has helped a few dozen blind adults in Europe regain some vision — they’ve been able to paint, to recognize faces and to read to their grandchildren again. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/6/26

Waymo vehicle catches fire during chaotic San Francisco Fourth of July -- An unoccupied Waymo vehicle caught fire in San Francisco after driving over a firework Saturday night, adding another complication to a chaotic Fourth of July marked by fog, gridlock, transit delays and illegal fireworks across the city. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/6/26

Lopez: Happy 100th birthday to Mel Brooks. I’m not sure I want to be around that long -- I’d like to congratulate Mel Brooks on making it to the age of 100, but I’m not sure I want to duplicate his achievement. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/6/26

POTUS 47

How Trump Put Himself in the Middle of America’s 250th -- The president placed his image and initiatives front and center, blurring the line, critics said, between loyalty to nation and loyalty to him. Erica L. Green in the New York Times$ -- 7/6/26

Supreme Court’s dramatic moves will reshape elections — and give the GOP a midterm boost -- The timing and speed of the justices’ moves are all but unprecedented in recent years, legal experts said. Republicans are expected to reap the most rewards. Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley in the Washington Post$ -- 7/6/26

 

California Policy and Politics Sunday

L.A. firefighters help rescue Venezuela quake victim buried for 8 days -- Relying on hand tools instead of heavy machinery, firefighters tunneled through unstable debris to rescue a security guard trapped for eight days. The operation was a testament to the growing effectiveness of a multinational coalition of urban search-and-rescue squads. Mery Mogollón, Patrick J. McDonnell, Carlos Becerra in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/5/26

On America’s 250th birthday, U.S. soccer team of immigrants embodies founders’ dreams --Nearly half of the U.S. soccer players who made an inspiring run to the World Cup Round of 16 are dual-nationals, embodying the American dream on the Fourth of July. Kevin Baxter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/5/26

Fans scram: Fireworks head into the stands at BMO stadium after Angel City FC match -- A post-game fireworks show went awry at BMO Stadium on Friday night, when fireworks set off on the playing pitch sent flares streaming into the stands, forcing fans to scatter to safety. Paige St. John and Melissa Gomez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/5/26

Paul Pelosi faces possible hit-and-run charge in Napa County crash -- Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s huband Paul Pelosi was accused of crashing his convertible into a parked vehicle in Yountville on Friday. Alexandra Del Rosario in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/5/26

AT&T wins early approval to end landline service for 184,000 California households -- AT&T has won an early federal victory in its bid to end traditional landline service for 184,000 California households, escalating a fight with state regulators and alarming customers who say copper-wire phones remain a lifeline during fires, storms and earthquakes. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/5/26

Garofoli: No housing is being built in God’s backyard despite new state law -- The San Francisco Archdiocese, which owes $400 million to sexual assault victims after a recent settlement, needs money. So does the Oakland archdiocese, which is about to close 13 East Bay parishes as it buckles under the pressure of an estimated $100 million to $500 million of liabilities, largely from what it owes in sexual assault settlements. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/5/26

Barabak: Happy Birthday, America! You’ve weathered another rough year -- War, inflation and presidential grifting mark an Independence Day best put in the past. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/5/26

Arellano: Mission San Juan Capistrano is also turning 250. It has lessons for America -- If a historical reckoning can happen in Mission San Juan Capistrano, it can happen anywhere. As we mark 250 years of this country, we need to push for more of these reckonings. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/5/26

Conservatives rage over re-funding of Planned Parenthood -- Planned Parenthood’s beleaguered network of clinics will regain access to hundreds of millions in Medicaid funding this weekend — the fallout of Republicans’ failure to pass an extension of the one-year defunding provision they approved last year. Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico -- 7/5/26

DOGE self-deletes on July 4th. The grand experiment fell apart long before that -- Tech mogul Elon Musk’s band of Silicon Valley disruptors have already moved on as DOGE’s charter is scheduled to expire. Kevin Bogardus and Scott Waldman Politico -- 7/5/26

For America’s 250th, Trump Hosts a Celebration and Derides His Foes -- A centerpiece address for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration devoted time to American history, but had all the hallmarks of a Trump rally. Shawn McCreesh in the New York Times$ Natalie Allison and Cleve R. Wootson Jr. in the Washington Post$ Steven Sloan, Michelle L. Price Associated Press -- 7/5/26

Democrats Clash With Trump, as Political Tensions Rise on America’s 250th -- Gavin Newsom and Wes Moore, potential 2028 contenders, cast President Trump’s record as a betrayal of American ideals, while the president disparaged their party as extreme. Tim Balk in the New York Times$ -- 7/5/26

Trump Wants a New Air Force One in His Presidential Library. It’s Not a Done Deal -- He faces numerous obstacles, however, from future presidents who might need to use the jet, Democratic politicians who are determined to stop him and the logistical challenges of cramming the hulking jumbo jet into his planned skyscraper in the middle of a dense city. Marcus Weisgerber in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/5/26

Trump Administration Rolls Back Dozens of Gun Regulations -- The Trump administration is scrapping more than three dozen firearms regulations, abandoning a crackdown on illegal sales, restoring gun rights to some people with mental illness and loosening oversight of private weapons transactions. Aishvarya Kavi in the New York Times$ -- 7/5/26

What Does It Cost to Take Over Madison Square Garden? -- There are also miscellaneous costs — lighting, sound, catering, flowers, decorations, labor — which could push the total tab for the wedding up to a very conservative estimate of $10 to $12 million, said Ms. Stewart. Just the audio and visuals component, if there is a show, could reach $1 million, she said. Alisha Haridasani Gupta, Ishani Desai, Maria Cramer and Maia Coleman in the New York Times$ -- 7/5/26