California Policy and Politics Thursday

California in a jam after borrowing billions to pay unemployment benefits -- California’s massive budget deficit, coupled with the state’s relatively high level of joblessness, has become a major barrier to reducing the billions of dollars of debt it has incurred to pay unemployment benefits. Don Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

California leaders take sides in monumental Supreme Court case on homelessness -- The U.S. Supreme Court is about to hear a case that will have major implications on homelessness policy in California. Find out where your leaders stand on the issue. Marisa Kendall CalMatters David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

Signatures roll in for tough-on-crime ballot measure to reform California’s Proposition 47 -- A coalition backing a tough-on-crime statewide ballot initiative to toughen penalties for retail theft and some drug offenses on Thursday submitted more than 900,000 voter signatures backing the measure, a strong indicator that it may come before California voters in November. Anabel Sosa in the Los Angeles Times$ Lindsey Holden in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/18/24

Newsom calls for increased oversight of local homelessness efforts -- The call to ramp up accountability is the latest example of Newsom pointing at local governments for the failure to lessen homelessness, which has only worsened in his tenure despite more than $20 billion in state funds spent on programs to help. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeremy B. White Politico -- 4/18/24

Lawmaker withdraws sweeping California bill to expand assisted dying -- The author of a California bill that aimed to create the most expansive assisted dying law in the country has pulled the proposal, meaning it won’t be considered this year. Rachel Bluth Politico -- 4/18/24

California won’t prosecute LAPD officer who shot teenage girl in store’s dressing room -- The California Justice Department announced today that it has found no cause to file charges against a Los Angeles police officer who, while aiming at a suspect, shot and killed a 14-year-old girl hiding in a department store fitting room. Nigel Duara CalMatters -- 4/18/24

California sets nation’s first water standard for cancer-causing contaminant -- Water suppliers say the costs will be massive, with rates increasing for many consumers. Known as the “Erin Brockovich” chemical, hexavalent chromium is found statewide. Rachel Becker CalMatters -- 4/18/24

Walters: Will Attorney General Rob Bonta jump into the 2026 race for California governor? -- A handful of Democratic politicians are already running for governor of California in 2026. Attorney General Rob Bonta is acting as if he might jump in. But so far there are no Latinos or Republicans in the mix. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 4/18/24

Arellano: What’s behind those ‘Shame on you’ billboards in the Coachella Valley -- The billboards have become such a part of the region’s life that Bea Gonzalez, a Desert Community College board trustee, recently told me she’s used to having strangers stare at her before asking if she’s that woman. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

Insurance

Insurers won't renew some homes, citing risk of earthquake-induced fires. This map shows where -- It’s been 118 years since the infamous 1906 earthquake and the fires that followed. Despite better technology and preparedness, insurers are still worried about post-quake fires. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

S.F. leaders hail city’s resiliency on anniversary of 1906 quake -- There was a contemporary note to Thursday’s remembrances of the city’s resiliency: Much like the recovery from the earthquake and fire, San Francisco has the gumption to rebound from its post-pandemic woes — homelessness, rampant drug sales, thefts, vacant stores, officials said. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

California insurance crisis: Thousands to lose coverage as two more insurers withdraw -- In filings with the California Department of Insurance, Tokio Marine America Insurance Company and Trans Pacific Insurance Company said they would both withdraw from the homeowners and personal umbrella insurance markets in California. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

California insurers must give discounts for wildfire mitigation. Have homeowners benefited? -- Discounts proposed by some of the largest insurers in the state have yet to go into effect. But based on what companies have put forward, the cost of qualifying for them will dwarf the savings for many homeowners. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 4/18/24

Workplace

Google announces more layoffs, plans to relocate jobs overseas -- The layoffs will primarily affect Google’s finance and real estate departments. A spokesperson for the Mountain View company stated that these layoffs are part of a continuing restructuring initiative. Some impacted roles will be moved to developing hubs in India, Ireland and Mexico. Aidin Vaziri, Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

Tech layoffs jolt Bay Area economy with hundreds of new job cuts -- A high-profile aerospace and defense contractor and a semiconductor company were among the latest tech firms to chop jobs in the Bay Area, cutbacks that will erase more than 200 positions. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 4/18/24

‘The fairy dust fades away’: Why the people who play Disneyland’s costumed characters are unionizing -- Character performers at Disneyland Resort have filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, per the Actors’ Equity Assn. Christi Carras in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

Google fires 28 employees over protests inside work offices -- Google fired 28 workers Wednesday in Sunnyvale and New York, calling their protests inside work offices “completely unacceptable behavior” that prevented some employees from accessing their facilities. Jordan Parker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Stephanie Lam in the San Jose Mercury$ Miles Kruppa in the Wall Street Journal$ Caroline O'Donovan, Gerrit De Vynck in the Washington Post$ Nico Grant in the New York Times$ -- 4/18/24

Office Market

Former S.F. ‘start-up village’ sells for huge discount. New owners believe office recovery has begun -- A San Francisco office building that once served as home to startups including Zendesk and Eventbrite has sold for less than one-third of its pre-pandemic value. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

Power Bills

Battle intensifies over new monthly fee planned for Californians’ power bills -- A new fixed monthly fee is scheduled to be adopted by California Public Utilities Commission around whether the payment structure change will harm or help low-income residents and the state’s clean energy goals. Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 4/18/24

Homeless

S.F.’s tiny cabins for the homeless with ‘insane’ price tag finally open in Mission District -- A much anticipated tiny cabin village for homeless people is finally open in San Francisco’s Mission District after years of planning, delays and intense controversy over the project’s steep price tag. Maggie Angst, Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

San Diego directs more money to its first safe sleeping site, though few have found permanent housing -- Some residents have raised concerns about mold and food as officials scramble to create more spots for homeless people. Blake Nelson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/18/24

‘No place like this.’ L.A. home helps young adults live beyond survival mode -- A home in the middle of Los Angeles has become an oasis for young adults brought together by one particular experience: homelessness. Betty Márquez Rosales EdSource -- 4/18/24

Environment

Tijuana River named among most endangered rivers in America due to sewage crisis -- The Tijuana River, with frequent flows of sewage and chemical-tainted waters, is among America’s top endangered rivers, according to a report released Tuesday that spotlights threats to clean water nationwide. Tammy Murga in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/18/24

USC

Did USC set ‘very bad precedent’ by cancelling valedictorian speech over safety threats? -- Campus administrators nationwide struggle to uphold principles of free expression amid pressure from those who claim speech, or potential speech, can subject students to harm. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

‘Let her speak!’ USC campus reels after valedictorian’s speech is canceled -- On Wednesday, a smattering of protesters gathered by the landmark Tommy Trojan statue, some calling on USC President Carol Folt to reverse course as arguments broke out between those on opposing sides. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Angie Orellana Hernandez, Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

Health Care

These ethnic groups in California do the best by far in getting quality health care -- New study from the Commonwealth Fund finds wide disparities around the U.S. in who gets care and how they fare. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24

Education

Homes at schools? San Diego Unified OKs its first affordable housing development on district property -- This is the second time the district has allowed a developer to build housing on surplus land no longer needed for school facilities. But it’s the first where all the units will be rent-restricted. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 4/18/24

Street

L.A. sheriff’s deputy facing felony charges, allegedly stole money during traffic stop -- A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was arrested this week after prosecutors said she stole money during a traffic stop, then filed a false report to cover it up. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 4/18/24

S.F. DA Jenkins has a message for anyone delayed during Golden Gate Bridge protest -- San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins urged anyone delayed by protests that shut down the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday to file a report to authorities because they may be victims of false imprisonment and entitled to restitution. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/18/24