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California Policy and Politics Thursday

Venezuela earthquake: Staggering destruction signals urgent warning for California -- Scientists say Caracas’ seismic risk mirrors that of Los Angeles and San Francisco, where thousands of older non-ductile concrete, soft-story and brick buildings remain at risk despite decades of tougher codes and some retrofit mandates. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

 

Tech billionaires hire Democratic dealmakers in renewed push to build a Bay Area city -- Following years of local resistance, tech billionaires are turning to the state to fast track their plan to build a new city in the Bay Area. They are lobbying for legislation to expedite environmental review of their project, enlisting political heavyweights to make their case. Kate Wolffe and Yue Stella Yu Calmatters -- 6/25/26

Knockdown declared in Boyle Heights warehouse fire; health and economic uncertainty remain -- A weeklong fire at a Boyle Heights cold storage warehouse was finally extinguished Wednesday evening. Firefighters used powerful water cannons typically deployed for burning oil rigs. Salvador Hernandez, Ruben Vives and Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

What we know about the solar array at the center of Boyle Heights fire -- Lineage, the operator of the cold storage warehouse burning for days in Boyle Heights, is pointing the finger at another tenant, the massive solar array spread across the warehouse’s rooftop, as the responsible party for the destructive blaze. Jason Henry in the LA Daily News -- 6/25/26

 

Karen Bass taps Biden-Harris campaign vet for reelection fight -- Julie Chávez Rodríguez, who managed campaigns for former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, will lead Bass' reelection campaign against progressive challenger Nithya Raman. Melanie Mason Politico David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

Newton: LA’s political coalitions have been shifting. Nithya Raman will shuffle them even more -- Los Angeles, with its extraordinary diversity, is a national case study in coalition politics — the cobbling together of constituencies to create a political and governing majority. Jim Newton Calmatters -- 6/25/26

California’s ‘first partner’ targeted by Trump, Newsom says. Here is what we know about her career, finances -- Jennifer Siebel Newsom has spent more than a decade cultivating an identity distinct from her husband, Gov. Gavin Newsom, as an active documentary filmmaker and gender equity activist with her own organizations, staff and salary. Nicole Nixon and Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

Trump’s election ID, ballot counting rules blocked by Rob Bonta’s lawsuit -- Attorney General Rob Bonta declared victory against President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a battle over an executive order that demanded states implement voter ID requirements and prohibited any ballot counting after Election Day. Haley Parsley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 6/25/26

California’s Plastic Law Goes to Court: Is It Too Strict or Too Lax? -- The sweeping legislation, fully enacted last month, has been challenged by Republican-led states. Environmental groups have their own complaints. Soumya Karlamangla in the New York Times$ -- 6/25/26

Inglewood wins a legal victory under World Cup spotlight -- The World Cup was supposed to be a moment of unalloyed triumph for the city of Inglewood and the owner of SoFi Stadium, its signature sports venue. But the estranged partners have been embroiled in a long-simmering legal dispute, and now the city has emerged with a victory in court. Daniel Miller Politico -- 6/25/26

Workplace

A $28 minimum wage for California construction workers is dead — killed by construction workers -- A plan to set a $28 minimum wage for certain California homebuilders died when the influential trades union protested that it could undermine prevailing wage pay rates. Ben Christopher Calmatters -- 6/24/26

Alaska Airlines flight attendants fired after LGBTQ-rights posts can go to trial -- Two flight attendants who were fired after protesting Alaska Airlines’ support of a proposed law to protect LGBTQ rights can go to trial on claims their religious freedom was violated. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/25/26

Housing

‘Very poor track record’: How S.F. planning failures keep causing rent spikes -- Rents in San Francisco are increasing at double-digit rates for the second time in a decade. Experts say the city’s own policies are partly to blame. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/25/26

Homeless

‘Not a picture of success’: Report finds San Francisco homelessness department is failing to measure its own performance -- The San Francisco civil grand jury has found the city’s homelessness department has failed to adequately monitor nonprofits that receive $500 million annually. Susie Neilson and Matthew Mitchell in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/25/26

What is the California Legislature doing about homelessness this year? These are the bills to watch -- Bills moving through the Legislature this year address state-funded sober housing, RVs parked on city streets and homelessness prevention. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 6/25/26

Education

Andrés Chait selected to lead LAUSD three days after Carvalho’s resignation -- In a rapid turnaround, the L.A. school board tapped longtime insider Andrés Chait as superintendent. A former kindergarten teacher, principal and regional superintendent, Chait has quietly risen through L.A. Unified’s ranks. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

San José State professor fired over Gaza protest controversy must be reinstated, arbitrator rules -- An arbitrator ruled for reinstatement of Sang Hea Kil, a tenured professor of justice studies at San José State University. The ruling supports a November 2025 decision by the university’s Faculty Hearing Committee, which also concluded that dismissal was not warranted. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ Molly Gibbs in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/25/26

Walters: Academic turf war between California colleges underscores need for new higher education plan -- When the Legislature passed the Master Plan for Higher Education in 1960, it envisioned a seamless, three-level system that would provide high-quality and low-cost instruction benefiting both those seeking careers and society as a whole. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 6/25/26

Street

Family of NFL star Doug Martin sues Oakland, ambulance company over his death -- Oakland attorney John Burris told the Chronicle an independent pathologist concluded Martin likely died from “restrained asphyxia” after officers allegedly pushed his face into the floor and pressed on his back, after which he became unresponsive. Martin later died at a hospital, at age 36. Annie Vainshtein, Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/25/26

Vallejo kept a police badge-bending investigation secret for years. Now, it’s finally out -- For years, Vallejo officials tried to hide the findings of an investigation into a disturbing practice among its officers: bending the tips of their badges after shooting someone. Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/25/26

Drug overdoses in L.A County drop for third straight year -- Los Angeles County is following a national trend of decreases in accidental drug overdose deaths, largely driven by a reduction in fentanyl-related deaths. Public health officials attribute the decline to ongoing investments in prevention and harm reduction resources countywide. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

POTUS 47

Trump refuses to sign landmark housing bill, demanding Congress pass voter ID law -- President Trump canceled his planned signing Wednesday of the landmark housing bill Congress passed this week, in a striking decision to jeopardize a rare bipartisan success in order to demand that lawmakers pass voter ID legislation. Justine McDaniel and Ana Ceballos in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/25/26

Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote -- A federal judge in Boston permanently blocks most of President Trump’s first election order, including a proof-of-citizenship voter registration rule, finding it violates constitutional limits on presidential power. The decision marks a major setback to Trump’s broader push to restrict mail voting and centralize federal control over elections, already facing multiple challenges from states and civil rights groups. Julie Carr Smyth and Michael Casey Associated Press -- 6/25/26

Federal Appeals Panel Rejects Trump’s Effort to Gather Voting Data From States -- The ruling of a three-judge appeals panel in Michigan was the most significant rebuke yet to the Department of Justice’s effort to find ineligible voters in state voter rolls. Nick Corasaniti in the New York Times$ -- 6/25/26

Trump Stuns Republicans With Whirlwind Day of Frustration and Finger-Pointing -- President cancels a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, berates GOP lawmakers and criticizes European allies. Philip Wegmann, Marianne LeVine and Lindsay Wise in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 6/25/26

Trump turns America 250 kickoff into a campaign-style rally on the National Mall -- President Donald Trump formally kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary on Wednesday night by working to get the country excited again — about himself. Collin Binkley, Thomas Beaumont, Josh Boak Associated Press -- 6/25/26

Who’s Paying for Trump’s $1 Billion Construction Spree? Secret Donors and Taxpayers -- Yet a New York Times analysis shows there will be significant taxpayer expense associated with all of Mr. Trump’s building and renovation initiatives. The 18 major construction projects Mr. Trump has undertaken during his second term come with a potential cost of more than $1 billion. Luke Broadwater, Marco Hernandez, Junho Lee, Elena Shao, Jared Soares in the New York Times$ -- 6/25/26

 

California Policy and Politics Wednesday

Magnitude 5.6 Northern California earthquake identified as mainshock in 44-event sequence -- A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Mendocino County in Northern California on Wednesday morning, cracking walls, knocking items from shelves, temporarily closing at least one business, and leaving thousands without power as emergency crews checked for damage and potential injuries. Aidin Vaziri, Chrissa Olson, Julie Johnson, Brooke Park in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/26

Boyle Heights warehouse fire is nearly out, fire officials say -- A weeklong fire at a Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse is finally nearing extinguishment. Firefighters are using drones and powerful water cannons typically reserved for offshore oil fires. Joseph Serna and Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

 

Trump officials greenlight new oil and gas drilling in California. Map shows potential Bay Area spots -- The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it has met court-ordered requirements for expanding oil and gas drilling in California, clearing the way for more pumpjacks in Kern County, the state’s petroleum hub, as well as potentially other spots, including the Bay Area. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/26

Bay Area immigrants fought ICE courthouse arrests. Their win covers every court in America -- A federal judge dealt a far-reaching blow to a Trump administration policy of arresting immigrants at immigration court, ruling Tuesday that the practice has to stop in every kind of courthouse across the nation. Raheem Hosseini in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jazmine Ulloa and Luis Ferré-Sadurní in the New York Times$ Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

Immigration attorney detained and searched at SFO, told by DHS he was on ‘watchlist’ -- An advocate said the Oakland man may be the first immigration attorney to be detained for a non-random secondary screening at an airport since Trump took office. Ko Lyn Cheang, St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/26

Trump says he asked US attorney for California election probe: ‘Do me a favor’ -- President Donald Trump acknowledged having called federal prosecutors in California to probe the state’s primary election results, claiming without evidence on Tuesday that his intervention resulted in Republican Steve Hilton advancing to the runoff in the gubernatorial race. Marisa Guerra Echeverria, Blake Jones and Ben Johansen Politico -- 6/24/26

 

New culprit in California’s sky-high gas prices? Lawsuit blames AI price-fixing -- One reason gas prices aren’t falling in California, according to a newly filed lawsuit, is a series of agreements by major gas dealers to use an AI tool to pump up their prices. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/26

PG&E bills could cost $840 a year more by 2030, California watchdog says. The utility disagrees -- The California Public Utilities Commission estimates that PG&E bills could jump by $444 annually in 2027 and keep rising into 2030. PG&E says the increase won’t be as steep. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/26

L.A. voters will be asked to increase taxes, yet again. Will they do it for firefighters? -- A new sales tax that would generate $345 million annually for the Los Angeles Fire Department will go before voters later this year, the City Council decided Tuesday, as a stubborn warehouse blaze burned for a seventh day on the city’s eastern edge. David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

Walters: Voters in deep blue California are souring on ballot measures that add new taxes -- The state’s tax rates on retail sales and personal and corporate incomes are among the highest of any state. Although tax rates on real estate are relatively moderate, high property values still translate into high bills for their owners. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 6/24/26

 

California poised to sue Trump administration over offshore wind buyouts -- California officials intend to take the Trump administration to court over a buyout between the U.S. Department of the Interior and an energy company that took a floating offshore wind project off the table. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 6/24/26

 

This million-square-foot data center would be the biggest in the state. How local leaders are challenging it -- In April, developers of the massive Imperial Data Center cleared a major hurdle after Imperial County Supervisors approved a plan to combine several tracts of land for the nearly one-million-square-foot facility in rural Southern California. Deborah Brennan Calmatters -- 6/24/26

Democrats want California voters to give them more flexibility over spending -- Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders of the California Legislature plan to approve a proposed constitutional amendment this week that would ask voters to give them more flexibility over state spending and allow them to save money that could otherwise go back to taxpayers. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Tim s$ -- 6/24/26

 

Smoke invades every corner of this L.A. neighborhood: ‘No one is coming’ -- As firefighters continue to battle a stubborn and complex fire at a massive refrigerated warehouse in Boyle Heights, residents and businesses owners have expressed frustration and health concerns as neighorhoods have been engulfed by smoke. Ruben Vives in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

In echoes of Palisades fire, Boyle Heights fire may cost Mayor Bass politically -- When the Boyle Heights fire broke out, Mayor Karen Bass was on her way to the dedication of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Her quick return has not stopped some from drawing parallels to last year’s Palisades fire. Bass was in Ghana when the deadly inferno erupted. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

Oil

Los Angeles tries again to phase out urban oil production -- The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously advanced an ordinance to halt new oil and gas drilling and phase out all existing production over the next 20 years. L.A. is home to more than 2,000 active oil wells. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

Education

Nation’s second-largest school district passes strict new screen time rules for students -- Los Angeles public schools will ban screens for its youngest learners and limit device usage for other students, marking one of the most aggressive attempts to restrict the amount of time children spend on devices at school. Lauren Lumpkin in the Washington Post$ Mallika Seshadri EdSource Kate Sequeira in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

New learning goals, layoffs and no Carvalho. L.A. school board charts a new course -- Two days after the resignation of Supt. Alberto Carvalho, the Los Angeles school board unanimously approved a $20.6 billion budget that includes more than 1,000 layoffs and a four-year strategic plan with precise goals for student achievement. The item is in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

Decision time has come for Newsom’s proposal to shift control of the California Department of Education -- In most states, governors or state boards of education appoint an experienced manager to run education operations. California is one of a dozen states that elect a state superintendent to run the education department. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 6/24/26

Bay Area school district sued by Christian parents over LGBTQ+ instruction -- Plaintiffs in suit against Sunnyvale School District say the district failed to allow them to opt-out their children. Molly Gibbs in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 6/24/26

Street

Father of Northern California library shooting suspect saw ‘zero’ warning signs -- Bradley Scott Sayer’s father said the 18-year-old had just graduated from high school with honors before police say he killed two adults at a Chico library. Aidin Vaziri, Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 6/24/26

Trump renews push to shift homelessness funding. What’s at stake -- The Trump administration wants to shift more money to homeless shelters that require sobriety, a change that would disrupt California’s “housing-first” policies. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 6/24/26

Also

Kids sit in windows as Waymo travels through Westside. Witness alerts company; car doesn’t stop -- A Santa Monica resident said three boys were taking selfies and sitting on the open window ledges of a white Waymo as it traveled from Santa Monica into West L.A. on Friday. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 6/24/26

Uber passed an insurance law in California. It did not disclose key info, a lawmaker says -- Law reduces Uber’s insurance liability, but consumer advocacy group — and one lawmaker — say the company failed to disclose it largely insures itself. Levi Sumagaysay Calmatters -- 6/24/26

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Trump cancels signing of major housing bill -- President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a bill signing for major bipartisan legislation on housing affordability on Wednesday, saying he wouldn’t back the law until Congress passes his elections bill. Cheyanne M. Daniels Politico Philip Wegmann in the Wall Street Journal$ Michael Gold, Tony Romm and Tyler Pager in the New York Times$ Natalie Allison in the Washington Post$ -- 6/24/26

Senate votes to halt Iran war despite Trump’s push for peace deal -- Both the Senate and House have approved anti-war measures, dealing a stinging political blow to Trump. Connor O'Brien Politico Robert Jimison in the New York Times$ Theodoric Meyer and Noah Robertson in the Washington Post$ Lisa Mascaro Associated Press -- 6/24/26

Trump Is Making Big Claims About the Iran Talks. Iran Keeps Contradicting Him -- President Trump appears to be describing his preferences as fully negotiated deals, in hopes of locking the Iranians in. The question is whether a succession of such disputes will sink the whole venture. David E. Sanger and Yeganeh Torbati in the New York Times$ -- 6/24/26

‘No one wants to talk about Iran’: White House hopes to pivot back to economy -- Inside the White House, the plan is to move on from the war in Iran and focus on the domestic issues that polls show matter most to voters. It’s proving hard to do. Alex Gangitano, Dasha Burns, Megan Messerly and Scott Waldman Politico -- 6/24/26

Trump Blames Vandals for Reflecting Pool Problems. Internal Records Tell Another Story -- The documents do not indicate that the peeling blue coating and algae blooms were caused intentionally. Maxine Joselow and David A. Fahrenthold in the New York Times$ -- 6/24/26

Trump’s Pick for Top I.R.S. Lawyer Works at Firm That Represents Him -- James R. Gadwood, the president’s nominee for chief counsel at the Internal Revenue Service, works at Miller & Chevalier, which has represented Mr. Trump in tax matters. Andrew Duehren in the New York Times$ -- 6/24/26