Updating . .
Waymo gets green light for robot cars in California — no humans needed -- Waymo is the first company in California allowed to test robot cars on public roads with no human driver behind the steering wheel, it said Tuesday. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has given Waymo a permit for up to 40 fully autonomous cars to drive both day and night on city streets, rural highways and highways with posted speeds up to 65 mph. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
L.A. immigration activist files suit claiming DACA application was rejected as 'political retaliation' -- A Los Angeles immigration activist whose arrest last year sparked protests and allegations of misconduct against federal law enforcement officials is now suing the Department of Homeland Security, claiming her application for protection from deportation as a “Dreamer” was unfairly rejected on the basis of her activism. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
In key California House races, Republicans are turning out early and big -- With the midterm elections just days away, there’s little indication that California is seeing a “blue wave” of Democratic votes, at least in the early returns of vote-by-mail ballots — and in some key races that will help determine control of the House, Republican voter response has been strong. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
These Orange County supermoms weren't very politically active. Now they're a major force fighting Trump in the midterm election -- Before 2016, the closest Katie Kalvoda got to political activism was paying $18 for a Barack Obama T-shirt. Victoria Kim in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
'Global warming is nonsense' and the 'tax scam is a massive middle finger' to families: -- House candidates on the issues in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
John Cox blames Dems for a bleak California. Gavin Newsom sees a sunny side -- California’s two candidates for governor had agreed to speak in the same room for probably the last time Tuesday at a breakfast hosted by former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. It wouldn’t be a debate — there has only been one of those — but at least they would be speaking one after the other. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
In a battleground Central Valley House district, it’s women who are leading the troops -- If Democrats defeat four-term Central Valley GOP Rep. Jeff Denham in one of the nation’s most competitive congressional races next week and retake the House, it will be because of women who took Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, at her word when she urged opponents of President Trump: “Don’t agonize, organize.” Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
Abcarian: In deepest red Orange County, a blue flame of hope flickers in Newport Beach -- There is nothing quite like the last days of a close campaign, when hope, anxiety and fatigue collide. Even personal hygiene can take a hit. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
California hasn't mattered in national politics for a long time. Here's why this Nov. 6 is different -- But it’s been two decades since California was a presidential battleground, and longer still since the state played a meaningful role choosing a major party presidential nominee. Successive congressional wave elections have come and passed, cresting without ever breaching the Sierra Nevada. This year is different. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
Two years after it started, San Diego declares end to deadly hepatitis A outbreak -- Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county’s public health officer, said Monday that enough time has now passed to formally declare a curtain call for the contagion that killed 20, sickened nearly 600 and spurred a complete rethink of how the region handles homelessness. Paul Sisson in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
Hiltzik: Anti-vaccine stupidity returns, as measles cases rise and California parents evade the law -- California struck a blow for intelligent public health policy in 2015, when the state abolished all “personal belief exemptions” from child vaccine mandates. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
‘Denying our very humanity:’ Trump proposal wounds Bay Area transgender community -- Donna Personna had come to expect what she described as the routine indignities of the Trump administration’s policy moves against her transgender community. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
‘Obvious stunt’ or taking on ‘absurd policy:’ Internet explodes on Trump comment -- Reactions were both widespread and visceral Tuesday morning, after Axios published an interview with President Donald Trump in which he said he would use an executive order to end birthright citizenship, despite the 14th Amendment protections in the U.S. Constitution. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/30/18
On Instagram, 11,696 Examples of How Hate Thrives on Social Media -- On Monday, a search on Instagram, the photo-sharing site owned by Facebook, produced a torrent of anti-Semitic images and videos uploaded in the wake of Saturday’s shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Sheera Frenkel, Mike Isaac and Kate Conger in the New York Times -- 10/30/18
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Bombing suspect targeted more people in Los Angeles, sources say -- The Florida man accused of sending bombs to top Democrats, Trump administration critics and the media across the United States kept lists and other information that suggest he had more than 100 potential targets for his campaign of terror, including at least 15 in the Los Angeles region. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
Harris and Newsom to barnstorm Southern California in final House push -- California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom and Sen. Kamala Harris — two of the nation’s most outspoken Democratic critics of President Donald Trump — will barnstorm together this weekend in a final push to energize voters in key House races that could determine control of Congress. Carla Marinucci Politico -- 10/30/18
Ad misleads on Democratic candidate’s venture capitalist past -- A Republican campaign committee is running a TV advertisement that implies California House Democratic candidate Josh Harder took part in business decisions as a venture capitalist that raised health care premiums and exposed consumers’ personal information. Kate Irby in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/30/18
Record spending as huge money flows into industry fights on the California ballot -- It wouldn’t be election season without a bunch of big-money interests trying to tell you how to vote. This year, with hundreds of millions of dollars rolling into initiative campaigns over housing and health care, California has hit a new record. Laurel Rosenhall Calmatters -- 10/30/18
Gas-tax repeal advocates seek recall of California AG -- A conservative San Diego radio host who is a driving force behind an initiative to repeal recent gas tax increases said Monday he’ll seek to recall California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra if the measure fails. The effort by Carl DeMaio would ensure the gas tax remains a political fight long after the voters decide Proposition 6 next week. Jonathan J. Cooper Associated Press Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- Dan Brekke KQED -- 10/30/18
The California Dream takes center stage in governor’s race -- Behind the pledges from Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox to restore the California Dream, is an acknowledgement that the state’s long-treasured promise of homeownership and economic mobility is in danger. “The reality is the American Dream and increasingly the California Dream is a lie for too many people,” Newsom said. Amita Sharma KPBS via Calmatters -- 10/30/18
Election: Orange County statehouse races could decide Democratic supermajority -- The contests for Orange County’s state legislative seats could determine whether Democrats reclaim a supermajority in Sacramento, and massive spending in the region’s pivotal congressional races could put some GOP-held state seats into play. Jordan Graham in the Orange County Register -- 10/30/18
Skelton: Keep an eye on California's down-ballot races — they could shape the state's politics and policy for years to come -- It’s a strange election for state offices. The race for governor is a boring jog. The most intriguing contests are for relatively obscure posts. State insurance commissioner, state superintendent of public instruction and lieutenant governor — those races are much more interesting than the pillow fight for governor. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
This Sacramento synagogue, firebombed 19 years ago, offers vision of hope after Pittsburgh massacre -- Starting with the hymn Hinei Ma Tov, about 500 people of all ages and faiths gathered at the Congregation B’nai Israel in Land Park Monday night to honor the 11 victims of the deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/30/18
As Bay Area Jewish groups mourn Pittsburgh shooting victims, safe spaces and security come to mind -- Worshipers filing into Bay Area synagogues are being met this week by security guards and metal detectors in the wake of the horrific attack by a gunman in Pittsburgh on a Jewish congregation that left 11 people dead. Gwendolyn Wu in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
Ex-Supreme Court Justice Kennedy laments ‘low point in our civic dialogue’ -- Bitterly divided Americans have reached “a low point in our civic dialogue,” retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said in a talk at Stanford University, his alma mater. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
More California cops and firefighters are paying for their pensions -- From Arcata on the North Coast to Hemet in the Inland Empire, California cops and firefighters are chipping in more money to pay for their pensions while the cities that employ them struggle to manage fast-rising retirement costs. Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/30/18
Warriors must pay $40M in arena debt to Oakland, Alameda County, judge rules -- The Golden State Warriors must pay off the estimated $40 million in remaining debt incurred by Oakland and Alameda County for renovations to Oracle Arena, an arbitrator has ruled. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/30/18
Bankruptcy fallout: 1,211 jobs gone at Sears, Kmart in California, including 93 in Riverside -- Here’s one of the first tangible measurements of the bankruptcy impact of the once-proud Sears retail empire: 1,211 jobs in California gone. Jonathan Lansner in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 10/30/18
Homeless
Cities in north Orange County step up with housing for homeless, with Santa Ana leading the way -- Following the high-profile removal of an illegal tent city near Angel Stadium, representatives of 13 cities in north Orange County on Monday say they are stepping up to offer a regional solution to temporary housing for the homeless — with Santa Ana leading the way. Anh Do in the Los Angeles Times Theresa Walker in the Orange County Register -- 10/30/18
Education
LAUSD to pay $5 million after girl was sexually abused in middle school -- On the eve of a civil court trial, the Los Angeles Unified School District has agreed to pay $5 million to a young woman who was sexually abused as a teen by a middle school teacher. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
Conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos plans to return to UC Irvine in 2019 -- After ironing out discrepancies with event coordinators, the UC Irvine College Republicans plan to welcome back right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos as a speaker next year. Charity Lindsey in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
California school districts make new investments in teacher evaluation -- Teachers in some districts serve as “peer facilitators” who have stepped away from the classroom and now work full time evaluating and mentoring other teachers in their districts. Diana Lambert EdSource -- 10/30/18
Environment
California Creates Plan to Curb Ocean Acidification -- California officials have created a plan to stop climate change from killing sea creatures and protect the state's $45 billion ocean-based economy. Deborah Halberstadt with the California Ocean Protection Council said the ocean is getting more acidic as it absorbs increased amounts of carbon dioxide, which can threaten species key to the fishing industry. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 10/30/18
Also . . .
California officers lauded for actions during fire, shootout -- Four California Highway Patrol officers who flew through hurricane-force winds to rescue dozens of residents trapped by a wildfire north of Napa last year were awarded the state’s highest law enforcement honor Monday. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 10/30/18
Smith: Sacramento’s Scott Jones is a case study of why California should appoint — not elect — sheriffs -- For all of the police reform bills that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law in recent years, one particular constituency of California law enforcement has managed to slide under the regulatory radar. Sheriffs. Specifically, elected sheriffs whose powers are spelled out in the state’s Constitution. Erika D. Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/30/18
BART responds to man on train who pulled out two chainsaws -- The transit agency made the comments in a series of tweets to a woman who posted a video showing a man with two chainsaws on a moving BART train on Monday afternoon. At one point, as he appears to try to start the first of the two devices, he can be heard saying — apparently to himself — something that includes: “cut your frickin’ head off.” Suzanne Espinosa Solis in the San Francisco Chronicle Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/30/18
Alhambra couple says they're the mystery lovebirds in viral Yosemite proposal photo -- Charlie Vo was scrolling through his Instagram feed when he came across a photo showing a sun-kissed silhouette of a familiar man on bended knee proposing to a woman on a rock outcropping perched precariously over the valley in Yosemite National Park. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
‘Is our life just worth one photo?’ Couple who fell from Yosemite cliff had travel blog -- Two people who fell to their deaths in Yosemite National Park last week were identified as citizens of India living in the United States. Yosemite officials identified them as Vishnu Viswanath, a 29-year-old man, and Meenakshi Moorthy, a 30-year-old woman. Carmen George in the Fresno Bee -- 10/30/18
POTUS 45
Trump to terminate birthright citizenship -- President Trump plans to sign an executive order that would remove the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born on U.S. soil, he said yesterday in an exclusive interview for "Axios on HBO," a new four-part documentary news series debuting on HBO this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT. Jonathan Swan, Stef W. Kight Axios -- 10/30/18
White House scrambles to portray Trump as empathetic amid backlash to president's response to violence -- Amid intense criticism and signs of sagging poll numbers, White House officials hurried to cast President Trump as empathetic Monday, scheduling an immediate visit to the site of the deadly synagogue attack in Pittsburgh and holding a press briefing — an increasingly rare event — designed to rebuff widespread disapproval of the president’s response. Eli Stokols and Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
Pharrell Williams tells president to cease and desist after 'Happy' plays at Trump rally on day of synagogue shooting -- An attorney for pop star Pharrell Williams on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to President Trump for playing Williams’ song “Happy” at a political rally on the same day as a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Hailey Branson-Potts in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/30/18
Beltway
Why Republicans actually like Maxine Waters -- President Donald Trump has mocked Maxine Waters as a “low IQ person,” and she has called for the president’s impeachment. But Republicans who work with the California Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee see something different: a rare deal-maker in a polarized Congress. Zachary Warmbrodt Politico -- 10/30/18
-- Monday Updates
Private-equity money backs an effort to overturn California law intended to help the poor -- A company backed by private equity is financing a campaign to repeal California’s landmark criminal justice reform intended to help the poor. The new law would abolish the state’s bail-bond companies, and in response, a handful in the industry have raised more than $2.5 millfion to repeal the measure. Peter Whoriskey in the Washington Post -- 10/29/18
Inglewood election pits mayor against clergyman — and NBA franchise against entertainment firm -- Inglewood city elections were once the stuff of lawn signs and candidate forums. But as a wave of development transforms Inglewood into a destination for pro sports and entertainment, November’s mayoral race has become a contentious fight not just between political rivals but also between some bold-face names with sway far outside the city limits. Angel Jennings in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/29/18
Fox: A Major Reason to Protect the Initiative Process -- At the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) annual conference last Friday a member of the audience, after listening to a discussion of the initiatives on the ballot and the initiative process in general, asked the panel why we even have the initiative process. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 10/29/18
Shrugging off blame, Trump reverts to divisive rhetoric after shooting -- President Trump, rather than taking on the traditional task of unifying the nation after a deadly shooting rampage, reverted to his usual rhetoric Monday morning, attacking the media as “the true Enemy of the People” and stirring up fear of immigrants. Eli Stokols and Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/29/18
Give them a place to park or force them out? City’s RV residents under spotlight -- Officials in San Francisco City Hall are weighing solutions to a new phase of the homeless crisis, illustrated by scruffy RVs that spread from the Mission to the Bayview — some clearly empty, others with laundry bags dangling from their door handles and children’s bicycles affixed to their roofs. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/29/18
This Northern California mountain lion is a serial killer — of horses -- Local ranchers who believe this part of rural Modoc County has too many wild horses for the local ecology must, grudgingly, tip their hats to the mountain lion. They wish more of the area’s cougars had a gift for mowing down horses. It might alleviate the messier issues that come whenever humans have to get involved. Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/29/18
Bernie Sanders backs CA rent-control measure, candidate Jovanka Beckles -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders followed his stop in the Bay Area over the weekend with endorsements Monday of a state ballot measure that would lift restrictions on residential rent control and a progressive Assembly candidate running against a fellow Democrat for an open East Bay seat. Melody Gutierrez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/29/18
Devin Nunes attacks opponent Andrew Janz over student loan debt -- Rep. Devin Nunes is opening up an unusual new line of attack on his well-funded Democratic challenger: his student debt. Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/29/18