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Policy and Politics  

‘I never had to think about my personal safety.’ California election officials brace for mid-terms -- So now if he’s asked, O’Neill just says he works in county government and tries to change the subject. He knows what happens when he tells people he’s an election official. Stephen Hobbs in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/21/22

Will women rule in the 2022 California election? -- A gift or a curse? For Angelique Ashby, running as a “women’s advocate” in a heated state Senate race in Sacramento might be a little of both. Sameea Kamal and Ariel Gans CalMatters -- 9/21/22

When California industry takes its beef to the ballot -- Powerful interests have always had the power to go directly to voters when they don’t get their way in Sacramento. But as Democratic control over the Legislature has become even more dominant in recent years, aggrieved businesses have adopted a new fondness for the strategy. Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 9/21/22

Record spending over California’s legal gambling initiative -- The campaign that could bring legalized sports betting to California is the most expensive ballot-initiative fight in U.S. history at about $400 million and counting, pitting wealthy Native American tribes against online gambling companies and less-affluent tribes over what’s expected to be a multibillion-dollar marketplace. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 9/21/22

Will California decide control of Congress? These are 10 races to watch -- Democrats are on defense as Republicans try to wrest control of the House in the Nov. 8 midterm elections. California, despite its deep-blue tilt, offers chances for both parties to flip seats. Seema Mehta, Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Bretón: Gavin Newsom blasted Ron DeSantis’ immigration stunt. But he has his own Latino problem -- Standing next to a specimen as revolting as DeSantis, Newsom looks pretty as a picture, and he knows it. In fact, picking a fight with DeSantis is classic Newsom. Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/21/22

Former Assembly Speaker John Pérez eyes top state stem cell job -- Two persons with deep ties to the University of California (UC) have been nominated for the position of chair of the governing board of the $12 billion California stem cell agency. David Jensen Capitol Weekly -- 9/21/22

Wildfire  

Mosquito Fire: Nearly all evacuation orders lifted as rain graces California foothills -- Continued rain in the Northern California foothills has helped largely quench the Mosquito Fire, with officials reporting more containment progress Tuesday as nearly all of the more than 11,000 residents displaced earlier this month by the wildfire have £been allowed to return home. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/21/22

Water  

Hiltzik: California’s water usage was built on a historic lie. The cost is now apparent -- It’s human nature to mark big-number anniversaries, but there’s a centennial looming just ahead that Californians — and other Westerners — might not want to celebrate. It’s the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact, a seven-state agreement that was signed Nov. 24, 1922. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

CalPERS  

CalPERS underperformed for a decade, investment chief says in pitch for more risk -- CalPERS, the country’s largest public pension system, earned an average of 7.7% per year on its investments over the last 10 years. That’s 1.2% less than a hypothetical peer should have expected to earn in the same time period, according to information Musicco shared at Monday’s board meeting. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/21/22

Workplace   

Meta and Google Are Cutting Staff. Just Don’t Mention Layoffs -- In response to stalling growth and intense competition, Meta Platforms Inc. executives have spoken of cost cuts, hiring freezes and “ruthless prioritization.” One word the company hasn’t used: layoffs. Jeff Horwitz, Salvador Rodriguez and Miles Kruppa in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/21/22

Walmart Slows Holiday Hiring With Plan to Add 40,000 Seasonal Workers -- At Walmart Inc., holiday hiring is cooling along with demand for patio furniture and apparel. Sarah Nassauer in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/21/22

California to see increased demand for tech, US headwinds, forecast says -- California saw solid gains in leisure and hospitality, health care, social services, technology and construction in 2021, and the state’s economy will be further strengthened by increased defense spending and ongoing demand for technology, a new report says. Kevin Smith in the Orange County Register -- 9/21/22

On summer’s hottest days, Amazon workers brought their own thermometers -- As California prepared for what would be a record-setting heat wave this month, so too did workers at an Amazon air freight hub in San Bernardino. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Housing 

• Fed escalates its inflation fight with another big rate hike -- Intensifying its fight against chronically high inflation, the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate Wednesday by a substantial three-quarters of a point for a third straight time, an aggressive pace that is heightening the risk of an eventual recession. Christopher Rugaber Associated Press -- 9/21/22

Southern California’s housing collapse: Sales plunge after 47% payment jump -- From June through August, 54,416 residences sold in the six-county region. That's slower than the bubble-bursting days around the Great Recession. Jonathan Lansner in the Orange County Register -- 9/21/22

With mortgage rates above 6%, here’s what the Fed’s latest hike could mean -- It’s bad enough that home prices in Southern California remain high despite cooling demand, averaging almost seven times the state’s median income for a family of four. Jon Healey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Homeless

Rising homelessness is tearing California cities apart -- As the pandemic recedes, elected officials across deep-blue California are reacting to intense public pressure to erase the most visible signs of homelessness. Lara Korte and Jeremy B. White Politico -- 9/21/22

Street  

7th teenager overdoses from fentanyl-laced pills that killed Hollywood high school student -- At least seven teenagers, including the 15-year-old Bernstein High School girl who died last week, have overdosed in the past month from pills containing fentanyl, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Summer Lin, Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Newly released interrogation video shows moment Sherri Papini knew she'd been caught -- Astonishing, and at times infuriating, video of Sherri Papini’s interrogation by California detectives was released Tuesday, showing the moment she learned her kidnapping hoax had been found out. Katie Dowd in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/21/22

Garcia: Jail and prison will never be places a person with mental illness finds healing -- Twenty-five years ago, while serving time in a California prison for a parole violation, I was talking to a forensic psychologist when I began to feel a sense of hope. Luis Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Renewables  

California is awash in renewable energy — except when it’s most needed -- As California suffered through an epic heat wave this month, state officials pleaded with residents to conserve electricity. Almost simultaneously, power grid operators were rejecting thousands of megawatts of solar and wind energy that could have provided a cushion to get through the crisis. Erica Werner in the Washington Post$ -- 9/21/22

Tariffs  

L.A. clothing importer admits to skirting $6.4 million in customs tariffs -- Ghacham Inc. and a company executive, Mohamed Daoud Ghacham, 38, will both plead guilty to conspiracy to pass false and fraudulent papers through customs, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Guns  

One-year gun ban for VTA bus driver who allegedly threatened ‘some shooting’ -- A former Valley Transportation Authority bus driver who allegedly made shooting threats over an employee vaccine mandate will likely be barred from owning a weapon for another year. Gabriel Greschler in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/21/22

COVID  

California is easing COVID-19 mask recommendations as conditions improve -- The state is largely rescinding its strong recommendation that everyone — regardless of vaccination status — mask up when in indoor public settings and businesses. That broad guidance had been in place since mid-February. Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Breathe  

California seeks to ban sales of diesel big rigs in a bold bid to cut pollution -- Saying they had a “moral obligation,” California regulators could soon ban the sale of diesel big rigs by 2040, ending a long reliance on the polluting vehicles that are the backbone of the American economy. Rachel Uranga, Christian Martinez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Smoke From Mosquito Fire Shrouds Lake Tahoe Despite California’s Mild Fire Season -- September is now ‘smoke season,’ locals say, depressing the tourism industry and raising health concerns. Jim Carlton in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 9/21/22

Also  

Arellano: For some in Southern California, the term ‘Okie’ is still not OK -- They flooded into California fleeing poverty in their homeland. The public denigrated them as dirty and crime-prone — a threat to the good life. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

California Policy and Politics Wednesday  

L.A. sheriff stripped of control of Kuehl investigation by attorney general -- California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on Tuesday took control from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of a controversial criminal investigation into county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and others, saying that sidelining the department was in the “public interest.” Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

In nonpartisan race for California superintendent of public instruction, it’s all politics -- The superintendent of public instruction is the only nonpartisan statewide office in California, but it seems impossible to separate politics from the race between Democratic incumbent Tony Thurmond and Republican challenger Lance Christensen. Neither shy away from stepping into the partisan fray. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Policy and Politics  

Feds want drunk-driving detectors on all new cars after California crash that killed 9 -- A fatal crash in Fresno County spurs a federal safety panel to push for new cars to have devices that would stop impaired drivers from operating the vehicles. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ Tom Krisher Associated Press -- 9/20/22

Prop. 27 — which would legalize online sports betting — is scaling back TV ads -- Proposition 27 — which has spent $169 million largely on omnipresent TV advertising to legalize online sports gaming in California — is vastly scaling back its television ad buys, The Chronicle has learned, a move that typically is an ominous sign for a campaign. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

California bans seabed mining even though minerals could aid electric cars and clean energy -- Though still in early stages worldwide, seabed mining has the potential to become a global industry to supply metals such as manganese, copper, nickel, zinc and cobalt used in cell phones, semiconductor devices, electric cars and green-energy production. Tara Duggan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

49ers, real estate pour money into Santa Clara elections -- With less than two months until Election Day, the San Francisco 49ers have already spent a stunning $1.2 million on Santa Clara City Council races, while real estate interests are stepping up to defend one of the team’s largest critics — Mayor Lisa Gillmor — in her re-election bid. Grace Hase, Vandana Ravikumar in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/21/22

Workplace   

Tech workers at Compass laid off due to housing market slowdown -- About 3,000 of the company’s 21,636 employees are based in the Bay Area, according to LinkedIn. It’s unclear how many employees will be affected by this round of layoffs, and Compass declined SFGATE’s request for comment. Sam Moore in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

Gap slashes 500 corporate jobs in SF, NY in effort to cut costs -- The job cuts, confirmed by a company spokesperson, follow years of struggle at the San Francisco-based retailer, which operates its namesake stores as well as the Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta chains. Anne D'Innocenzio Associated Press -- 9/21/22

Develop   

Oakland is securing over $320 million in public funds for A’s waterfront ballpark upgrades. Is it enough? -- Oakland leaders painted a stark picture Tuesday of negotiations between the city and the A’s on a $12 billion waterfront ballpark project and surrounding development, saying that the two sides still need to hammer out how to pay for millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades, and agree on affordable housing and a non-relocation agreement. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

Wildfire  

Newsom signs state of emergency to support California communities recovering from wildfires -- Madera, Modoc and Siskiyou counties each saw fires burn through structures and homes during California’s record-breaking heat wave at the start of September. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Did the recent rain reduce wildfire risk in the SF Bay Area? -- The short answer, according to the experts SFGATE contacted, is that the rain will definitely stall the start of peak wildfire season — and how long that delay lasts is dependent on what happens next. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/21/22

COVID  

Who’s dying from COVID now? The demographics are changing -- As California settles into a third year of pandemic, COVID-19 continues to pose a serious threat of death. But the number of people dying — and the demographics of those falling victim — has shifted notably from the first two years. Philipp Reese in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

Street  

‘State of emergency’: Oakland leaders ring the alarm after three homicides in one hour -- Hatim Nasser stood outside the Islamic Center in Oakland on Tuesday morning, cell phone buzzing as he made burial arrangements for a friend shot dead the night before — one of three slayings within an hour. It was the latest spasm of violence in a city confounded by frequent shootings; yet even as political leaders raised the alarm, gunfire killed another person in the heart of downtown. Rachel Swan, Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

‘Everybody was devastated’: Four people killed, five others wounded in string of violence across Oakland -- A torrent of violence during an 18-hour stretch Monday evening and Tuesday left four people dead and five other people wounded by gunfire across Oakland, including three men who had just finished praying at a local mosque and a teen girl who was left gravely injured. Jakob Rodgers, Harry Harris in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 9/21/22

Kobe Bryant crash photos: L.A. County to pay additional $4.95 million to Chester family -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to pay an additional $4.95 million to Chris Chester over graphic photos that sheriff’s deputies and firefighters took of the helicopter crash that killed his wife and daughter along with Kobe Bryant and six others in 2020. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

SFPD can access live feeds from private security cameras under newly approved policy -- The legislation authorizes a new 15-month surveillance policy for the San Francisco Police Department that spells out the conditions in which officers can view real-time security camera video — without first obtaining a warrant — if businesses or homeowners grant permission. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

Lawsuit filed over inmate who died after cover-up at troubled California prison -- Six years after guards tried to cover up the events that led to the death of a 65-year-old inmate at California State Prison, Sacramento, the inmate’s family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against two guards and the prison warden. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/21/22

Santa Monica mayor says it’s time to end L.A. County needle exchange program at park -- In an open letter sent to county officials last week, Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich called for the program to be relocated from public spaces in the city and preferably to an indoor site. Melissa Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Education  

L.A. Unified cyberattackers demand ransom -- The hackers who targeted the Los Angeles Unified School District have made a ransom demand, officials confirmed Tuesday, an indication that the attackers have extracted sensitive data or believe they can bluff the district into thinking that they have. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

S.F. schools welcome 1,000 more students than expected this year: ‘An optimistic sign’ -- San Francisco schools saw about 1,000 more students than expected this fall, a slowing of a financially devastating decline in enrollment and bolstering hopes that fewer families will flee the district in the wake of the pandemic. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

Family of cinematographer killed during filming sues USC, students -- The family of Peng Wang, a Chapman University student cinematographer, is accusing USC and two students of negligence. Anousha Sakoui in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22

Active tuberculosis confirmed in Elk Grove High School student, health office says -- County health officials will test students and staff who shared a classroom with the student who contracted the bacterial infection. That student is currently in isolation at home. Michael McGough in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 9/21/22

Settlement requires state to monitor Contra Costa school that restrained students -- Elyse K., a parent of twins in Contra Costa County, knew something was amiss at her children’s new school when her daughter, then age 8, refused to get out of the car during morning drop-off. Carolyn Jones EdSource -- 9/21/22

Also . . .   

Dreamforce 2022: Tech megaconference brings massive crowds, 30-foot waterfall, puppy play area to S.F. -- A flood of Dreamforce attendees saturated the streets around Moscone Center on Tuesday, bringing 2019-like crowds to downtown San Francisco in the city’s biggest conference in three years. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

This map reveals who owns every property in the S.F. Bay Area -- To our knowledge, there has never been a centralized database where someone could see who owns any property in the nine-county Bay Area region, making it difficult to investigate connections between the powerful forces that shape the housing market for all. So The Chronicle built one. Emma Stiefel and Susie Neilson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 9/21/22

L.A. County remains dry, most of Southern California avoids Northern California storm system -- Northern California received a deluge of rain over the weekend, the Central Coast saw record-breaking rainfall Monday and other parts of the state saw a trickle. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 9/21/22