 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Updating . . .
The long road ahead to fix the fire-damaged 10 Freeway -- The downtown Los Angeles freeway is back open, but California leaders have said little about the precise damage, how it will be fixed and what it will cost. Nathan Solis, Thomas Curwen, Ashley Ahn in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
Heckling to be heard: Why Bay Area protesters have increasingly become government disruptors -- Mention government shutdowns and most people think about standoffs in Congress. But in the Bay Area, which has long been synonymous with protest, a different kind of government shutdown has become increasingly common — from the streets to school board meetings, protesters are becoming civic disruptors. Katie Lauer in the East Bay Times$ -- 11/22/23
Woodland school board member who called ‘transgenderism’ a ‘social contagion’ faces recall -- A group of parents in the Woodland Joint Unified High School District say they have collected enough signatures for a measure on the March 5 ballot to recall school board trustee Emily MacDonald for “prejudicial” comments she made about “transgenderism” at a meeting last summer. Jenavieve Hatch in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/22/23
As Democrats push to ban caste discrimination, some Indian Americans object -- Shortly after Democratic lawmakers in California this fall passed the first state ban on discrimination by caste, a prominent Indian American party fundraiser says, he confronted Gov. Gavin Newsom with a stark warning. Kimberly Kindy in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/23
Workplace
L.A. County doctors and dentists give green light for possible strike -- The Union of American Physicians and Dentists, with over 1,100 employees at Los Angeles County-run hospitals and clinics, votes to back a possible strike. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
AI
Altman’s polarizing past hints at OpenAI board’s reason for firing him -- Before OpenAI, Altman was asked to leave by his mentor at the prominent start-up incubator Y Combinator, part of a pattern of clashes that some attribute to his self-serving approach. Elizabeth Dwoskin, Nitasha Tiku in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/23
What Happened in the World of Artificial Intelligence? -- Sam Altman’s abrupt ouster from OpenAI highlighted deep divisions in the A.I. world and culminated in his surprise return to the start-up he founded. John Koblin, Kevin Granville, Jason Karaian in the New York Times$ -- 11/22/23
X
Democrats accuse X of profiting off misinformation in Israel-Gaza war -- In a letter sent Tuesday to X owner Elon Musk, the lawmakers accused the social media platform of failing to follow its own policies to curb ‘misinformation’ and 'terroristic propaganda videos’ Azi Paybarah in the Washington Post$ -- 11/22/23
Housing
S.F. supes don’t think latest housing hiccup will trigger a ‘builder’s remedy’ for Ocean Beach tower -- There’s a concern that the decertification of San Francisco’s housing element could open the city to a wave of builder’s remedy projects that won’t require city approval. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
Transit
BART and Muni are crowded again. Is Bay Area transit ridership finally back? -- While some transit lines are experiencing 2019 ridership levels, that’s only a portion of the reason for the Bay Area’s suddenly packed transit. Ricardo Cano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
Also
COVID, RSV and flu on the rise in Bay Area heading into holidays, health officials warn -- Winter virus season is just getting underway as millions of travelers prepare to pack into jetliners and squeeze into SUVs for that Thanksgiving trip to Grandma’s, and Bay Area health officials are urging people to take precautions as they see RSV, influenza and COVID-19 cases rise. John Woolfolk, Harriet Blair Rowan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/22/23
Mystery dog disease reaches L.A.; county reports 10 cases of canine respiratory illness -- Los Angeles County public health officials are investigating a mysterious respiratory illness affecting a rising number of dogs. Its origin, transmission and treatment are unknown. Jeremy Childs in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
S.F.’s new IKEA has enlivened former downtown ‘dead spot’ — but it hasn’t solved everything -- IKEA has attracted enthusiastic downtown San Francisco shoppers since opening in August, although hopes that it would magically revitalize the blighted blocks around it may have been overblown. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
California Policy and Politics Wednesday
California Assembly: Who’s in and who’s out for the most powerful posts -- California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas names new committee chairs including Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Jesse Gabriel. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
Univision chief exec responds to Trump-interview backlash: ‘Not a tool of any party’ -- TelevisaUnivision Chief Executive Wade Davis responds to the backlash Univision received after a controversial Nov. 9 interview with former President Trump. Carlos De Loera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
For California leaders, calls for ceasefire in Gaza war grow more difficult to ignore -- As more Palestinian civilians are killed in the war, officials are facing tough questions about how well they’re representing California’s Palestinian community. The state now says it hopes to send aid to Gaza this week, and Gov. Newsom plans to meet soon with Arab and Muslim leaders. Sameea Kamal CalMatters -- 11/22/23
Workplace
Medieval Times Buena Park employees end strike and will return to work Wednesday -- Show performers and stable hands at the Medieval Times Buena Park castle had been on strike for nine months after they said wage negotiations stalled. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
UTA drops actor Susan Sarandon after pro-Palestinian rally comments amid Israel-Hamas war -- As tensions continue to mount in Hollywood over the Israel-Hamas war, United Talent Agency has dropped actor Susan Sarandon as a client after comments she made about the conflict. Wendy Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
AI
OpenAI Says Sam Altman to Return as CEO -- OpenAI said Sam Altman will return as CEO and the company will have a new initial board including Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D’Angelo. Deepa Seetharaman in the Wall Street Journal$ Pranshu Verma, Nitasha Tiku, Gerrit De Vynck in the Washington Post$ Cade Metz, Mike Isaac, Tripp Mickle, Karen Weise in the New York Times$ -- 11/22/23
Behind the Scenes of Sam Altman’s Wild Ouster From OpenAI -- A fired CEO, middle-finger emojis and the battle royale over the future of artificial intelligence. Keach Hagey, Deepa Seetharaman, Berber Jin in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/22/23
With OpenAI in chaos, the tech recruiting feeding frenzy is on -- A few tumultuous days at OpenAI, the face of the booming AI industry, has kicked off intense interest among tech recruiters to snap up valuable talent. Brian Contreras in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
New California report shows how state agencies could use AI — and the risks they run -- A new state report ordered up by Gov. Gavin Newsom delves into how different California agencies can use generative AI, and what the dangers might be if they do. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
Education
Berkeley approves increased height limits near campus to ease UC student housing crunch -- The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow taller buildings in a neighborhood near the UC Berkeley campus to help ease a chronic shortage of student housing. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
Guns
California can share gun buyers’ personal information with researchers, appeals court rules -- A state appeals court upheld a law, challenged in San Diego court, that mandates the DOJ to share data already collected during firearm and ammunition purchases with legit researchers studying gun violence when requested. Kristina Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 11/22/23
Education
What is arts integration? Q&A with Mike Stone -- Maverick American maestro Leonard Bernstein once said that “a work of art does not answer questions, it provokes them; and its essential meaning is in the tension between the contradictory answers.” Karen D'Souza EdSource -- 11/22/23
Street
‘I’m just done with S.F.’: Longtime business could shut down due to crime, looming $2.5 million loan -- S.F. events venue and antique shop could close after two decades with $2.5 million mortgage looming, dangerous streets: “It’s out of control,” says owner. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
Video shows deputies repeatedly punching man in headlock during violent arrest in East L.A. -- Deputies say they approached the man because he looked like he was trying to hide a weapon in his pants. The department said the incident is under investigation. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
L.A. County supervisors move to ban ‘threatening’ parkgoers for a month or more -- Faced with an uptick in complaints from Los Angeles County park employees about assaults and harassment, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday allowing staff to temporarily ban unruly people from the county’s green spaces. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
Los Angeles County makes inmate phone calls free starting Dec. 1 -- Two years after promising to make phone calls free for people inside the county’s seven jails, on Tuesday the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors finally approved a contract that will get it done. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/22/23
Also
New RSV shot for babies faces Bay Area shortage amid ‘unprecedented’ demand -- A nationwide shortage of the new RSV shot for infants is frustrating pediatricians, who must prioritize the sickest babies instead of giving the preventive medicine to all eligible infants. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/22/23
Tuesday Updates
Newsom responded quickly, and very publicly, to L.A. freeway fire but still faces scrutiny -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded quickly, and personally, to the freeway closure in Los Angeles after a poll showing his lowest voter approval rating. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Newton: Karen Bass shows her political strengths with the rapid reopening of Los Angeles freeway -- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ handling of the Interstate 10 fire and shutdown helped telegraph some of her strengths. As authorities search for a potential arson suspect, the speculation about nearby encampments served as a reminder of the bigger task the mayor faces. Jim Newton CalMatters -- 11/21/23
Underpass lot below Interstate 10 failed inspection months before fire -- Wood pallets under Interstate 10 concerned Caltrans for years at the site of the fire, which forced the freeway closure and put a spotlight on the state’s lease program. Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Biden-Harris reelection campaign ramps up political fundraising in Hollywood -- Democrats are back to raising money from the entertainment industry now that the Hollywood strikes have ended. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
VP Harris speaks at Biden fundraiser in Brentwood, as pro-Palestinian crowd protests -- Protestors chant ‘Harris Harris, you can’t hide!’ and one interrupts Harris, shouting “Ceasefire now!” Clara Harter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 11/21/23
Why Kamala Harris prefers Gen Z to millennials, and why it matters -- The threats of gun violence, climate change and rollbacks of abortion rights are “a lived experience” for young people, she said, “and they are not going to be patient about us getting something done. And I love that about them.” Courtney Subramanian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Barbara Lee is down, but definitely not out -- Several Democrats told Politico that Lee might shift course if she didn’t get the party nomination at the state convention, and perhaps even leave the race and run for reelection to the House. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 11/21/23
Longtime Silicon Valley Rep. Anna Eshoo will not seek re-election -- Her announcement will set off a scramble among politicians who have not had a shot at an open Palo Alto House seat in three decades. Shira Stein, Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Grace Hase in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 11/21/23
Arellano: A failed recall heralds a new era for Latino politics in Orange County -- Despite being outspent 8-1, a coalition of progressive groups in Santa Ana helped beat back a recall of a city council member who was opposed by real estate interests and the city’s police union. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Hahn ‘outraged’ as L.A. County fire foundation collected donations despite fundraising ban -- Supervisor Janice Hahn said she was ‘outraged and disappointed’ that the L.A. County fire foundation kept taking donations despite its delinquent status. Rebecca Ellis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Isreal - Hamas
Pro-Palestinian marches are far more frequent than pro-Israeli ones. How U.S. reaction to the Israel-Hamas war has changed -- Since the latest Israel-Hamas war began, nearly every state in the U.S. has seen vigils, rallies and marches aiming to sway public support, and policy, for Israelis and Palestinians. Jaweed Kaleem, Abhinanda Bhattacharyya in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Workplace
How mass resignation of OpenAI workers could impact S.F.’s real estate market -- Friday’s bombshell news about the ousting of OpenAI’s CEO highlights the fragility of San Francisco’s burgeoning artificial intelligence sector. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/23
Is music finally having its #MeToo moment? -- Alexa Nikolas, founder of activist group Eat Predators, on the ‘miracle’ of Cassie’s lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and the challenges still facing abuse survivors. August Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
AI
Ilya Sutskever: The OpenAI Genius Who Told Sam Altman He Was Fired -- Company’s chief scientist led a board coup against one of the most prominent figures in Silicon Valley. Robert McMillan in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/21/23
As OpenAI chaos mounts, talks to bring back Sam Altman continue -- Talks were ongoing Tuesday about the future of OpenAI and the potential return of Sam Altman, the ousted CEO of the artificial intelligence company, people familiar with the discussions said, a day after nearly all of its employees threatened to quit. Pranshu Verma, Nitasha Tiku, Gerrit De Vynck in the Washington Post$ -- 11/21/23
OpenAI Is a Mess. So What Happens to ChatGPT Now? -- Firing of Sam Altman makes for corporate chaos, but generative-AI tools are here to stay. Joanna Stern in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/21/23
The Long Shadow of Steve Jobs Looms Over the Turmoil at OpenAI -- Sam Altman, the most prominent promoter of artificial intelligence, learned that it’s hard to be a visionary founder like the Apple legend. David Streitfeld in the New York Times$ -- 11/21/23
RoboTaxi
Cruise’s CEO resigned. Here’s how it impacts the company’s robotaxis returning to S.F. streets -- The resignation follows Cruise’s voluntary suspension of driverless operations while it updates faulty software that led a Cruise robotaxi to drag a San Francisco pedestrian underneath its chassis. Ricardo Cano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/21/23
Street
Aspiring actor, homeless in L.A., was fatally shot by CHP officer on 105 Freeway -- Jesse Dominguez wanted to be an actor, but struggled with mental health and substance use problems. He was fatally shot on the 105 Freeway by a CHP officer during a struggle. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Two LAPD officers injured when suspected drunk driver slams into police cruiser on 57 Freeway -- The officers’ vehicle was rear-ended as they were searching for an item that was thrown out of a car in an earlier pursuit, the LAPD said. Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
Climate
Earth passed a feared global warming milestone Friday, at least briefly -- The planet marked an ominous milestone Friday: The first day global warmth crossed a threshold, if only briefly, that climate scientists have warned could have calamitous consequences. Scott Dance in the Washington Post$ -- 11/21/23
Also
More officers allege sexual hazing on LAPD’s Centurions football team -- The allegations echo claims made last month by a veteran LAPD detective who said he was sexually assaulted amid a group of 30 to 40 police officers during a locker room hazing ritual for rookies on the department’s amateur football team. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23
How to score an instant rebate on a new or used electric car in California -- Thinking about treating yourself to an electric car as a winter holiday gift? You might wait until Jan. 1, when new rules kick in that allow your down payment to be paid with free money from Uncle Sam. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/21/23