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California Policy and Politics Saturday
George Santos expelled from Congress as vulnerable California Republicans flip their votes -- Six California Republicans and seven Democrats, including Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine, a Senate candidate, shifted from opposing Santos’ expulsion or voting “present” just a few weeks ago to supporting his removal on Friday. Erin B. Logan in the Los Angeles Times$ Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/2/23
Newsom-DeSantis debate draws 4.75 million viewers on Fox News -- The Thursday debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News — the talk of the political world this past week — delivered a decent bump in the channel’s ratings. Stephen Battaglio in the Los Angeles Times$ Andrew Zhang Politico -- 12/2/23
In Georgia suburbs, Newsom defends his odd debate with DeSantis as an ‘opportunity and responsibility’ -- While Newsom called his opponent’s participation in the debate “desperate,” he painted his own participation as a necessary evil to cut through the “doom loop” of Fox News’ right wing spin and to take a one-of-a-kind chance to combat the “extremism” of DeSantis in his own echo chamber. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/2/23
Annette Bening said Gavin Newsom made this ‘reprehensible’ decision -- Members of SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America backed legislation that would give unemployment benefits to workers on strike. But in late September, Newsom rejected the bill. Martha Ross in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/2/23
Water
California sets initial State Water Project allocations at 10% after two dry months -- After a relatively dry October and November, California has set an initial water allocation of 10% for agencies receiving supplies from the State Water Project. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/2/23
Education
‘I is for Intifada’: Oakland district warns teachers over push for pro-Palestinian curriculum -- A group of Oakland teachers is calling for educators to swap out district-recommended curriculum for a teach-in Wednesday that would educate students about “the Palestinian struggle” amid the war in Gaza. But district officials have pushed back at the effort focused on students as young as 4, saying that teachers should be teaching critical thinking, not telling students what to think. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/2/23
Street
‘A killer preying on the unhoused’: L.A. police search for clues in 3 fatal shootings -- All three killings occurred in the early morning hours over a few days in November, Police Chief Michel Moore said. Officials issued an urgent call for homeless people to seek shelter if they can and avoid sleeping alone until a suspect is apprehended. “This is a killer preying on the unhoused,” Mayor Karen Bass said. Ruben Vives, Richard Winton, Jeremy Childs, James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ Jill Cowan, Corina Knoll in the New York Times$ -- 12/2/23
After “pirate” crime wave, boaters fear sweep of Oakland estuary will leave them with nowhere to go -- In recent weeks, abandoned vessels in the Oakland estuary — a calm, narrow waterway separating Oakland and Alameda — have been tagged by Oakland’s Marine Patrol unit and given a 30-day removal notice as part of a long-delayed, full-scale clean-up. Will McCarthy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/2/23
Also
Rise in COVID, flu and RSV prompts Bay Area health recommendations — including masking -- As the winter viral season arrives, health officials amp up their advice for protecting yourself and the people around you. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/2/23
Robert Lang Sr., fast-food pioneer who put the Double-Double on In-N-Out’s menu, dies -- It is a date that should be known by lovers of messy and meaty cheeseburgers everywhere, and especially in Los Angeles. On Aug. 1, 1966, In-N-Out Burger updated its menu to include the item that would arguably become its most celebrated offering — the Double-Double. Daniel Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/2/23
Friday Updates
It was Hannity and DeSantis v. Newsom in messy Fox debate -- The Fox News host often grilled Newsom but couldn’t control the candidates. Christopher Cadelago, Kimberly Leonard Politico -- 12/1/23
The Newsom-DeSantis debate showed the California governor is all in for Biden -- Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced his role as a surrogate for President Biden in Thursday’s debate against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/1/23
Barabak: ‘That’s a lie!’ ‘You are just jabbering!’ It was heat and not much light in Newsom-DeSantis debate -- The prodigiously hyped debate between Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis was never going to be more than a diversion, a brief sideshow running parallel to the main attraction — the actual campaign for the White House. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/1/23
They’re Not Presidential Front-Runners. But They Played Them on TV -- Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom and a not-exactly-neutral Sean Hannity staged a campaign debate from an alternative timeline. James Poniewozik in the New York Times$ -- 12/1/23
Walters: Cowboys vs. Seahawks game was a better show than Newsom vs. DeSantis -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faced off in a televised debate Thursday night. Those who opted for the Dallas vs. Seattle football game got a better show. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/1/23
South: Newsom deserves credit for doing what few Democrats will, confronting GOP in DeSantis debate -- Democrats need to push back more aggressively against the GOP, argues veteran strategist Garry South. Gavin Newsom has been doing this in so many ways, and the debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was part of that. Garry South CalMatters -- 12/1/23
George Santos vote: The three Californians against expulsion -- Of California’s delegation, three voted nay — Darrell Issa, Doug LaMalfa and Tom McClintock — and Kevin McCarthy did not vote. All are Republicans. The item is in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/1/23
All local House members but one vote to expel George Santos -- Check out how the representatives from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties voted. Kaitlyn Schallhorn in the Orange County Register -- 12/1/23
How each House member voted on expelling George Santos from Congress -- The expulsion motion, introduced by a fellow Republican, House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (Miss.), required the support of two-thirds of the chamber to succeed. Kati Perry, Adrián Blanco in the Washington Post$ -- 12/1/23
The House majority will be won in liberal states. It’s still not a lock for Democrats -- Both parties see New York and California as key in the 2024 race to control the House. Marianna Sotomayor, Leigh Ann Caldwell in the Washington Post$ -- 12/1/23
Kevin McCarthy was once envious that Democrats ‘look like America’ -- “I’d just become leader and I’m excited and President Trump’s there. And I look over at the Democrats and they stand up. They look like America,” he told Sorkin. “We stand up. We look like the most restrictive country club in America.” Philip Bump in the Washington Post$ -- 12/1/23
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California members’ data stolen — ‘a gold mine for thieves’ -- Sensitive data from Blue Shield of California vision policy holders — including Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses — may be among confidential patient information accessed by criminal hackers, the Oakland-based health insurance giant announced this week. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/1/23
Housing
Government-backed mortgage loan caps rising to $1,149,825 in OC, LA -- Left out was the Inland Empire, which will see no loan cap increases in 2024. Jeff Lazerson in the Orange County Register -- 12/1/23
Education
Pay for Cal State presidents has grown at nearly twice the rate as pay for lecturers -- Mildred García, the new Cal State chancellor, is earning a total compensation of nearly $1 million. Meanwhile, university president pay has increased at a greater rate than that of faculty, who are preparing to strike in early December, and the system is raising tuition. Yet, Cal State execs still say their pay lags behind the national average. Elizabeth Wilson, Hugo Rios CalMatters -- 12/1/23
Lawsuit accuses UC Berkeley of fostering antisemitism. Dean calls accusations ‘stunningly inaccurate’ -- Since the Oct. 7th attack by Hamas, tensions have been high on campus, with protests in support of Palestinians and Israel often happening at the same time. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/1/23
‘I is for Intifada’: Oakland district warns teachers over push for pro-Palestinian curriculum -- A group of Oakland teachers is calling for educators to swap out district-recommended curriculum for a teach-in Wednesday that would educate students about “the Palestinian struggle” amid the war in Gaza. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/1/23
State data collection systems failing students in juvenile detention, report says -- California's current data collection practices inadequately capture the needs and outcomes of youth in the juvenile justice system, says a recent report from the Youth Law Center. Betty Márquez Rosales EdSource -- 12/1/23
Workplace
Another S.F. company leaves downtown for this ‘relaxed’ neighborhood -- After three decades in the same Financial District office, companies are trading towers for a low-density, historic San Francisco neighborhood. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/1/23
Prefab homebuilder Veev to shutter after funders abandon former ‘unicorn’ -- This week, the company laid off most of its 250 employees, according to LinkedIn posts from employees. Veev had only recently finished construction on its first single-family home, which the company intended to bring to market in 2024. Kate Talerico in the East Bay Times$ -- 12/1/23
Advertisers Say They Do Not Plan to Return to X After Musk’s Comments -- Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticized advertisers with expletives on Wednesday at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit. Kate Conger, Tiffany Hsu in the New York Times$ -- 12/1/23
The 405
New express lanes in Orange County open on 405 Freeway -- The drive between Costa Mesa and south Los Angeles County on the 405 Freeway just got a whole lot faster — if you’re willing to pay the toll. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times$ Michael Slaten in the Orange County Register-- 12/1/23
Climate
This year will be Earth’s hottest in human history, report confirms -- It will break a record set in 2016, underscoring that the world is closer than ever to the global warming thresholds that global leaders are seeking to avoid. Data from January through October shows the planet is likely to average 1.3 degrees Celsius to 1.5 degrees Celsius above a preindustrial norm this year, the WMO said. Scott Dance in the Washington Post$ -- 12/1/23
Surging U.S. Oil Production Brings Down Prices and Raises Climate Fears -- American oil production is hitting record levels, delivering economic and foreign policy benefits but putting environmental goals further out of reach. Clifford Krauss in the New York Times$ -- 12/1/23
Street
Alameda County to pay $7 million, reform jail training after settlement with family of Maurice Monk -- Alameda County will pay $7 million and reform its jail deputies’ training programs after settling a lawsuit with the family of Maurice Monk, who died in Santa Rita Jail in 2021 after allegedly languishing for days in his cell without any help from deputies. Jakob Rodgers in the East Bay Times$ -- 12/1/23
Feds seek 12-year sentence for ex-La Habra police chief’s role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot -- Federal prosecutors are seeking a 12-year, seven-month prison sentence for Alan Hostetter, a former La Habra police chief-turned yoga instructor and activist who joined the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Sean Emery in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 12/1/23
Also
Anduril unveils a jet drone that can explode — or fly back home -- The company unveiled the product at its Costa Mesa headquarters to a scrum of journalists, showing videos of what the new machine can do. Sam Dean in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/1/23
Merchant: The depressing fall of Sports Illustrated reveals the real tragedy of AI -- The tragedy of AI is not that it stands to replace good journalists, but that it takes every gross, callous move made by management to degrade the production of content — and promises to accelerate it. Brian Merchant in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/1/23
Rosalynn Carter: A lifetime voice for improving mental health care -- Tributes to First Lady Rosalynn Carter invariably cite her lifelong commitment to improving care for people with severe mental illness. As she stumped for her husband during the closing days of the 1976 presidential campaign, she brought that advocacy to the unlikely locale of Bakersfield. Dan Morain Capitol Weekly -- 12/1/23
Trump Can Be Sued for Jan. 6 Incitement, Judges Rule -- Civil lawsuits seeking to hold Donald Trump accountable for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol can move forward, a federal appeals-court panel ruled Friday, expressing skepticism toward the former president’s claims of “absolute immunity” from allegations that he incited violence that day. Sadie Gurman, Jan Wolfe in the Wall Street Journal$ Rachel Weiner, Spencer S. Hsu in the Washington Post$ Alan Feuer, Charlie Savage in the New York Times$ -- 12/1/23