Updating . . .

Thousands of Cal State faculty walk out in rolling strike, demanding higher pay -- California State University faculty walked out of classrooms Monday during the crucial end-of-term time, demanding higher pay and marking a high-profile escalation in contract negotiations between their union and the nation’s largest four-year public higher education system. Debbie Truong in the Los Angeles Times$ Elissa Miolene in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/4/23

Labor unions are still giving Democrats climate headaches -- Despite the Biden administration and California lawmakers pouring billions of dollars into new climate-friendly industries like electric vehicles, hydrogen and building electrification, a key player in state politics is still defending fossil fuel interests that provide thousands of well-paying jobs. Alex Nieves Politico -- 12/4/23

For Labor Unions, 2023 Was the Year of the Strike—and Big Victories -- A new generation of leaders ran smarter and more militant campaigns and pushed for strikes. But will the winning streak continue if the economy softens? Kate Bronfenbrenner in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/4/23

EDD changes unemployment contractor after scams -- The Employment Development Department hopes it will be the end of an era of brazen scams, which wreaked havoc for laid-off workers and fueled police busts involving stacks of ill-gotten debit cards issued at the department’s direction by then-contractor Bank of America. Lynn La CalMatters -- 12/4/23

It’s been the year of the worker. West Hollywood employers are so over it -- Organized labor has been having a moment in L.A. But in West Hollywood, which has the nation’s highest minimum wage, it’s the business owners who’ve been marching. Don Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

Politics & Policy

Why do California, Texas differ so much? Religion, priorities of white minority play huge roles, poll shows -- Average Texans and Californians agree a lot more than their states’ policies would suggest, even on issues like abortion and guns. Each tips slightly in one direction, but politics magnify the differences. Jack Herrera in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

To fix San Francisco, moderate group wants voters to add to mayor's power -- TogetherSF Action plans to announce it will put two charter amendments before voters in November 2024, to give the mayor greater authority and cut the number of city commissions in half. St. John Barned-Smith, J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

Here are 16 new laws Californians must start following in 2024 -- New California laws beginning in 2024 could affect your commute, your annual camping trip or your paycheck. Sara Libby, Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

California Assembly has a new public safety committee leader. What are his crime priorities? -- It’s “provocative” and “innovative” bills that McCarty hopes to explore in the upcoming legislative session starting Jan. 3. After being appointed Nov. 21 by California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, he said his priorities include retail theft, Proposition 47 reform, illegal drug use and gun violence. Ishani Desai in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/4/23

Border

Border Patrol dropped 42,000 migrants on San Diego streets. Now county, groups are seeking help -- San Diego-area nonprofits and faith organizations struggle to provide for tens of thousands of migrants border agents have released on San Diego streets. Justo Robles, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Wendy Fry CalMatters -- 12/4/23

On the edge of Interstate 8, migrants shelter in pink tents as winter bears down -- Volunteers and nonprofit aid groups have taken it upon themselves to feed and shelter asylum seekers and others as they wait to be processed by Border Patrol Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/4/23

Education

Stanford study wades into reading wars with high marks for phonics-based teaching -- The state’s worst performing schools improved after ‘science of reading’ reforms, using phonics, were paired with ongoing support, analysis and parent buy-in. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

Reading scores climb after targeted intervention at California’s worst-performing schools -- In 2020, the state agreed to a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed too many students were not learning to read. As part of that agreement, the state spent over $50 million on 75 schools with the lowest reading scores. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 12/4/23

What Costs $1,000 Per Student and Might Help Children Learn to Read? -- A new study found that California schools got positive results from a targeted investment in the science of reading — even with the challenges of pandemic recovery. Dana Goldstein in the New York Times$ -- 12/4/23

Biting, kicking, hurling blocks. Preschools struggle with California law limiting expulsion -- California law restricts preschools from expelling kids, yet an increase in behavioral problems since the pandemic is proving a big challenge for teachers. Jenny Gold in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

Threats, stress and politics pushing school superintendents out the door -- Threats, stress and politics pushing school superintendents out the door California superintendents have left their jobs in large numbers in recent years, but turnover appears to be particularly high this year. They are being replaced with a new group of less experienced school district leaders. Diana Lambert EdSource -- 12/4/23

Housing

1 in 8 home sellers in this part of the Bay Area is taking a loss -- It might be hard to fathom in this real estate market, but one in eight home sellers in San Francisco and on the Peninsula is now taking a loss. Ethan Varian in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/4/23

Tens of thousands still waiting as California COVID rent relief program runs low on cash -- In March 2021, the Los Angeles film industry was just beginning to roar back to life after a prolonged COVID-induced slump, but Michael Addis, a freelance filmmaker, was still deep in the hole. For more than a year he’d been racking up IOUs to his landlord and the tab stood at $43,792. Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 12/4/23

Street

S.F.’s crackdown on car break-ins has led to a staggering trend in the data. Will it last? -- After city leaders pledged to crack down on San Francisco car break-ins, data collected in recent months shows a dramatic drop in smash-and-grabs. Now comes the question: Can it last? Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

New California mental health court sees more than 100 petitions in first two months -- An alternative mental health court to compel treatment for people with severe mental illness has received more than 100 petitions since launching in seven California counties in October, state officials said Friday. Trân Nguyễn Associated Press -- 12/4/23

Taxpayer rescue of Skid Row’s largest landlord nears $40 million -- After Skid Row Housing Trust financially imploded earlier this year, the L.A. City Council is close to approving $40 million to stabilize 1,500 formerly homeless tenants. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

San Diego police will now only say who they arrest going back 30 days. Older names can be out of bounds -- Officials said they were trying to avoid inadvertently releasing individual criminal histories, which officers are barred from doing. Blake Nelson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/4/23

Wildfire

After a mild fire year, Southern California crews look ahead to 2024 -- This year’s rains kept fire conditions to a minimum, but also spurred new vegetation that could burn in 2024. Hayley Smith, Luis Sinco in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

Also

Construction to begin on $16 million project to restore historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse -- The 115-foot-tall landmark, built in 1871, has been closed to tourists for more than 20 years. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/4/23

California Policy and Politics Monday

‘Our heart is captive in Gaza’: Families of Israeli hostages plead for return of loved ones -- Families of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza are appealing for the safe return of their loved ones in visits to Los Angeles and other stops in their global campaign. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

‘Kind, gentle, brilliant’: S.F.-born student among Palestinian shooting victims in Vermont -- One of three men shot in a possible anti-Palestinian hate crime in Vermont, who was left paralyzed from the chest down after one of the bullets struck his spine, was born in San Francisco. Clare Fonstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

Garofoli: Why do so many local governments feel compelled to weigh in on the Israel-Hamas conflict? -- Local officials are facing a unique challenge with determining how, when and if to speak out about the Middle East war that is dividing their communities. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

Caltrans identifies 15 potentially dangerous properties beneath 10 Freeway -- State is reviewing the airspace program that leased property where 10 Freeway fire erupted. Jason Henry in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 12/4/23

Mudslide risk forces partial closure of Highway 101 in Northern California -- Multiple “ongoing mudslides” were reported in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, the National Weather Service said Sunday, hours after it issued a flood advisory for the region, warning that the rain could continue to inundate roadways with rocks and mud overnight and throughout Monday. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

Lego latest retailer to leave troubled San Francisco Centre -- The Lego store inside San Francisco Centre permanently closed its doors Thursday, according to a company official, the latest retailer to leave the troubled mall. Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

Long waits for rooms leaving patients in ER hallways for hours. Could new state law worsen problem? -- San Diego County will weigh proposal to delay implementing law that hospitals say could compound overcrowding. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/4/23

The Race to Save Ketchup: Building a Tomato for a Hotter World -- Plant breeders at the Woodland, Calif., facility of German pharmaceutical and agriculture giant Bayer are testing whether tomatoes meant for processing into pizza sauces and ketchup can survive on a fraction of their traditional water needs, without sacrificing taste or juiciness. Patrick Thomas, Max Whittaker in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/4/23

Workplace

Construction workers union to picket SFUSD amid allegations of unpaid wages, unfair labor practices -- About 80 employees plan to join Monday’s one-day strike to highlight the union’s allegation that the district violated terms of their contract. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/4/23

Housing

Is historic preservation just another NIMBY tactic to avoid California housing laws? -- Housing advocates say neighborhood groups across the Bay Area are using preservation rules to block density. Kate Talerico in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/4/23

A.I.

Ego, Fear and Money: How the A.I. Fuse Was Lit -- The people who were most afraid of the risks of artificial intelligence decided they should be the ones to build it. Then distrust fueled a spiraling competition. Cade Metz, Karen Weise, Nico Grant, Mike Isaac in the New York Times$ -- 12/4/23

Who’s Who Behind the Dawn of the Modern Artificial Intelligence Movement -- Before chatbots exploded in popularity, a group of researchers, tech executives and venture capitalists had worked for more than a decade to fuel A.I. J. Edward Moreno in the New York Times$ -- 12/4/23

Street

4 thieves use hammers in brazen robbery at Santa Anita mall. Holiday shoppers are shaken -- Police are searching for four people who used hammers Sunday to smash display cases and snatch jewelry and other luxury goods at a mall near the Santa Anita racetrack — a brazen robbery that shook crowds of holiday shoppers. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

Also

The big three respiratory viruses are rising in California, but are causing fewer hospitalizations than last year -- RSV rates are high, COVID is moderate-to-high, and flu is increasing, though far from last year’s recent record flu season. Harriet Blair Rowan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/4/23

Rocket launch will include sendoff of remains of some ‘Star Trek’ actors and many others -- The Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch Dec. 24, carrying the remains and DNA samples of 338 people, including some ‘Star Trek’ actors. Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/4/23

‘Fresno Kid’ CJ Albertson rallies to take California International Marathon title in Sacramento -- CJ Albertson of Fresno came from behind and Kenyan runner Grace Kahura logged a personal best, each defeating a deep, fast field Sunday to win the 40th annual California International Marathon in Sacramento. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/4/23