California Policy and Politics Wednesday

Trump says he will never stop trying to repeal Obamacare. California would feel the biggest impact -- California gets more than $30 billion a year, more than any other state, to insure millions of people under Obamacare. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

Michigan Supreme Court will keep Trump on 2024 ballot -- The court said Wednesday it will not hear an appeal of a lower court’s ruling from groups seeking to keep Trump from appearing on the ballot. Corey Williams, Nicholas Riccardi Associated Press -- 12/27/23

Nobody’s ever lost their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Will Trump be the first? -- Some L.A. residents want to see Donald Trump’s star removed from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but city officials say there’s no precedent for doing so. Caroline Petrow-Cohen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

Barabak: Newsom loves Trump? Not at all. But he made the right call on ballot access -- Gavin Newsom had a chance to score some cheap political points that might help if, as widely expected, he someday seeks the White House. To his credit, Newsom passed. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

McManus: Congress has left Ukraine in the cold. The consequences will be dire if aid isn’t renewed soon -- The failure of Ukraine’s summer offensive was a setback, but failure by Congress to renew the military aid Kyiv needs could be worse. Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

Water

Their land is sinking. But Tulare Lake farm barons defy calls to cut groundwater pumping -- The farm barons of Tulare Lake Basin want to continue pumping groundwater at volumes collapsing the San Joaquin Valley. That puts the region at greater risk of damaging floods — and in greater need of taxpayer bailouts. Susanne Rust, Jessica Garrison, Ian James, Paul Duginski in the Los Angeles Times$

Insurance

State plans pricey fixes to California’s broken insurance market. Are homeowners on board? -- “The whole insurance thing is a total bummer,” said Jaimi Jansen of Bonny Doon. “Who can afford a home then if you have to have this exorbitant insurance?” John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/27/23

Street

‘Badass detective’: How one California officer solved eight cold cases — in his spare time -- Detective Matt Hutchison of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety has doggedly cracked multiple cold cases for the city, even one experts thought would never be solved. Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/27/23

Housing

New law has Californians with criminal records ‘quite hopeful’ they’ll finally find housing -- Starting Jan. 1, California will make crime-free housing laws unenforceable, ending local rules long criticized as unfair and racially discriminatory. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

San Diego rent prices have dropped 5 months in a row -- Forecasts have rents continuing to drop in the first half of 2024. San Diego County rarely has rent drops in its history. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/27/23

Homeless

S.F. is filling vacant homeless housing units. But some buildings remain stubbornly empty -- San Francisco is making progress moving homeless people into hundreds of unused rooms, but a small cluster of buildings still account for an outsize share of vacancies. Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/27/23

Education

S.F. public schools facing a $420 million deficit. Here's how it got so bad -- At the current rate of spending, the district won’t be able to pay its bills within the next few years. It will be in the red by $421 million by the 2025-2026 school year. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/27/23

A.I.

New York Times Sues Microsoft and OpenAI, Alleging Copyright Infringement -- News publisher says AI tools use its content without permission; tech companies have said training AI with web content is ‘fair use’ Alexandra Bruell in the Wall Street Journal$ Gerrit De Vynck, Elahe Izadi in the Washington Post$ Michael M. Grynbaum, Ryan Mac in the New York Times$ -- 12/27/23

Also

Lee Sun Kyun, one of the main actors behind Oscar-winning ‘Parasite,’ dies at 48 -- Actor Lee Sun Kyun, who gained international fame in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite,” has died in Seoul amid a police investigation into suspected drug use. He was 48. Jeong Park, Ashley Ahn, Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

Tom Smothers, half of Smothers Brothers sibling comedy duo, dies at 86 -- Tom and Dick Smothers saw their CBS variety show canceled in 1969 after censors cut sketches that skewered politics and the Vietnam War. Fred A. Bernstein in the Washington Post$ -- 12/27/23

L.A. comedian Neel Nanda dies, just days after 32nd birthday -- Just nine days ago, Los Angeles comic Neel Nanda was headlining a Toronto comedy club for the first time, cracking up the crowd and inviting fans to help celebrate his birthday weekend with him downtown after the show. Craig Nakano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

SoCal Powerball player gets a $2-million-plus Christmas bonus -- A lucky person who bought a lottery ticket in Orange County won what lottery officials dubbed a $2.08-million “Christmas present.” The Powerball ticket, sold at the Donut Storr in Anaheim, matched five out of six numbers but missed the Powerball. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

Orcas are flocking to Southern California waters. One bloody, awe-inspiring spectacle shows why -- Whales native to Mexico and Central America are spotted dozens of times from Long Beach to the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Laguna Beach over the last three weeks. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/27/23

Updating . . .

Inspectors pay surprise visit to Martinez oil refinery plagued by rash of problems -- Contra Costa Health officials began a surprise inspection at the embattled Martinez Refining Co. facility Tuesday, citing a series of emission problems over the last year and “misinformation” from the oil refining company. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

Huntington Beach clarifies stance, says it will recognize Black History Month, other events -- Huntington Beach officials said Friday that the city will recognize Black History Month, Women’s History Month and other cultural observances in 2024, despite the City Council seemingly voting to the contrary earlier. Matt Szabo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/26/23

After years-long fight, ex-sheriff agrees to comply with subpoenas, testify on deputy gangs -- After years of resisting subpoenas to testify under oath about deputy gangs, former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has reversed course and agreed to appear in front of the Civilian Oversight Commission. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/26/23

S.F. advocates demand safety reforms after students bring guns to city schools -- A consortium of community groups is asking San Francisco schools to improve their safety policies and procedures following several high-profile incidents in which students allegedly brought guns onto high school campuses. Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

State officials to the Supreme Court: Let us talk to social media giants -- As the Supreme Court prepares to decide what the government can do in terms of advising Facebook, Google and other social media platforms about concerns over content, California and other states urged the justices Tuesday to allow them to continue communicating with the companies. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

Pizza Hut franchises in California lay off all delivery drivers ahead of minimum wage increase -- Pizza Hut franchises in California are laying off their staff delivery drivers in anticipation of a new state law raising the minimum wage to $20 per hour in 2024. The move will result in over 1,200 job cuts. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

He spent millions restoring this S.F. hotel for tourists. Now he wants it to become homeless housing -- An owner of the Best Western Red Coach Inn at Eddy and Polk streets is floating a proposal to convert the tourist hotel into housing for the homeless. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

Zillow says this Bay Area city’s home prices will see biggest drop among U.S. metros over next year -- The South Bay still has a shortage of for-sale housing, industry experts say, which could drive up prices. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

This Bay Area quake fault is far more dangerous than previously known, new mapping shows -- Nearly a decade ago, the town of Napa was shaken awake by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake, which killed one person and injured 200 more. Now, an expert with the United States Geological Survey says the fault that caused the 2014 quake is longer and more dangerous than previously thought. Clare Fonstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

Chabria: In L.A., a new vision of incarceration proves rehabilitation works -- California plans to remake San Quentin as a new kind of prison, modeled after Scandinavian ideals that value rehabilitation over punishment. An L.A. re-entry facility has already made the change. Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/26/23

Skelton: Time to get real on the bullet train: California is building it, so let’s make it work -- Gov. Gavin Newsom got the Christmas present he desperately wanted from President Biden: the crucial piece of a train set. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/26/23

BART police arrest man they say had an assault-style rifle hidden in his pants -- The operator on a Richmond-bound train noticed the man bothering other riders and alerted police around 11:20 p.m., the BART Police Department said in a statement. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/26/23

Gov. Gavin Newsom pans talk of banning Donald Trump from presidential race in California -- Many leading California Democrats have been clamoring to jettison Donald Trump from the state’s election ballot, but Gov. Gavin Newsom has made it clear he is against the move. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ Melanie Mason Politico -- 12/23/23

Walters: Could Gavin Newsom actually mount a successful presidential campaign? -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is making a bid for national political standing, but could he actually mount a successful campaign for the White House? Dan Walters CalMatters -- 12/24/23

‘No Xmas as usual’: Pro-Palestinian protest seeks to disrupt shopping in S.F.’s Union Square -- Hundreds of protesters gathered among holiday crowds in San Francisco’s central shopping district Saturday to call for an end to hostilities between Hamas and Israel, as well as for charges to be dropped against demonstrators who shut down the Bay Bridge last month. Danielle Echeverria, Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Biden issues sweeping pardon for marijuana use -- The pardon applies to “the offense of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana” on federal lands and in Washington, D.C., expanding on an October 2022 blanket pardon for simple marijuana possession. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Huntington Beach to replace Pride, Black History and Women’s History Month celebrations -- Huntington Beach leadership is ending the city’s current heritage and identity commemorations, such as Women’s History Month, and in their place will create celebrations focused more on the community’s history. Michael Slaten in the Orange County Register -- 12/23/23

Lawsuit over homeless project on Westside takes aim at Mayor Karen Bass -- The group Fix The City sues over a 33-bed facility approved next to a single-family neighborhood. Linh Tat in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 12/23/23

A nonprofit returned a donation from the group trying to build a new California city. Here’s why -- A nonprofit returned a donation made by a group of tech billionaires trying to build a new city in Solano County, saying the group misled it about who was giving the funds. Christian Leonard in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Ryan O’Neal’s cause of death revealed -- Ryan O’Neal, the Oscar-nominated actor who become a box office darling in the 1970s for his performances in “Love Story” and “What’s Up, Doc?,” died in early December of heart failure. Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/23

S.F.’s festive fire stations douse narrative that city is joyless. Here are the contest winners -- San Francisco Fire Department Station 39’s crew began fielding questions from neighbors in the summer about their holiday decorations and block party. Peter Hartlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

A new coronavirus variant may be behind California’s COVID rise -- Coronavirus transmission is once again spiking in California entering the winter holiday season — and the new JN.1 subvariant may be partly to blame. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/23

JN.1 COVID variant fuels surge in Bay Area cases ahead of holiday weekend -- The Bay Area is experiencing a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations ahead of the holiday weekend, driven by the nationwide surge of the newly identified JN.1 coronavirus variant. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Another home insurer withdraws — thousands of Californians will need to seek new coverage -- Motors Insurance Corp. is withdrawing from its homeowners business nationwide, though it is still authorized to provide other types of insurance, including auto and liability, according to the California Department of Insurance. Clare Fonstein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

California threatens penalties over insurers’ stalling tactics against car insurance buyers -- Drivers’ complaints about difficulty getting insurance coverage prompt state to reiterate laws, signal possible enforcement actions. Levi Sumagaysay CalMatters -- 12/23/23

Tribal bid for federal recognition could pave way for L.A. area’s first Indian casino -- A bill submitted by U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) would allow the Garielino/Tongva Nation to bypass a costly federal petition process. Louis Sahagún in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/23

Two wealthy S.F. tech powerhouses spend big on Breed’s police ballot measure -- Two wealthy and politically active San Francisco tech entrepreneurs have plunged hundreds of thousands of dollars into a March 2024 ballot measure that would expand the power of the city’s Police Department and lessen that of its overseers on the Police Commission. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

‘King of the cannibals’: How Sam Altman took over Silicon Valley -- Investing in everything from speakeasys to nuclear fusion, the Silicon Valley wunderkind, dealing-making prodigy is full of contradictions. Elizabeth Dwoskin, Marc Fisher, Nitasha Tiku in the Washington Post$ -- 12/23/23

OpenAI founder Sam Altman’s sprawling network of investments -- Altman has invested in hundreds of start-ups, adding to his massive influence in Silicon Valley. Gerrit De Vynck in the Washington Post$ -- 12/23/23

Can California really keep Trump off the ballot? -- Back in September, Assemblyman Evan Low of San Jose and eight other state lawmakers asked the Attorney General to determine whether the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment bars former President Donald Trump from the ballot for having “engaged in insurrection.” John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/23/23

For new refugees, finding work and housing is hard. Finding community is even harder -- Even in places with immigrant populations as large as Southern California’s, many refugees and asylum seekers struggle to find community and connect with others. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/23

Amid union’s tentative deals with more hotels, workers plan Rose Parade day pickets -- Unite Here Local 11 has made more progress in contract talks with hotels ahead of the holidays. The union said Friday it had secured tentative agreements with three downtown L.A. properties as well as a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/23/23

Tech Hubs Are Losing the Talent War to Everywhere Else -- The share of the nation’s tech workers who work in places such as Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Los Angeles and the greater Washington, D.C. area is actually shrinking. Christopher Mims in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/23/23

Her ambulance bill was sent to the Golden Gate Bridge and landed her in collections. That crazy flub was just the beginning -- When Kathryn Hall was hit by another cyclist, her insurance should have paid most of her ambulance ride. But her effort not to get stuck with the bill encountered one strange obstacle after another. Matthias Gafni, Cynthia Dizikes in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Here are new laws taking effect in 2024 that will impact how Californians save for retirement -- More changes are coming to retirement savings next year when key provisions of the federal Secure 2.0 Act take effect. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

California researchers gave homeless people $750 a month. Here’s what they found -- A preliminary report found what researchers say is a potentially promising solution in the fight against homelessness: giving people who are unhoused $750 a month with no strings attached. Danielle Echeverria in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Homeless man not guilty of assaulting ex-S.F. fire commissioner after bear-spray defense -- A San Francisco jury ruled Friday that a homeless man who struck a former city fire commissioner with a metal pipe was not guilty of assault, siding with defense attorneys who argued he acted in self-defense after he and other unhoused people were doused with bear spray. David Hernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

Home prices hit record highs in 4 Southern California counties -- Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties matched or beat previous records. Jeff Collins in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 12/23/23

‘Anti-India’ graffiti at East Bay Hindu temple being investigated as potential hate crime -- Newark police said they learned the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple had been vandalized just after 8:30 a.m. Friday. The content of the graffiti — which police did not disclose — led officials to believe the vandalism was targeted and potentially a hate crime, according to the police department. Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/23/23

California loses population for an unprecedented third year. It could cost state real clout -- The California exodus has slowed but continued since 2020, with the state’s population declining by 0.1% between July 2022 and July 2023, according to new Census Bureau data. Terry Castleman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Year in review: California poverty rises as aid ends -- As extra pandemic benefits ended, California poverty rose in 2023. Pay increases in 2024 and labor activism could change the equation. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Jeanne Kuang CalMatters -- 12/22/23

Thirty years ago, Time magazine asked if L.A. was ‘going to hell.’ Are we there yet? -- Three decades after a national publication probed the city’s ills, we gathered a panel of Angelenos to ponder the age-old question: Is Los Angeles hell on earth? Daniel Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

State insurance commissioner says companies are delaying policies, denying discounts -- Responding to consumer complaints about auto insurance coverage, the state insurance commissioner said Thursday that insurers could face penalties for creating unlawful barriers for California drivers. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Barabak: Biden’s fellow seniors have advice for the 81-year-old president: Lose the script, project your voice -- Biden’s generational peers — who know better than most the challenges of aging — say they see no signs the president is hobbled or unfit for office. But they still worry about his candidacy. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Kicking Trump off the ballot won’t be easy. Here’s why -- Trump’s opponents have succeeded in getting to the U.S. Supreme Court with their argument the 14th Amendment disqualifies him from the ballot. But they face hurdles. David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Registered as nonpartisan? If you want to vote in the presidential primary, request a ballot by Jan. 5 -- Not every party is letting nonpartisan registered voters cast a ballot in its primary, however — even if they request a crossover ballot. The item is in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/22/23

CA 120: California’s confusing primary voting process explained -- And even if Trump stays on the Republican primary ballot, there will be more than a quarter-million voters who have previously voted in a Republican Presidential primary who won’t find him on their ballot. And over 650,000 voters who previously voted in the Democratic primary who won’t find President Joe Biden on theirs. Welcome to one of the most confusing parts of the election process in California: the Closed Primary. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 12/22/23

American democracy is cracking. These ideas could help repair it -- The problems with the U.S. political system can, at times, feel overwhelming and intractable. But solutions can become reality when ordinary citizens engage. Dan Balz in the Washington Post$ -- 12/22/23

UK diplomats plant a flag in San Francisco -- A different sort of influencer has been popping up in California’s policymaking arenas: the British diplomat — and they aren’t just here to share tea and crumpets. Dustin Gardiner Politico -- 12/22/23

Roth: Who will make sure L.A. reaches 100% clean energy by 2035? -- Mayor Karen Bass has a momentous decision ahead of her as she chooses the Department of Water and Power’s next general manager. Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

San Diego County population to peak at 3.4M in 2042, but then drop. What does that mean for housing and workforce? -- Most U.S. cities are expected to see drops in population later in the century because of declining birth rates. Yet San Diego is expected to have a more aggressive decline because of its high cost of living. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/22/23

Workplace

St. Francis Medical Center workers fired 5 days before Christmas -- They allege the terminations were retaliation for a rally they held at Prime Healthcare’s Ontario headquarters. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 12/22/23

Bay Area adds jobs in November, powered by big gains in South Bay -- The employment gains in the Bay Area suggested that the region has been able to ward off — for now — at least some of the effects of relentless layoffs in the tech industry that began at the start of 2022 and that worsened in 2023. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/22/23

Homeless

In the Bay Area, the number of homeless students has skyrocketed. What’s driving that trend? -- The number of homeless students across the five-county region jumped by 4,313 children -- an increase of 28% throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Mateo combined. Elissa Miolene, Will McCarthy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 12/22/23

Housing

State’s end-of-year affordable housing bonanza likely to leave dozens of near-ready projects ‘mothballed’ -- The state has hundreds of millions to spend. Developers say they need billions. Ben Christopher CalMatters -- 12/22/23

San Diego home sales crater as the median price reaches peak again -- San Diego County home sales hit one of its lowest points in history in November as higher interest rates affect listings. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/22/23

Education

Many California undocumented students are missing out on financial aid. An easier, new application could get them more money -- The financial aid application for undocumented students is cumbersome and confusing, and many students aren’t completing the forms. A new law streamlines the process. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 12/22/23

ICE

Californian who joined hunger strike in ICE detention seeks $1 million in complaint -- The 33-year old Mexican-born man — who from toddler age has been a permanent legal resident of California — has reported enduring abuse, unsanitary conditions and threats of force-feeding before his release from immigration detention in April. Justo Robles CalMatters -- 12/22/23

Street

Disneyland Hotel active shooter hoax draws significant police response -- Dozens of Anaheim Police officers respond with guns drawn after receiving false reports of an active shooter at or near the Disneyland Hotel. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 12/22/23

How fake Xanax and ‘benzo dope’ are contributing to S.F.’s deadly overdose epidemic -- Mixed with opioids such as fentanyl, drugs known as fake Xanax or “street benzos” can quickly lead users to stop breathing. Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

‘Excuses, excuses, excuses’: A desperate father, a tormented son, an overburdened system -- Asael Roblero became a fixture at L.A. County Board of Supervisors meetings as he sought help for his incarcerated son with a mental illness. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Dania Maxwell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Newsom freed elderly and sick prisoners during COVID, but he’s grappling with risks of more mercy -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom used his clemency powers to release 35 elderly and sick prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Will he free more? Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Also

The Baseball Team That Spent $1 Billion in 10 Days -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have embarked on the sport’s first billion-dollar offseason after deciding to pair Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Lindsey Adler in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/22/23

Instagram stardom, Giants tickets and lots of cuddles: The fabulous lives of SFO therapy animals -- San Francisco International Airport’s 18 therapy animals can help people anxious to fly and break up the more mundane aspects of travel. But some are also stars outside of the airport. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

California Policy and Politics Friday

California approves Delta tunnel project, pitting water agencies against environmentalists -- California’s leading water agency approved a controversial water infrastructure project to build a tunnel underneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Thursday, marking a significant step in a decades-long effort to advance it. Ari Plachta in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/22/23

Israel - Hamas

‘This is not a pro-Hamas protest’: Palestinian Americans fight charges of antisemitism -- The Palestinian cause has never had so much support. But some Palestinian Americans say the movement has a messaging problem. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Workplace

Poll: Half of California voters worry AI is coming for their jobs -- California lawmakers are gearing up to curb the downsides of artificial intelligence, but a new Politico|Morning Consult poll of registered voters shows their constituents are split about how the technology will affect their lives and their jobs. Lara Korte Politico -- 12/22/23

Ralphs illegally denied jobs to formerly incarcerated people, civil rights lawsuit alleges -- The lawsuit is the first of its kind under California’s Fair Chance Act, which went into effect in 2018. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

Minimum-wage workers in these California cities are getting a raise in 2024 -- Workers at fast-food restaurants and in minimum-wage jobs can expect a pay bump soon, courtesy of higher wage floors adopted by California lawmakers and more than two dozen cities across the state. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Activision and California Agency File Settlement of Gender Discrimination Claims -- State withdraws claims of sexual harassment; Activision agrees to pay nearly $55 million while denying wrongdoing. Meghan Bobrowsky in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 12/22/23

This is what tech company holiday parties look like in a year rife with layoffs -- “We’re being responsible in how we budget for it, but it is important for us to have this time together,” one company spokesperson said about holiday parties. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

Housing

Falling mortgage rates lend a helping hand to home buyers -- The average interest rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage clocked in at 6.67% for the week ended Dec. 20, down from 6.95% a week earlier, according to data released Thursday by mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

Homeless

Sacramento officials wished homeless a merry Christmas — then said they’d soon be evicted -- Two city workers stopped by a small encampment this week, wished a close-knit group of homeless people a merry Christmas — and informed them that if they didn’t move soon, their mobile homes and all the belongings in them would be impounded. Ariane Lange in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 12/22/23

Climate

November shatters global temperature records, marking 6 record-warm months in a row -- Global average temperatures last month were 2.59 degrees above the 20th century average — 0.68 degrees above the previous record, officials say. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

A.I.

Two Bay Area lawmakers will play key roles in the push to regulate AI in California -- The California Capitol will likely see a flurry of attempts to regulate artificial intelligence next year, with two Bay Area lawmakers emerging as leaders on the issue. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

Homeless

Another downtown encampment is cleared as homelessness countywide keeps rising -- A multimillion-dollar state grant helped further reduce how many sleep outside in the center of San Diego. Blake Nelson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/22/23

Virus season

Vaccination rate lags in San Diego County as virus season arrives -- COVID, flu activity ramping up across the region with biggest spike shown in North County wastewater. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/22/23

Education

Are San Diego County graduates ready for life after high school? Here’s what the data shows -- Some schools may have a high graduation rate but low percentages of students who have shown they are prepared for college or career. Kristen Taketa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 12/22/23

UC Davis starts contact tracing to prevent tuberculosis outbreak on campus -- UC Davis officials are working to prevent an outbreak of contagious tuberculosis after someone on campus turned up positive for the potentially lethal disease. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

Street

A raid uncovers more than $1 million worth of cosmetics stolen from CVS, Sephora and 99 Cents Only stores -- Responding to a recent surge in retail theft, the California Highway Patrol announced Thursday it had seized more than $1 million in stolen items and arrested a Los Angeles woman in connection to a Southern California retail theft ring. Anthony De Leon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

S.F. has stopped ticketing stolen cars and is now notifying owners, city says -- The announcement comes about two months after the Chronicle exposed a city practice that added to crime victims' difficulties. St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23

Oakland police clear abandoned boats, “anchor-outs” warned to leave estuary -- Sweep begins after piracy incidents raised fears of crime wave on the water. Will McCarthy in the East Bay Times$ -- 12/22/23

Also

California ski resorts look to the latest storm for snow to help kick off the season -- As skiers and snowboarders flock to the Lake Tahoe and the Eastern Sierra slopes this holiday weekend, National Weather Service meteorologists say the latest storm is expected to drop only a limited amount of snow in Southern California. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 12/22/23

What ski conditions in Tahoe are like heading into the Christmas holiday -- Skiers, snowboarders and snow lovers hoping for a repeat of last holiday season when Lake Tahoe and the Sierra were inundated with snow will be disappointed with the outlook for deep fresh powder in the coming week. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 12/22/23