California Policy and Politics Sunday

In rare move, S.F. Mayor Breed condemns Board of Supervisors’ Gaza cease-fire resolution -- The mayor’s rebuke on Saturday came four days after the board voted 8-3 in favor of the resolution, which called for the cease-fire, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages in the region. Nora Mishanec in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/14/24

California Has Dealt a Blow to Renewable Energy, Some Businesses Say -- Some companies are leaving the state or reducing their presence there after California greatly reduced incentives for homeowners to install rooftop solar panels. Ivan Penn in the New York Times$ -- 1/14/24

‘Where is my son!’ Scammers using AI put Bay Area family through terrifying ordeal -- Phone scams have been around for years in which crooks convince their victims that they are a family member in distress to get them to hand over money. The big difference now is the use of AI. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/14/24

He thought he’d won big on love and crypto. Instead, he was ‘pig-butchered’ for $260K -- A 68-year-old Santa Clara man who had recently divorced, and was struggling through financial problems, received a text in February from a number he didn’t recognize. The trap had been set. Demian Bulwa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/14/24

Home insurance woes take center stage in fight for Feinstein’s Senate seat -- California homeowners battered by the meltdown of the Golden State’s home insurance market will have a new place to voice their frustration in 2024 — at the ballot box. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 1/14/24

Legislature’s analyst gives mixed review of Newsom budget -- The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office says that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s initial 2024-25 budget is “optimistic” on revenue and has strengths and weaknesses on spending. The LAO offers guidance to state lawmakers on their version. Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters -- 1/14/24

Steve Garvey is banking on Dodgers and Padres fans to boost his Republican Senate run -- A Republican will always be a long shot to beat Reps. Adam Schiff or Katie Porter in the U.S. Senate race. Steve Garvey is hoping that baseball can make it happen. Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

Barabak: How the Vietnam War, political protests and a mimeograph machine birthed today’s Iowa caucuses -- When Iowa’s brave and hardy Republicans venture Monday night into the arctic cold to cast the first presidential ballots of 2024, Richard Bender will be watching with special interest and a twinge of regret. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

Villanueva denies existence of deputy gangs as L.A. County officials seek accountability -- During combative testimony to the Civilian Oversight Commission, former Sheriff Alex Villanueva attempts to minimize the problem of deputy gangs. Keri Blakinger in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

‘All I wanted was a fair chance’: Student says she was disqualified from running for office because she is homeless -- It’s unusual for a candidate to be disqualified from the ballot for failing to submit an address that makes them eligible. Usually it happens as a result of not collecting enough valid signatures. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 1/14/24

University of California considers S.F. for expansion in wake of Mayor Breed’s plea -- The University of California is considering expanding its presence in San Francisco after Mayor London Breed reached out to persuade the university system to grow its footprint downtown. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/14/24

California offers lifeline for medical residents who can’t find abortion training -- A law enacted in September makes it easier for out-of-state trainees to get up to 90 days of in-person training under the supervision of a California-licensed doctor. Laurie Udesky KFF Health News in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/14/24

Climate

Will storing CO2 in old oil fields slow global warming? First California plan nears approval -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering approval of California’s first ever carbon storage project, to be in Kern County. Tony Briscoe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

The planet experienced an astonishing change last year. But California was an outlier -- Scientists are in consensus that last year was Earth’s hottest on record. But 2023 played out differently in the western United States, especially in California, where temperatures were below normal, thanks to an especially cold and wet winter. Jack Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 1/14/24

Workplace

One-two punch of COVID and flu is hitting L.A. County hard -- The uptick, documented through wastewater surveillance, is coinciding with a sharp rise in flu activity — a one-two punch for what’s proving to be a busy respiratory virus season. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

Also

California bill paves way for psychedelic therapy after failure to legalize ‘magic mushrooms’ -- The move to legalize psychedelics in California appears to be entering a new phase, with incremental steps to permit the drugs in therapeutic settings. Anabel Sosa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

Abcarian: I nominate Hunter Biden for most perfect troll of the year -- Gotta hand it to Hunter Biden. He has been beating the MAGA congressional Republicans at their own game. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24

Ex-L.A. Times publisher Richard T. ‘Dick’ Schlosberg III, who presided over paper in its heyday, dies -- Former Times publisher Richard T. “Dick” Schlosberg III, who led the newspaper during an era that saw double-digit profits and the emergence of the internet, which would eventually decimate the industry, died Wednesday in San Antonio. He was 79. Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 1/14/24