California Policy and Politics Wednesday

Updating . .

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000 -- Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and who almost became Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later, has died, according to a statement issued by his family. Associated Press -- 3/27/24

Betty Yee officially enters the 2026 California governor’s ra ce -- Former state Controller Betty Yee on Wednesday launched her campaign for California governor in 2026, joining a crowded field of Democratic candidates nearly a year after she initially said she planned to run for the job. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Former L.A. Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan found guilty in sprawling City Hall corruption case -- Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan was found guilty Wednesday of racketeering, bribery, fraud and giving false statements to investigators in a sprawling corruption case targeting pay-to-play schemes involving developers with business at City Hall. David Zahniser, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Would California bridges stand up to a direct hit? We asked experts -- Robert Dowell, an associate professor of structural engineering at San Diego State University, said California’s major bridges are less at risk of being toppled by errant cargo ships because their support columns have been retrofitted to make them withstandß major earthquakes. Jenny Jarvie, Grace Toohey, Rachel Uranga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

What happens if a cargo vessel hits the Bay Bridge as in the Baltimore collapse? -- A major bridge crash, reminiscent of Tuesday’s incident in which a cargo ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, could happen in the Bay Area. But would it cause devastation on the same scale? To state and regional transportation officials, that’s a tough question. Rachel Swan, Jessica Flores in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

Baltimore bridge disaster: Could it happen here? -- There are eight major bridges across San Francisco Bay, and more than 2,800 large ships come into the bay every year. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/24

Policy & Politics

How bashing California became a requirement for conservative politicians -- Conservative animosity toward California has evolved from 1960s jabs at the counterculture in the Bay Area and the cultural influence of Hollywood to a more hard-edged partisanship. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Why Democrats say drug screening welfare recipients isn’t a GOP wish come true -- Leaders like San Francisco Mayor London Breed say the requirement is about preserving lives as overdose deaths skyrocket. But there’s more at play. Dustin Gardiner, Maya Kaufman Politico -- 3/27/24

Barabak: She can’t stand Trump or Biden. Don’t tell this ‘double-hater’ she’s crazy voting for someone else -- Most of those known as ‘double haters’ will come around to support one of the two major party presidential nominees. But some, like Victoria Thompson, won’t back Trump or Biden under any circumstances. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

California is preparing to defend itself — and the nation — against Trump 2.0 -- California officials are dusting off the playbook that made them a bulwark against former President Donald Trump from 2016-2020. Blanca Begert Politico -- 3/27/24

Garofoli: London Breed’s first big fundraiser offers a hint at election strategy: Win over women -- The Breed campaign is making outreach to women a central part of its focus, as London Breed is likely to be the only major female candidate in the race. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

Rural California can finally claim both legislative leaders as its own -- The last time both legislative leaders came from rural districts was more than 50 years ago. Camille Von Kaenel Politico -- 3/27/24

Challenged ballots and a potential recount. Here’s how the Congressional District 16 race could play out -- Joe Simitian and Evan Low are in a tight race for second place. Grace Hase in the San ßJose Mercury$ -- 3/27/24

RFK Jr. names California tech lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential choice -- With no experience holding or running for elected office, Shanahan epitomizes the kind of nontraditional choices Kennedy has said he would bring to the White House if his long shot bid for the presidency succeeds. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

RFK Jr. steps into contentious Bay Area tribal dispute -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that if elected president, he would support a local Bay Area tribe’s controversial bid for federal recognition. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

Drug-testing kits to be offered to patrons in California bars this summer -- California bars and nightclubs will be required starting July 1 to offer or sell drug-testing kits to patrons who suspect someone has tampered with their drink. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Walters: California’s liberal government has a long history caving to special interests -- California is a liberal state where politicians enact laws and regulations aimed at improving Californians’ lives, but that also makes them susceptible to influence. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 3/27/24

Workplace

L.A. Times reporters attacked by Minnesota troopers will settle lawsuit for $1.2 million -- The journalists sued the Minnesota State Patrol in 2021 after being cornered and attacked by officers while covering a protest of George Floyd’s slaying. Hannah Wiley in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

The Fight for AI Talent: Pay Million-Dollar Packages and Buy Whole Teams -- The artificial-intelligence boom is sending Silicon Valley’s talent wars to new extremes. Katherine Bindley in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 3/27/24

San Francisco proposes strongest-in-the-nation ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighter clothing -- Firefighters are more likely to develop cancer and die from it than the general population, and it’s not just smoke from burning buildings that’s suspected of making them sick. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

After unionized strippers accused club owner of violating deal, federal labor board intervenes -- After strippers at Star Garden, a topless dive bar in North Hollywood, won the right to unionize last year, the club’s owner agreed to reopen the club, hire back dancers he had fired, and run the club as it had been before the labor dispute. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Downtown Oakland

Oakland’s downtown is struggling — and experts worry the outlook could be worse than in S.F. -- There’s concern that the struggle of Oakland’s commercial real estate market could be more long term than in San Francisco. Laura Waxmann in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

Housing

‘Simply too few homes available’: San Diego home prices rising fastest in nation for 2nd month -- The San Diego metropolitan area’s annual home price increased 11.2 percent annually in January, according to the S&P Case-Shiller Indices report released Tuesday, up from 8.8 percent the previous month. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/24

S.F. Mayor Breed loses latest housing fight as supervisors override her veto of controversial legislation -- The battle over San Francisco housing policy took center stage at City Hall Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors overturned Mayor London Breed’s veto of legislation that will impose housing development restrictions on 15 to 20 blocks in historic areas of San Francisco. Aldo Toledo in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

Condos on this S.F. island are as high as $4.4 million. What life is like for the first residents -- “It’s like I’m always on vacation,” said one resident who commutes to San Francisco by ferry. “It’s so relaxing. It’s so clean.” J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/24

Skid Row

A controversial AIDS charity seeks to acquire a Skid Row housing portfolio. State officials want to stop it -- The Hollywood-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation is in line to acquire homeless housing developments owned by a failed Skid Row landlord. State housing officials are objecting to the deal, citing the foundation’s troubled track record. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

PACE Loans

L.A. County settles PACE loan lawsuits; affected homeowners to receive millions -- Under a $12-million settlement, L.A. County agreed to resolve allegations its PACE lending program saddled borrowers with loans they couldn’t afford. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Diddy

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sweeping sex-trafficking inquiry: What the feds have, need to prove -- Legal experts say it could take time to build a criminal case against the hip-hop mogul but note that civil lawsuits against him could offer investigators a road map. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Berkeley Private Security

UC Berkeley parents hired private security, fearing for their kids -- For 17 days, a private security force patrolled UC Berkeley on foot and on bicycles but did not step onto the campus or coordinate with campus police. Salvador Hernandez, Nathan Solis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Climate

‘Humbling, and a bit worrying’: Scientists fail to fully explain record global heat -- Blistering global temperatures have one NASA scientist warning: “We could be in uncharted territory.” Others aren’t so sure. Hayley Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/24

Also

Trump’s Newest Venture? A $60 Bible --Before he turned to politics, former President Donald J. Trump lent his star power and celebrity endorsement to a slew of consumer products — steaks, vodka and even for-profit education, to name just a few. Michael Gold, Maggie Haberman in the New York Times$ -- 3/27/24