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California Policy and Politics Friday
Land of the million-dollar starter home could decide the fate of Congress -- Key battleground districts have been pummeled by California’s housing affordability crisis, according to a Politico analysis of Zillow data. Melanie Mason Politico -- 11/1/24
Poll finds Californians uncertain about Proposition 32, which would boost minimum wage to $18 -- Just under half of California voters support Proposition 32, the measure to increase California’s minimum wage to $18 an hour, a warning sign about its fate in next week’s election, according to new polling results released Friday. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
Two recalls on the Oakland ballot show frustration about crime ‘boiling over’ -- When Sheng Thao was sworn in as mayor of Oakland in January of 2023, a raft of feel-good stories followed, often featuring beaming portraits of the mayor in front of sun-drenched civic landmarks. Jessica Garrison in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
The wild card in S.F.’s mayoral race? A huge increase in voter turnout -- San Francisco has never chosen a mayor with an electorate as large as the one expected to cast ballots by Tuesday. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
In two L.A. City Council races, police ‘abolition’ is a wedge issue -- Long before she uttered the words “F— the police,” Los Angeles City Council candidate Ysabel Jurado made clear she was not happy with the city’s approach to public safety. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
California regulators slap Bay Area refinery with record penalty after ‘egregious’ long-term leak of toxic pollutants -- Regional and state air quality regulators handed Valero Refining Co. a nearly $82 million penalty for “egregious” emissions problems at its Benicia refinery, which for 16 years spewed illegal amounts of cancer-causing gases and chemicals into the air. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
California medical lobby ask voters to guarantee billions in annual funding -- Prop 35 would put budgeting decisions beyond the reach of lawmakers. Rachel Bluth Politico -- 11/1/24
S.F. is forcing more mentally ill people into treatment — but are they actually getting help? -- Last year, San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued a bold order: She directed her administration to aggressively compel more people into involuntary mental health and drug treatment. Sophia Bollag in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
Banned rainbows and ‘forced outing.’ Will elections reshape this relentless school board? -- The Chino Valley Unified School District is racially diverse and politically mixed. But its school board sees itself as a triumph of conservative politics, often focused on LGBTQ+ issues, in blue California. Jaweed Kaleem in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
In scramble to flip another district blue, Democrats hope Rep. Kiley is too MAGA for Sacramento suburbs -- California Democrats are promoting Jessica Morse as they scramble to turn District 3 from red to blue in a bid for control of Congress. Mackenzie Mays in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
After Folsom layoffs, Intel reports $16.6 billion loss. CEO says most job cuts are done -- Weeks after announcing plans to cut hundreds of jobs across California, including 272 in Folsom and 47 in San Jose, Intel leaders signaled Thursday that the reductions are largely over. Annika Merrilees in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 11/1/24
L.A. D.A. Gascón made strides in prosecuting police. Would a Hochman win change that? -- Under George Gascón, the L.A. County district attorney’s office aggressively prosecuted police for excessive force. With challenger Nathan Hochman now surging in the polls and the favored candidate of police unions, there are questions about his agenda if elected on Nov. 5. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
Downtown SF
Moscone Center loses another conference in latest blow to S.F. tourism sector -- The American College of Surgeons has canceled its 2029 San Francisco conference in the latest blow to the city’s hard-hit tourism sector. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
Housing
Mortgage rates are rising. Experts cite economic strength, inflation and possible Trump win -- Mortgage interest rate have been on the rise, pushed higher by strong economic data and the possibility Donald Trump could regain the White House, experts said. Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
Homeless
S.F. has spent millions on a parking site for the homeless. It’s finally got reliable electricity -- San Francisco’s only city-run parking site for homeless people living in vehicles has struggled with a litany of problems since opening nearly three years ago. It has sparked a lawsuit from neighboring residents and broad criticisms from those living at the site. Maggie Angst, St. John Barned-Smith in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
Environment
Major California water source faces ‘immediate threat’ from new invasive species -- An invasive freshwater bivalve known as the golden mussel has arrived in North America, posing a “significant immediate threat” to California’s delta, state officials announced Thursday. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Alastair Bland CalMatters -- 11/1/24
Key wildlife returning to Northern California river for the first time in nearly a century -- A series of dams have long arrested the natural flow of water on the North Yuba River in the Tahoe National Forest, blocking the salmon from these spawning grounds for more than 80 years. State officials are trying to bring the threatened spring-run chinook salmon back, starting this week with 300,000 eggs planted in the streambed. Julie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
Walters: A century later, salmon again spawning in Klamath River after dams removed -- Sixty years ago, I was a reporter for the Klamath Falls (Oregon) Herald and News and with my family lived in a small house on the Link River, which flows out of Upper Klamath Lake, draining a large portion of the Cascade mountain range. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 11/1/24
L.A. County sues Pepsi and Coca-Cola over their role in ongoing plastic pollution crisis -- The suit is the latest in a series of high-profile legal actions California officials have taken against petrochemical corporations and plastic manufacturers. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
Street
Mysterious sign highlighting S.F. drug crisis installed on troubled street corner in SoMa -- A mysterious new street sign that reads ‘No Parking’ because of a 'drug injection site' has been installed on a street corner teeming with open-air drug dealers and users in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood. Maggie Angst in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
Man grabs AR-15, hops into golf cart to chase burglary suspects. Instead, he shoots at two deputies -- A scary situation unfolded early Halloween morning when an AR-15-wielding vigilante mistakenly fired at San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies while trying to pursue a group of suspected burglars, authorities said. Sandra McDonald in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
Top of the ticket
Trump suggests ‘war hawk’ Liz Cheney should have guns ‘trained on her face’ -- The GOP nominee has long vilified the former congresswoman over her criticism of his role in fomenting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Hannah Knowles and Marianne LeVine in the Washington Post$ -- 11/1/24
Trump lagging in early vote with seniors in Pennsylvania, a red flag for GOP -- Donald Trump is lagging Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania early voting with a critical and once-reliably Republican constituency: seniors. Meridith McGraw and Jessica Piper Politico -- 11/1/24
Harris rebukes Trump for saying he will protect women whether they ‘like it or not’ -- Kamala Harris and others criticized Trump’s remarks, saying they evoked the idea that Trump believes he can make decisions for women. Justine McDaniel in the Washington Post$ -- 11/1/24
Trump’s ‘grab them’ comment was history. Now TikTok is showing it to young voters -- As the audio clip circulates on the popular video app, Gen Z users are expressing their shock. Tatum Hunter in the Washington Post$ -- 11/1/24
Fact checking Trump’s biggest claims on immigration: How do they measure up? -- Migrants, according to former President Trump, are violent criminals, voting illegally, eating your pets, draining emergency disaster funding and stealing your job. These claims have elicited fear, hatred and anger among many voters. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
Dems say they will certify a Trump victory — even the ones who think the 14th Amendment disqualifies him -- If Trump wins at the polls, Democratic leaders are hoping to prevent Jan. 6 drama, despite past claims that he is constitutionally barred from office. Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu Politico -- 11/1/24
Lopez: Harris or Trump? The outcome could be in the hands of voters 65 and older -- Voter turnout will be greater in the rapidly growing 65-and-older age group than in any other. That’s the way it’s been since 1988, and it’s not likely to change next week. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/1/24
RFK Jr. set for major food, health role in potential Trump administration -- Trump promises Kennedy can “go wild on health… go wild on the medicines” as White House plans take shape. Dan Diamond, Lauren Weber, Josh Dawsey, Michael Scherer and Rachel Roubein in the Washington Post$ -- 11/1/24
Why the Right Thinks Trump Is Running Away With the Race -- Skewed polls and anonymous betting markets are building up Republicans’ expectations. Donald Trump could use that to challenge the result. Ken Bensinger and Kaleigh Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 11/1/24
She Saw Jan. 6 Coming. Here’s What Worries Her Now -- The founder of a private intelligence firm says far-right extremists are ramping up — before the election. Betsy Woodruff Swan Politico -- 11/1/24
Xenophobia and Hate Speech Are Spiking Heading Into the Election -- Leading Republican politicians and lax social media controls have contributed to a proliferation of hate rhetoric and anti-immigrant sentiment. Amy Qin in the New York Times$ -- 11/1/24
The Deep Roots of 4 of Donald Trump’s Nativist Remarks -- In the former president’s pitch to voters, historians hear echoes of the nation’s inescapable xenophobic history. Jazmine Ulloa in the New York Times$ -- 11/1/24
The Bay Area’s own Florida: This boat-filled town is the closest place to S.F. to vote for Trump -- Unlike in any other place of meaningful size in the nine counties of the Bay Area, a majority of Discovery Bay voters supported Donald Trump in the 2020 election. That makes this idyll of boats and waterways the closest place to San Francisco to have voted red. Molly Burke in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/1/24
California Policy and Politics Thursday
Could Trump really cut off wildfire aid for California? Absolutely -- The threats appear to be founded. Presidents have an extraordinary amount of discretion when it comes to disaster aid, which Trump reportedly wielded as a political cudgel during his presidency. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Here are the 100 California residents giving the most in the race for the White House -- Vice President Kamala Harris dominates in support from California donors. Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Busloads of Californians are heading to swing states. Can they make a difference? -- Californians are heading east to knock on doors ahead of the 2024 election. Democrats in particular are sending busloads of volunteers to Arizona and Nevada. Ana B. Ibarra CalMatters -- 10/31/24
It’s hard to vote in California when you’re homeless. Why it matters when their voices are silenced -- Homeless Californians face many barriers to casting a ballot, even in elections that affect their lives. Some counties and nonprofits are trying to boost turnout. Marisa Kendall and Yue Stella Yu CalMatters -- 10/31/24
Gov. Newsom issues executive order aimed at lowering electric bills -- With Californians angry about their skyrocketing electric bills, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Wednesday aimed at giving them some relief. Melody Petersen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Musk’s Tesla backs California electric-car rules opposed by Trump -- As Republicans claim California’s program will raise gas prices, the man who is single-handedly going to the mat for the biggest Republican in America is arguing the policy is good for his car company. Debra Kahn Politico -- 10/31/24
California EV sales inch up but Tesla posts a decline -- Electric vehicle registrations rose 2% in California for the three months that ended Sept. 30 compared with the year-earlier period, but top-selling EV maker Tesla saw a 3.5% decline, according to the latest report from car dealers. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Santa Cruz County to ban sale of filtered cigarettes and cigars -- Santa Cruz County will prohibit the sale of filtered cigars and cigarettes, an effort to slash waste from cigarette butts which proponents said litter the coastal county’s beaches and harm marine life. Maliya Ellis in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/31/24
Too many Democrats in Sacramento? The downsides of political dominance in California -- Twelve years ago Democrats won a surprising two-thirds supermajority in the state Legislature, giving themselves the strength to pass any bill without the need for a single Republican vote in California. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Joining Beverly Hills and Coronado in rebelling against state housing rules: this blue collar city -- The city of Norwalk has passed one of California’s most drastic anti-homeless laws in recent memory. Gov. Gavin Newsom is threatening a lawsuit and homeless people wonder where they will sleep. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao sends open letter to major funder of recall effort -- “Oaklanders deserve to know who you are,” the mayor said in a letter to Piedmont hedge fund manager Philip Dreyfuss. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/31/24
Newton: How did Los Angeles voters get stuck with two distressing choices for district attorney? -- Los Angeles residents could be forgiven for feeling that they’d taken a wrong turn some time ago on the question of who should direct criminal prosecutions in the nation’s largest county — and what ideas and policies should drive them. Jim Newton CalMatters -- 10/31/24
Walters: Newsom provides welfare to the wealthy, skimps on anti-homelessness programs -- Gov. Gavin Newsom has played Santa Claus for the last week, promising bigger state subsidies to Hollywood’s film and video industry and giving cities and counties a new tranche of state aid to combat homelessness. Dan Walters CalMatters -- 10/31/24
Can Gavin Newsom help in House races? -- The GOP has been using California’s Democratic governor as a cudgel in battleground districts, tying their opponents to the state’s top official. Lara Korte Politico -- 10/31/24
Skelton: My take on the head-scratching California ballot measures -- Voting early is a mistake, I figure. Take all the time you’re allowed. Something could happen right before the election to change your vote. And those puzzling propositions need extra pondering. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
D.A. supports Menendez brothers’ bid for clemency after nearly 35 years behind bars -- Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón said Wednesday that he supports the Menendez brothers’ bid for clemency from Gov. Gavin Newsom, a move that could set them free. Richard Winton and James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Gender identity document changes can be kept sealed, California court rules -- A state appeals court says a transgender woman who took action to change her name and gender identity at age 19 has a right to keep those records confidential in order to avoid threats and harassment. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 10/31/24
Metro bus set on fire, vandalism, burglaries and arrests in L.A. as Dodgers win World Series -- Ecstatic fans took to the streets of Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the franchise’s eighth World Series title, but the joy turned into scattered unrest downtown and nearby areas overnight, where vehicles were burned and businesses burglarized. Clara Harter, Gustavo Arellano and Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Plaschke: The Greatest! Historic Dodgers overpower Yankees for 8th World Series championship -- The Dodgers did it. They really did it. The hallowed New York Yankees stood frozen in their dugout, stripped of their aura and bludgeoned at their essence, painfully demolished pinstripe by pinstripe. Bill Plaschke in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Workplace
Boeing is looking to jettison the space business. Why it might hold on to its El Segundo satellite operation -- Analysts expect that struggling Boeing Co. will hold on to its El Segundo satellite programs if it exits the space industry amid stiff competition from SpaceX. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Robots can make your fries, salads and guacamole. Is this the future of fast food? -- Miso Robotics in Pasadena is one of several tech startups betting their robots will appeal to fast-food chains searching for new ways to save money. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Top of the ticket
We fact-checked some of Trump’s most common claims on immigration -- The former president says migrants are voting illegally, eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, and coming from jails and mental institutions. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Trump falsely claims newspapers not endorsing shows poor view of Harris, ‘great’ one of him -- Former President Trump on Wednesday falsely claimed that decisions by the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post to not endorse any candidate in the presidential race reflected a poor opinion at the newspapers of Vice President Kamala Harris and a favorable opinion of him. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
‘Put this junk behind us’: Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses Kamala Harris -- Schwarzenegger, who followed in the footsteps of former President Ronald Reagan as California’s second actor-turned-governor, said another Trump presidency would continue to divide and anger the American people. Shira Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Ben Brasch in the Washington Post$ Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
How Arnold endorsed Kamala -- Schwarzenegger in recent days connected over the phone with Vice President Kamala Harris herself. Christopher Cadelago Politico -- 10/31/24
Harris Doesn’t Campaign on Her Gender. Is That a Sign of Progress? -- This time eight years ago, much of the nation’s focus was on a glass ceiling that ultimately didn’t break. This year, as another woman stands on the brink of potential history, the country is talking about everything else. Elizabeth Findell in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/31/24
Mike Johnson vows major changes to Affordable Care Act if Trump wins election -- The House speaker said Republicans would seek to overhaul the law, which provides health coverage to tens of millions and has been a frequent target of GOP repeal efforts. Dan Diamond in the Washington Post$ -- 10/31/24
Companies ready price hikes to offset Trump’s global tariff plans -- Producers of a range of items, including clothing, footwear, baby products, auto parts and hardware, say they will pass along the cost of the tariffs to their American customers. David J. Lynch in the Washington Post$ -- 10/31/24
Trump Allies Draw Up Plans Targeting Legal Immigration -- On the campaign trail, Donald Trump routinely promises he will end illegal immigration. Behind the scenes, his closest advisers and allies are also drawing up plans that would restrict many forms of legal immigration, some of which could affect the ability of businesses to hire foreign workers. Michelle Hackman in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/31/24
Did Biden mean to call Trump supporters ‘garbage,’ or just stumble defending Puerto Rico? -- Did President Biden just call former President Trump’s supporters — nearly half the American electorate — “garbage”? That’s what it sounded like he said in an interview Tuesday, and Republicans have been hammering him for doing so. Kevin Rector in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 10/31/24
Biden’s Gaffes Complicate Harris’s Final Stretch, Worrying Democratic Insiders -- President Biden did not attend Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on Tuesday night, but his ill-timed flub in a video interview caused headaches for her campaign. Peter Baker in the New York Times$ -- 10/31/24
What Muslim Ban? Trump Tries to Sidestep Years of Islamophobia -- Former President Donald J. Trump is trying to persuade a potentially decisive group of Arab and Muslim voters that they should vote for him, even though he has spent years insulting and demonizing them. Hamed Aleaziz in the New York Times$ -- 10/31/24
The Next President Inherits a Remarkable Economy -- Whoever wins the White House next week will take office with no shortage of challenges, but at least one huge asset: an economy that is putting its peers to shame. Greg Ip in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 10/31/24
Inflation Is Basically Back to Normal. Why Do Voters Still Feel Blah? -- Consumers still give the economy poor marks, though the job market is strong and price increases have faded for months. Jeanna Smialek in the New York Times$ -- 10/31/24
Why the Right Thinks Trump Is Running Away With the Race -- Skewed polls and anonymous betting markets are building up Republicans’ expectations. Donald Trump could use that to challenge the result. Ken Bensinger and Kaleigh Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 10/31/24