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California Policy and Politics Saturday
In boom-and-bust San Francisco, voters look to mayor’s race for rescue -- The city always treats politics as a blood sport, but the first mayoral election after the pandemic has been especially fierce. Reis Thebault and Trisha Thadani in the Washington Post$ -- 11/2/24
The border crisis Trump doesn’t talk about -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday — but not for the reason you’d expect. The border crisis that drew the Democrat wasn’t immigration, but sewage. Ry Rivard Politico -- 11/2/24
Shasta County drew national attention for its rancorous politics. One Republican is taking a stand -- “Sometimes, I try to use a few of my cattle-handling skills in the boardroom,” she said. “Animal behavior and human behavior aren’t too distantly related.” Connor Letourneau in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Jessica Garrison in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
These special interests are spending big to influence which Democrats win L.A. seats in the Legislature -- The California Legislature is poised to welcome one of its largest freshman classes in more than a decade, and special interest groups are spending millions on Democrat-versus-Democrat races in the November election to help decide which newcomer voters will send to Sacramento. Anabel Sosa and Angie Orellana Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
In S.F., disillusionment drives some Chinese American voters toward Trump -- For some Chinese American voters, economic and public safety concerns are eclipsing alarm at Donald Trump’s anti-China rhetoric and policies. Ko Lyn Cheang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/2/24
‘It’s close’: Half of voters polled favor L.A. County Measure A sales tax for homeless services -- In the final weeks before the Nov. 5 election, a measure that would double the county’s quarter-percent homeless sales tax was closing in on the majority it needs to pass, a new poll of likely Los Angeles County voters found. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Arellano: O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s downfall started with this dogged reporter -- I greeted Nick Gerda last week the same way I’ve greeted him over the past year: a handshake, a hug and a “Great job, man.” Since last November, the LAist reporter has dropped bombshell after bombshell about Andrew Do, a longtime politician who most recently served as an Orange County supervisor. Gustavo Arellano in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Bird flu virus found in Los Angeles County wastewater -- Officials say they have not identified the source of the virus, but suggested a few possibilities, including discarded contaminated animal products and infected wild bird droppings. They are also “actively engaging key risk groups,” including dairy and meat-processing sites nearby. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Two major reports slam UCLA over policing, violence at pro-Palestinian protest -- Two high-profile, back-to-back reports slam UCLA leaders for a confusing breakdown in its police response leading to violence at a pro-Palestinian encampment in April, with one investigation also calling out the university’s “dramatic failures in confronting antisemitism.” Jaweed Kaleem and Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Judge strikes down San Francisco’s vacant home tax -- A tax on thousands of vacant apartment units in San Francisco, approved by the city’s voters two years ago to make more housing available to would-be tenants, has been struck down by a judge. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/2/24
After deputies took her pet goat to be butchered, girl wins $300,000 from Shasta County -- A 9-year-old girl who fell in love with the goat she raised for the Shasta District Fair was heartbroken when deputies, wielding a search warrant, confiscated the furry livestock, taking him away to be butchered. Salvador Hernandez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Workplace
Bay Area tech layoffs hit Upwork, Coursera, Kraken and other companies -- Several prominent tech firms in the Bay Area, including Coursera and Kraken, announced substantial layoffs in October, impacting hundreds of employees across the industry. Here’s a roundup of the companies, and reasons for their workforce reductions. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/2/24
Incoming LAPD chief could make more than the U.S. president -- The incoming Los Angeles Police Department chief stands to get paid more than L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, the leaders of the police departments in New York and Chicago — the nation’s two largest — and even the president of the United States. Libor Jany in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Street
A California canine officer was an ace at locating drugs. Authorities say it was all made up -- For years, a canine officer assigned to Bay Area prisons seemed to have an extraordinary knack for sniffing out contraband being smuggled inside, vastly outperforming his colleagues by repeatedly locating drugs, weapons and cellphones. Federal prosecutors now say it was all a scam. Demian Bulwa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 11/2/24
L.A. man wearing GPS ankle monitor is accused of a robbery spree. Officials can’t track him -- The case of a man arrested five times in five months raises questions about the reliability of a Probation Department contractor that operates GPS ankle monitors. Matthew Ormseth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Top of the ticket
Harris campaign launches closing ad -- The spot will air across NFL games on Sunday, including a major matchup between two swing-state teams. Myah Ward Politico -- 11/2/24
Behind the Blue Wall: Trump’s Giveaways, Harris’ Balancing Act -- After the most turbulent modern American presidential election, the race now rests on competing and straightforward bets in the three states that have determined three consecutive White House campaigns. Jonathan Martin Politico -- 11/2/24
What Elon Musk wants from Washington -- Elon Musk’s emergence as the big-spending, rocket-launching, joy-jumping alter ego for former President Donald Trump has transformed the conversation about what might really happen to Washington if Trump takes the White House back. Derek Robertson Politico -- 11/2/24
Trump, Preparing to Challenge the Results, Puts His 2020 Playbook Into Action -- Step by step, Donald J. Trump and his allies are following the strategies that caused chaos four years ago. Election officials say they are ready this time. Jim Rutenberg and Alan Feuer in the New York Times$ -- 11/2/24
Kamala Harris rebounds with Latino voters, poll shows -- Harris leads 57% to 33% in the National Hispanic Voters Public Opinion Survey conducted by Florida International University in Miami, taken between Oct. 10-22. That’s close to Biden’s 59% to 38% lead over Trump in the 2020 election estimated by the Pew Research Center. Noah Bierman in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
Harris campaign: Late-deciding voters are ‘breaking by double digits’ for the VP -- Harris campaign manager David Plouffe wrote Friday afternoon on X that late-deciding voters are “breaking by double digits” for the vice president, with “the remaining undecideds looking more friendly” to them than Donald Trump. His comments echo those shared by senior campaign officials earlier Friday on a call with reporters. Megan Messerly Politico -- 11/2/24
Trump continues to bash Cheney, says he hasn’t heard offensive Puerto Rico joke -- Donald Trump on Saturday leaned harder into attacking former Rep. Liz Cheney and continued to clean up an offensive joke about Puerto Rico a comedian told at a rally earlier this week. Irie Sentner Politico -- 11/2/24
Harris and Trump nearly even in Pennsylvania in campaign’s final days, Post poll finds -- A Washington Post poll finds both Democrats and Republicans are highly motivated to vote. Dan Balz, Emily Guskin and Scott Clement in the Washington Post$ -- 11/2/24
Trump uses Liz Cheney to make his case to Arab and Muslim voters in Michigan -- “Many Muslim and Arab Americans have friends and family living in the Middle East, and Kamala is campaigning with warmongers like Liz Cheney,” Trump said. Irie Sentner Politico -- 11/2/24
Harris and Trump Clash Over His Violent Language About Liz Cheney -- Donald Trump had suggested that Ms. Cheney, a fierce Republican critic, should be put somewhere “with nine barrels shooting at her.” Kamala Harris called the remarks “disqualifying.” Michael Gold and Adam Nagourney in the New York Times$ -- 11/2/24
Why the Polls Might Be Wrong — in Kamala Harris’ Favor -- It’s taken pollsters eight years to pin down Trump’s voters. Is 100 days really enough to accurately capture potential Harris voters? Justin Brown Politico -- 11/2/24
Watch These Counties for Early Clues to Election Night -- Seven counties offer hints on how the presidential vote is shaping up among crucial voter groups for both candidates. Dante Chinni, Stephanie Stamm and Anthony DeBarros in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/2/24
Harris Bets on Big Turnout Among Women to Push Her Over Finish Line -- The vice president and surrogates, including Michelle Obama, are making emotional appeals to women about abortion and health. Catherine Lucey in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 11/2/24
Social media influencers turned Harris backers rallying voters of color -- Though usually nonpolitical, the content creators are appealing to their followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to help turn out key groups for Democrats. Dylan Wells in the Washington Post$ -- 11/2/24
Trump Is Courting Apolitical Young Men. Will It Pay Off? -- Gen Z men are increasingly turning away from the Democratic Party, swayed by the former president’s bravado and irreverence. But they also do not usually vote in high numbers. Kellen Browning, Benjamin Oreskes and Eduardo Medina CalMatters -- 11/2/24
The Deep Roots of 4 of Donald Trump’s Nativist Remarks -- Former President Donald J. Trump’s third run for the White House has neared its end the same way his first one started: with relentless dehumanizing portrayals of immigrants. Jazmine Ulloa in the New York Times$ -- 11/2/24
Russian disinformation videos push lies on voter fraud and immigrants -- Refining its past approach toward undermining U.S. elections, Russia is trying to disrupt the current one by playing on divisive American narratives to gain traction with powerful influencers. Joseph Menn in the Washington Post$ -- 11/2/24
Inside Elon Musk’s vision to remake government: ‘Delete, delete, delete’ -- The billionaire is enthusiastic about the potential to bring his slash-and-burn business philosophy, honed at Twitter and Tesla, to dramatically cut the federal government under Trump. Critics see potential conflicts of interest. Elizabeth Dwoskin, Jeff Stein and Josh Dawsey in the Washington Post$ -- 11/1/24
Voters are seeing more deepfakes — and worrying more about their influence. How to spot them -- A survey shows that most Americans have seen a deepfake in recent months, and most worry about AI-generated misinformation influencing elections. Jon Healey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 11/2/24
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