California Policy & Politics This Morning
Mexico rejects U.S. plan to deport Central Americans to Mexico -- Mexico has informed the Trump administration that it cannot accept non-Mexican nationals whom U.S. authorities arrest along the border and seek to remove from U.S. territory, the nation’s internal security chief said Friday. Patrick J. McDonnell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom asks Trump for cooperation with California on marijuana regulation -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading supporter of Proposition 64, sent a letter to President Trump on Friday, urging him not to carry through with threats to launch a federal enforcement effort against recreational marijuana firms that will be legalized in California. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Issa calls for special prosecutor on Russian interference in election -- Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, said on Friday that a special prosecutor needs to lead an investigation into the alleged ties between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s regime. Ricky Young in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
Hollywood stars call for activism against Trump at ‘United Voices’ rally -- Using their names and fame to stand against what they call President Donald Trump’s policies of “exclusion and division,” some of Hollywood’s biggest movie and television stars addressed a crowd of hundreds Friday at the United Voices rally in support of immigrant rights and creative expression. Matthew Carey and Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Lindsey Bhar Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Syrian who worked on nominated film can't attend Oscars -- U.S. immigration authorities are barring entry to a 21-year-old Syrian cinematographer who worked on a harrowing film about his nation's civil war, "The White Helmets," that has been nominated for an Academy Award. Bradley Klapper Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Morain: Kevin McCarthy displays his clout, for good and ill -- As he regularly does, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was mining for Silicon Valley campaign money at a fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco this month. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Billionaire Tom Steyer torches President Trump in Sonoma County Democrats fundraiser -- Like a football coach delivering a pregame pep talk, billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer urged a crowd of more than 800 Democrats Friday night to fight what he called President Donald Trump’s effort to roll back core California values. Guy Kovner in the Santa Rosa Press -- 2/25/17
Rep. Steve Knight will ask attendees at his town hall next week to provide ID to prove they live in his district -- Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster) will hold a town hall meeting in Palmdale next Saturday after weeks of pressure from constituents and protesters for an in-person meeting with the congressman. Javier Panzar in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
Dianne Feinstein banters with protesters asking for town hall: ‘I kind of enjoy it’ -- The San Francisco chapter of Indivisible, a liberal organizing group that has shown up in force at constituent meetings across the country in recent weeks to “resist” the Trump administration’s agenda, crashed a talk with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Friday asking the veteran Democrat to host a town hall. Alexei Koseff in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/24/17
Activists chastise Democratic members of Congress for a lack of town halls in their districts -- Though the majority of protests during Congress' week back home have focused on California's 14 Republican members, some activists are voicing frustration with Democrats who didn't hold town halls while they were in their districts. Sarah D. Wire in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
Feds deny request to keep Don Pedro Reservoir spillway open; closure could come Monday -- Federal officials on Friday denied a request to keep the Don Pedro Reservoir spillway open, to the chagrin of operators concerned about future storm runoff in their Tuolumne River watershed. John Holland in the Modesto Bee -- 2/24/17
Brown to redirect millions for flood-control measures at dams -- Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans Friday to invest millions of dollars in flood-control measures, improve dam inspections and require all state-regulated dam owners to have plans in place to deal with emergencies. Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle Ben Bradford Capital Public Radio Katie Orr KQED -- 2/24/17
Storm-Lashed California Roads, Dams Could Cost $1B To Fix -- The bill to repair California's crumbling roads, dams and other critical infrastructure hammered by an onslaught of storms this winter could top $1 billion, including nearly $600 million alone for damaged roadways that more than doubles what the state budgeted for road repair emergencies, officials said Friday. Scott Smith Associated Press -- 2/24/17
'This happened in my city. I am responsible': San Jose mayor vows to fix alert issues in flooding -- San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo assumed responsibility Friday for failing to properly notify thousands of residents who were forced to flee as floodwaters inundated their neighborhoods this week. Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
California Republicans Hope Trump Brings More Dam Construction To The State -- Even though California Republicans are on the wrong end of a super majority in the State Legislature, they hope a Trump presidency will help them achieve some of their goals when it comes to water storage. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 2/24/17
California Republicans see a way out of irrelevance in the era of Trump -- Sen. Jeff Stone’s annual trip to the Governor’s Mansion for dinner felt different this year. Taryn Luna in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 2/25/17
At Republican state convention, conservative radio host and former Trump critic Hugh Hewitt accentuates the positive -- Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, who called on Donald Trump to step aside as the Republican presidential nominee late in the campaign, spent much of his speech praising the president's policies and appointees that he agrees with. Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
California Republicans to consider resolutions on 'sanctuary cities,' Obamacare at state convention -- California Republicans meeting for their annual convention will vote Sunday on resolutions supporting President Trump’s efforts to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities, increase vetting of immigrants from certain Muslim-majority countries and repeal Obamacare. Seema Mehta and Christine Mai-Duc in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
Sheriff's Department demands halt to Measure S mailers that mimic eviction notices -- Lawyers representing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sent a letter Friday demanding that the backers of Measure S stop sending out mailers that mimic eviction notices. Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Oakland officers again ordered to report unauthorized parties -- Oakland’s assistant police chief ordered officers Friday to immediately begin reporting unpermitted events up the chain of command — a policy developed in response to the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in December. Kimberly Veklerov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds
Homeless
Housing
Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions
Poverty
Wildfire
Water
Transit
Golden Gate Ferry to take over operation of Tiburon commuter run -- The kerfuffle over the future of the Tiburon commuter ferry has ended peacefully, and Golden Gate Ferry will take over operation of the route in March, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District announced. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/24/17
Education
What Parents Of Students With Special Needs Can Expect Under San Diego Unified Cuts -- Several San Diego Unified employees spoke out at Tuesday’s board meeting against layoffs proposed as part of a plan to cut $124 million from next year’s budget. They included occupational therapy assistants, who help children with special needs develop motor skills and perform daily tasks, and special education assistants and technicians at dozens of school sites. Megan Burks KPBS -- 2/24/17
Ukiah school district declares itself a safe haven for immigrants -- The resolution, adopted last week, clarifies and reinforces laws and school policies in place to protect students and their families. It was intended to quell the concerns of the community, parents and students in light of President Donald Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Glenda Anderson in the Santa Rosa Press -- 2/24/17
An inside, outside election season for L.A. teachers union -- For Los Angeles teachers, the current political season packs a one-two punch. On Monday, ballots are counted to determine who will lead their union. Just over a week later, voters decide on three pivotal L.A. school board seats. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
UC regents unanimously approve Georgia Tech dean as new chancellor for UC Davis -- University of California regents unanimously approved a new chancellor for UC Davis on Thursday, tapping a Georgia Tech dean who is widely praised for his engineering brilliance, administrative skills and effective advocacy for underrepresented minority students. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
Cannabis
California officials and the marijuana industry are ready to fight a federal crackdown -- Warned of a possible federal crackdown on marijuana, California elected officials and cannabis industry leaders said Friday they were preparing for a potential showdown in the courts and Congress to protect the legalization measure approved by state voters in November. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
Guns
Immigration / Border
Parents Who Pay for Undocumented Children to Enter U.S. Could Be Prosecuted -- Immigrant parents who pay smugglers to bring their undocumented children into the United States could face criminal prosecution or deportation, under new directives issued by the Department of Homeland Security this week. Farida Jhabvala Romero KQED -- 2/24/17
Immigration officials abruptly announce end to controversial contract at Santa Ana Jail -- Under mounting pressure from immigrant rights leaders, Santa Ana officials announced last year their plan to end a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house immigration detainees. Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/25/17
LA councilman pledges $1 million in grants for immigrants’ legal services -- Saying the lives of immigrants have become more uncertain under President Donald Trump’s policies, a Los Angeles councilman Friday announced more than $1 million in grants for three immigrant advocacy groups aimed at providing legal help to immigrants facing deportation or to help them gain citizenship. Elizabeth Chou in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/17
Environment
Why Southern California officials want tougher truck emission limits -- Southern California air-quality officials say they need the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt regulations requiring low-polluting big rig trucks if they hope to have any chance of meeting federal smog standards. David Danelski in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 2/24/17
143 million gallons of sewage spill into Tijuana River -- About 143 million gallons of sewage spilled into the Tijuana River during a period of more than two weeks, said a report released Friday. No other sewage spill in the greater San Diego-Tijuana region has approached this magnitude in years, according to the environmental group Wildcoast. David Hernandez in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 2/24/17
Health
Also . . .
Great white sharks spotted off two Orange County beaches; swimming ban in effect -- Lifeguards warned swimmers and surfers to stay out of a stretch of ocean at two Orange County beaches Friday after a great white shark was spotted near the shore. Hannah Fry and Veronica Rocha in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 2/24/17
POTUS 45
Beltway
AP Exclusive: DHS report disputes threat from banned nations -- A draft document obtained by The Associated Press concludes that citizenship is an "unlikely indicator" of terrorism threats to the United States and that few people from the countries Trump listed in his travel ban have carried out attacks or been involved in terrorism-related activities in the U.S. since Syria's civil war started in 2011. Vivian Salama and Alicia A. Caldwell Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Government wants appeal of travel ban put on hold -- The Justice Department wants a federal appeals court to put President Trump's travel ban case on hold until he issues a new order, but the states who sued to stop the ban want the case to move forward. Martha Bellisle Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Dems invite immigrants to Trump's first address to Congress -- Democrats have invited immigrants and foreigners to President Donald Trump's first address to Congress in an effort to put a face on those who could be hurt by the Republican's policies. Kevin Freking Associated Press -- 2/24/17
Previous Updates