|
Jeremy B. White’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Isabella Bloom and Graph Massara | THE BUZZ — SUPERSPREADER WEATHER: It’s the season for pumpkin-flavored treats, excessive meals with relatives ... and a possible coronavirus resurgence. The seasonal pulse of this pandemic has California officials bracing for a spike in cases and hospitalizations. Colder weather and holiday gatherings are poised to bring more people together inside, mingling households and broadening people’s exposure to unvaccinated (or at least un-boosted) loved ones. We’ve been here before. Elected officials and health officers are working to avoid a repeat. Hence Gov. Gavin Newsom’s warning at a San Francisco vaccination event on Monday of wintry perils that are “all too familiar to families in California.” Newsom noted that California’s cases exploded during the winter months last year, and he cautioned that even with widespread vaccination, officials have seen “trouble signs” in recent weeks as case rates crept up. The situation has since stabilized somewhat, with the number of hospitalized Califorians dipping below 3,500 after climbing above 4,000 earlier this month, and the vast majority of eligible Californians have received at least one shot. | 
California Gov. Gavin Newsom gestures while urging people to wear masks and get vaccinated after touring the clinic at Unidos en Salud in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. | Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP | But warning signs are blinking across the nation. As POLITICO’s Dan Goldberg writes , numerous states are contending with alarming trend lines that suggest a winter of pain ahead: “Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico hospitals are operating under crisis standards of care. Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin hospitals are at, or near, the brink as cases that had been steadily increasing since school began exploded once the weather turned cold.” Newsom emphasized that broader context on Monday during his latest booster-boosting event, invoking California’s footing as both a point of proud contrast and a warning. He pointed to the dozens of states that have seen double-digit case increases, advising us to “ask the governor[s] of Michigan and Colorado how they’re doing” as residents have lowered their guard. “I don’t want to see that happen here in California,” said Newsom , who also worked in a customary reference to his eternal red-state rivals: “I imagine states like Florida and Texas were humbled — I hope — in the last few months of what they suffered and all the unnecessary deaths.” But even highly vaccinated California is not immune to inoculation ennui. As POLITICO’s Mackenzie Mays reports , there is growing concern and resistance to tough vaccine mandates from businesses, prison overseers and school officials, who fear that overly rigid rules will lead to staffing shortages and student absences. Asked Monday about whether California will provide some flexibility or relief to schools that have demonstrated progress, Newsom delivered a similar message to the one he’s offered for months: We’ll see where the stats lead us. “The virus will dictate those terms,” Newsom said. Mutations, masks and shots will all play a role. At some point, the governor said, schools could get more options. But “we’re not there yet.” BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. It’s the last day for the public to comment on draft House and state legislative maps during a California redistricting commission meeting, although folks can still submit input until the final lines come out in December. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I have no empathy, no sympathy for these kinds of criminal gangs and elements. … We need to make an example of these folks.” Newsom condemns coordinated Bay Area smash-and-grabs, as he vows to crack down on organized retail theft with an “exponential” boost in state resources. TWEET OF THE DAY: California’s Housing and Community Development Agency turns up the heat on San Francisco for rejecting a planned development: “Today, HCD’s Housing Accountability Unit sent a letter of inquiry & TA to @sfgov expressing concern that San Francisco’s actions are indicative of review processes that may be constraining the provision of housing.” WHERE’S GAVIN? On vacation in Mexico with first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the kids until Sunday. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | LATEST HIRE — Newsom appoints Reynolds to lead Public Utilities Commission, by POLITICO’s Colby Bermel: Newsom on Monday named Alice Reynolds, his top energy aide, to lead the California Public Utilities Commission. Reynolds, the governor’s senior policy adviser for energy and a member of his cabinet, is the third CPUC president during Newsom’s term, two of which he has now appointed. ‘MAMALITIA’ — “Equal opportunity extremism: How women seized the moment in California’s far-right radical politics ,” by The Sac Bee’s Hannah Wiley, Lydia Gerike and Maria Luisa Figueroa: “The women in extremist coalitions call themselves “mama bears.” They organize homeschooling pods and plan public protests against mask requirements and COVID-19 shots for students. They show up en masse to statehouses, school board meetings and city halls to fight against critical race theory and the ‘liberal agenda.’” WAITING, WAITING — “ Accusations against a California campaign finance watchdog went undisclosed for months,” by the LA Times’ John Myers: “ A campaign finance investigation against a top official at California’s political watchdog agency sat in limbo and hidden from public view for months, raising questions about whether the government organization holds its own members to the same standard as candidates and campaigns across the state.” POT TAX — " As California prepares to raise marijuana tax, a top cannabis CEO calls for tax revolt," by The Sac Bee's Andrew Sheeler: "Fresh off of news that California is set to raise the cannabis cultivation tax despite projections of a $31 billion surplus, one marijuana entrepreneur is calling for a potential tax revolt this summer. Michael “Mikey” Steinmetz, co-founder of the company that makes the Flow Kana cannabis brand, is threatening to withhold his taxes unless Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature adjust state marijuana regulations July 1, 2022." | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | CRACKDOWN — Newsom vows to battle retail theft after Bay Area looting spree, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: Newsom said Monday he will seek “exponentially” more money to combat retail theft after a series of seemingly orchestrated smash-and-grab crimes in the Bay Area over the weekend. — “California officials release long-awaited report on troubled state testing lab,” by the LA Times’ Melody Gutierrez: “After investigating its own COVID-19 testing lab for much of the year, the California Department of Public Health closed its case without issuing sanctions as the state released a long-overdue report Monday that downplayed widespread issues identified during inspections at the Valencia Branch Laboratory.” — "With hospitals full, Central California pleading to send COVID-19 patients to L.A.," by the LA Times' Rong-Gong Lin II: "The COVID-19 surge still affecting Central California is so dire that health officials are pleading with state officials to make it easier to transfer hospital patients to areas like Los Angeles County." WATER WAR — “ Small Farmers Struggle as Ag Titans Boswell, Vidovich Wheel Water for Profit,” by GV Wire’s Lois Henry: “For the portions that can be tracked through state and other water district records, the water is mostly flowing south to Kern County, much of it from Kings County’s two largest and most powerful farming operations — J.G. Boswell Company and Sandridge Partners. Exactly how much is moving and who is benefitting from it are more murky questions, as water – especially river and groundwater – in California is notoriously hard to track.” — “For poor farmworkers, there is no escape from heat, high prices of California,” by the LA Times’ Priscella Vega: “Fewer and fewer Californians are now showing up for the blueberry harvest. Experts and farmers say economics and a lack of affordable housing are largely to blame. … Summers in the Pacific Northwest are getting hotter and drier. Oregon’s temperatures have skyrocketed to triple digits in recent years. Several blazes, including the Bootleg fire, raged throughout the Beaver State.” MORE SNOWFALL — “Cloud seeding gains steam as West faces worsening droughts ,” by The Washington Post’s Maddie Stone: “Residents of the Gem State aren’t the only ones embracing cloud seeding, a 75-year-old technology that many scientists still view with skepticism. With a recent experiment providing the first unambiguous evidence that cloud seeding can increase snowpack levels, research into artificial rainmaking is undergoing a small renaissance. As the West experiences a historic drought and climate models point to more dry spells in the future, states are doubling down on their cloud seeding programs.” — “ California cites PG&E $7.5 million because of power line inspection failures,” by the SF Chronicle’s J.D. Morris: “The three regulatory actions against PG&E come after the company has struggled for years to make its power system safer and state officials have sought to increase their scrutiny of the electric grid. PG&E power lines have sparked devastating wildfires in recent years that have killed more than 100 people and destroyed many thousands of homes from the North Bay to the northern Sierra.” ABORTION ACCESS — "Will California become an abortion hub? How a Supreme Court decision could affect the state," by The Sac Bee's Gillian Brassil: "People already drive to California from out of state to have abortions. But if the court lets states ban abortion entirely, California could see an almost 3,000% increase in people driving to the state to get one, according to an analysis published by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research and policy organization that supports abortion access." ICYMI — “Santa Cruz County Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate Amid Rising Cases Before Holidays,” by KPIX’s Devin Fehely. — “What’s it like to study from a hotel? As UC housing crunch worsens, these students are finding out ,” by Ryan Loyola And Sindhu Ananthavel for CalMatters. | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | — “Vice President Kamala Harris Shares How the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Centers Black Children,” by Ebony’s Tanya Christian: “In 2020, the ticket’s campaign promises—to establish a federal paid family leave program, expand access to high-quality education, and address environmental justice—were essentially hopes and dreams. Today, the White House is working overtime to deliver on the commitments made on the trail.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | PARENT DISCONTENT — “California parents are frustrated with schools. Could it help Republicans in the midterms?” by The Sac Bee’s Lara Korte: “With 2022 midterms fast approaching, California Republicans will look to capitalize on a growing coalition of parents who are resentful of Democratic leaders’ education policies — including the mandates around school shutdowns, masking, and a new law that requires every high school student to take an ethnic studies class.” — “How the race for Richmond’s new mayor is shaping up,” by Richmond Confidential’s Nazmul Ahasan and Richard Tzul: “With more than a year to go until the election, the Richmond mayoral race already promises a tense and tight competition. … While progressives are rallying behind a candidate early on, the moderate camp is far from fielding a unified candidate.” | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — “DoorDash to pay $5.3 million to S.F. couriers over alleged violations of past benefits,” by the SF Chronicle’s Carolyn Said: “Restaurant-delivery company DoorDash will pay $5.3 million to settle allegations with San Francisco that it stiffed almost 4,500 delivery workers of the city’s mandated health care coverage and paid sick leave, The Chronicle has learned. … DoorDash, which is headquartered in San Francisco, did not admit wrongdoing.” THERANOS UPDATE — “Elizabeth Holmes makes her case to the jury in fraud trial,” via the AP. — “Uber Eats to allow orders for cannabis in Ontario,” via Reuters: “Uber will allow users in Ontario, Canada, to place orders for cannabis on its Uber Eats app, marking the ride-hailing giant's foray into the booming business, a company spokesperson said on Monday.” — “ Bezos and Obama’s Surprise $100 Million Marriage,” by Puck’s Theodore Schleifer. — “Tesla hires SEC lawyer, former fed prosecutor as managing counsel,” by CNBC’s Lora Kolodny: “Tesla has hired David Misler as a new managing counsel, according to his LinkedIn profile. Misler is a former trial attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission and previously worked for the U.S. Department of Justice. Tesla has repeatedly had run-ins with the SEC, most notably over statements made by CEO Elon Musk on his Twitter account where he has amassed tens of millions of followers.” | | MIXTAPE | | ‘BRAZEN DELIGHT ROBBERY’ — “Three suspects arrested in the robbery of retired Oakland police Capt. Ersie Joyner,” by the SF Chronicle’s Nanette Asimov and Kevin Fagan. PRICE OF KIMCHI — “ First A Pandemic, Now A Supply Crisis. How This Koreatown Mom-And-Pop Is Trying To Survive,” by LAist’s Josie Huang. — “Where have all the cars gone? California dealers scramble to meet demand,” by the Los Angeles Daily News’ Samantha Gowen. HAGADONE ESTATE — “‘Aquatic adventure’ mansion with rare shark tank lists for $49.5 million in California,” by The Sac Bee’s TJ Macias. ‘BUY NOTHING’ ETHOS — “What supply chain mess? For Buy Nothing devotees, it’s not a problem,” by the LA Times’ Ronald D. White. FIRE-RESISTANT GEL? — “Wildfires Are Getting Worse, and One Chemical Company Is Reaping the Benefits,” by Bloomberg’s Austin Carr. — “California announces continued delay to Bay Area Dungeness crab season to protect whales ,” by the SF Chronicle’s Tara Duggan. | | IN MEMORIAM | | — “Longtime El Cerrito, East Bay journalist and historian Treadway dies at 66,” by the East Bay Times’ Tom Lochner: The city issued a proclamation honoring the former editor for decades of service less than two weeks before his death. | | BIRTHDAYS | | BIRTHDAYS: Amy Schatz of Glen Echo Group … Google’s Brittany Griffin … Jenna Lloyd-Randolfi | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this -only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
