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Presented by Our Health California: Jeremy B. White’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Isabella Bloom and Graph Massara | Presented by Our Health California | THE BUZZ — GRABBING THE NARRATIVE: Who owns the property crime issue? A series of seemingly orchestrated , stunningly brazen smash-and-grabs have hammered stores in the Bay Area and Los Angeles over the past few weeks, frightening retailers and putting elected officials on the defensive. A string of Thanksgiving weekend robberies in L.A. had authorities there on tactical alert, and Bay Area law enforcement fortified their presence outside shopping areas after people broke into several stores the prior weekend. As images and accounts of those crimes reverberated beyond California, local and statewide leaders have vowed to crack down. Last week we saw Gov. Gavin Newsom pledge he would seek an “exponentially” greater budget outlay to help cities and counties combat property crimes, offering an echo of the rhetoric of an earlier tough-on-crime era. “I have no empathy, no sympathy for these kinds of criminal gangs and elements,” the governor said, vowing to “make an example” of perpetrators and noting his own businesses have been hit multiple times. Earlier this year, Newsom signed legislation reconstituting an organized theft task force. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has similarly telegraphed toughness, launching an organized retail theft initiative of her own and floating privately funded cash rewards for tips that help break up orchestrated theft rings. Last week Attorney General Rob Bonta and a collection of Bay Area district attorneys unveiled a collective effort to stymie organized retail theft — a push that notably had the endorsement of even reformists like San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton, as well as the support of the Prosecutors Alliance, a group these progressives formed as a counterweight to the more traditional California District Attorneys Association. | 
Products are displayed in locked security cabinets at a Walgreens store on October 13, 2021 in San Francisco. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images | Contra the most alarmist reactions to these types of crimes, we should note here that some California violent and property crime rates have risen (after dropping at the Covid pandemic’s outset) but remain well below historic peaks. There tends to be plenty of regional variation: San Francisco’s property crimes rates have long eclipsed other parts of the state, while Los Angeles and Oakland have been dealing with spikes in violent crime that led Oakland’s police chief to plead last week for more help. It’s also difficult to tease out cause and effect in the noisy arena of criminal justice policy and data, particularly when you’re dealing with confounding variables like a pandemic that upended how society functions. But it’s unequivocally true that California’s Democratic elected officials, like the electorate writ large, have been supporting policies to lessen criminal penalties while backing a new generation of reform-minded prosecutors. Republican critics have been eager to point out that Democratic incumbents from Newsom on down largely supported Proposition 47 — which downgraded property crime penalties — and opposed last year’s law enforcement-backed Proposition 20, which specifically sought to create a specific new crime called “organized retail theft.” TO THE TRAIL: Those dynamics have already helped opponents of Boudin qualify a June recall vote to oust the first-term San Francisco district attorney. As opponents like former U.S. Attorney Nathan Hochman and Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who has been steadily piling up police money, argue, Bonta and his ilk have encouraged chaos and lawlessness. Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva will surely cite crime concerns to fend off challenges from a galvanized left. And Republican operatives are no doubt busy combing through Sacramento Democrats’ voting records to see who backed which bills to reduce sentencing and incarceration. Should L.A. developer Rick Caruso plunge into the L.A. mayor contest, he may have some thoughts on the smash-and-grabs targeting stores at the shopping centers he’s overseen; already-declared mayoral contender Rep. Karen Bass said this weekend that such crimes “must be stopped.” IN OTHER WORDS: If you think you’re hearing a lot about crime in the waning weeks of 2021, just wait for what 2022 has in store. BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. We hope you had a restful Thanksgiving, and a Happy Hanukkah to all who enjoyed the swift turkey-to-candle transition. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s an interesting thing that happens when you'll talk to people about incoming Californians. If you're talking to a politically liberal person, they'll complain about all the rich conservatives from Orange County moving to Idaho. If you talk to a politically conservative Idahoan, they'll complain about all of the rich liberal people from the Bay moving to Idaho.” Yale doctoral researcher Katie McConnell on the backlash to California climate migrants, via POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre. TWEET OF THE DAY: @VP Kamala Harris on a major verdict: “Ahmaud Arbery was a son. He was a brother. He was a friend. His life had meaning. We will not forget him. We honor him best by continuing the fight for justice.” WHERE’S GAVIN? Back from his family vacation in Mexico, and preparing for the Capitol Christmas Tree lighting on Thursday. | | A message from Our Health California: Every person deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care when they need it.
Our Health California, a grassroots advocacy community with more than 1 million supporters, is dedicated to advancing access to health care in every corner of our state. We speak out to build healthier communities and ensure equitable care for all.
Our Health California is sponsored by hospitals, health systems, and the California Hospital Association. Learn more. | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | — “NFL, Rams owner Stan Kroenke settle St. Louis lawsuit for $790 million,” via the AP: “The NFL and Rams owner Stan Kroenke will pay $790 million to settle a lawsuit filed by St. Louis interests over the team’s relocation to Los Angeles, a joint statement from St. Louis city and county said Wednesday.” — “News crew guard dies after being shot in attempted robbery,” by the AP’s Daisy Nguyen: “A security guard has died after he was shot while he protected a San Francisco Bay Area television news crew covering a smash-and-grab theft, part of a rash of organized retail crime in the region.” RIP OR-93 — “ Gray wolf OR-93, famed for historic odyssey, found dead after being struck by car in Kern County,” by Ventura County Star’s Cheri Carlson. HERE WE GO … “Omicron variant adds new peril to holiday season in California and beyond,” by the LA Times’ Alex Wigglesworth, Sarah Parvini and Rong-Gong Lin: “While no cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in the United States, many experts say it may already be here, given the country’s lack of systematic genomic sequencing that would flag it.” FIREARM FIASCO — "How the theft of 44 firearms from an L.A. gun store exploded into an LAPD scandal," by the LA Times' Kevin Rector and Richard Winton: "The case raises red flags about the LAPD’s oversight of the gun store and its ability to investigate its own officers. It also offers an eye-opening window into the gun culture within the LAPD and the degree to which LAPD officers are allegedly profiting off the sale of firearms — including 'off roster' guns that police officers have special access to despite their being declared unsafe for commercial sale in the state." | | | | 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. | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | GIDDYUP — “Everyone’s Moving to Texas. Here’s Why,” by The NYT’s Farhad Manjoo: “If you’re looking for an affordable, economically vibrant city that is less likely to be damaged by climate change than many other American cities, our data shows why Texas is a new land of plenty.” — “Court blocks COVID-19 vaccine mandate for California prisons,” by the AP’s Don Thompson: “A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked an order that all California prison workers must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or have a religious or medical exemption. … The vaccination mandate was supposed to have taken effect by Jan. 12 but the appellate court stay blocks enforcement until sometime in March, when the appeal hearing will be scheduled.” LITTLE KABUL — “For Afghan Refugees, a Choice Between Community and Opportunity,” by The NYT’s Michael D. Shear and Jim Tankersley: “As the United States begins to absorb a new wave of refugees who were frantically evacuated from Kabul in the final, chaotic days of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan, it is far from clear that a place like Fremont would be an ideal destination for them.” SHOPLIFTING SURGE? — “One Target store. One huge spike in shoplifting reports. What does it mean for San Francisco?” by the SF Chronicle’s Susie Neilson and Rachel Swan: “A closer look at the data shows that the spike in reported shoplifting came almost entirely from one store: the Target at 789 Mission St. in the Metreon mall. … What happened at this particular Target? Did the store see a huge spike in shoplifting in September? No, said store manager Stacy Abbott. The store was simply using a new reporting system implemented by the police that allows retailers to report crime incidents over the phone.” — “ Four hammer-wielding people steal $2,400 from Walgreens in Antioch, police say,” by the SF Chronicle’s Catherine Ho. — “COVID-19 misinformation dominates Sacramento-area supervisors meeting, alarming experts,” by The Sac Bee’s Jason Pohl: “In the latest symbolic rebuke against public health precautions, elected officials in El Dorado County last week took turns sharing debunked concerns and misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines before ultimately passing a resolution decrying school vaccine mandates.” — “California cities rush to limit new law increasing density of single-family neighborhoods,” by the SF Chronicle’s Alexei Koseff: “Los Altos Hills, the affluent Silicon Valley town that maintains a standard of minimum one-acre lots to preserve a semi-rural character and where homes sell for millions of dollars, led the way last week when it adopted an urgency ordinance, likely the first in the state, restricting the type of housing that residents can build if they split their properties.” OP-ED — “Touring Sacramento’s doomed Capitol Annex reminded me that California love is bipartisan ,” opines Rob Stutzman, former deputy chief of staff for communications under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for The Sac Bee: “For better or worse, most Californians equate Sacramento with government and politicians. Every company town has its landmarks laden with lore and accompanying lingo. In Sacramento, we are about to bid adieu to one of those landmarks: After nearly 70 years of use, the dully dubbed Capitol Annex will soon be demolished and replaced.” — “ California’s execution moratorium raises question of reducing some of those sentences,” by the SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko. AIR EXPORT — "Supply-Chain Snarls Leave Southern California Swamped in Empty Shipping Containers," by The Wall Street Journal's Paul Berger: "The biggest export out of Southern California these days is air. And it is suffocating the supply chain. Hundreds of thousands of empty containers are filling marine terminals and truck yards across the region and tying up scarce trucking equipment as ocean carriers scramble to return empty boxes to factories in Asia." — "Report card shows how badly California is failing on affordable housing," by the OC Register's Nikie Johnson: "Only 16% of the homes permitted last year were affordable to the 41% of California's lower-income households, an analysis shows." — "Californians legalized pot, but these 10 big cities still don’t have retail dispensaries," by The Sac Bee's Andrew Sheeler: "Of the 10 largest cities in the state where there are no marijuana dispensaries, two are in the San Joaquin Valley, one is in the Bay Area, and the rest are located in Southern California, according to the website WeedMaps. Together, they account for more than 2.8 million people without immediate access to cannabis retail, outside of delivery." | | | | A message from Our Health California:   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | — Diane Papan launches Assembly run to replace Mullin, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: San Mateo Councilmember Diane Papan has launched a run to replace Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) as a game of legislative musical chairs picks up pace. | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | ‘REPUTATIONAL RECKONING’ — “Uber Survived the Spying Scandal. Their Careers Didn’t,” by The NYT’s Kate Conger: “A former co-worker accused the men of wiretapping their colleagues, hacking foreign governments and stealing trade secrets. It wasn’t true, but the allegations still follow them.” | | HOLLYWOODLAND | | — “Matthew McConaughey Says He Won’t Run for Texas Governor in 2022,” by Bloomberg’s Shelly Hagan: “After months of speculation, the 52-year-old actor officially said he won’t be participating in next year’s race for the statehouse in a video posted on Twitter.” — “‘SNL’ nearly squashed Natasha Rothwell. Then ‘Insecure’ helped her find her voice,” by the LA Times’ Yvonne Villarreal. — “Cultivating Art, Not Argument, at a Los Angeles Law Office,” by The NYT’s Lauren Herstik and Graham Bowley. | | MIXTAPE | | TRAFFIC JAM — “Toymaker’s ‘War Room’ Goes 24/7 So Gifts Can Reach U.S. Stores,” by Bloomberg’s Amelia Pollard. READING LIST — “ Mexicans have fought for a better California for 171 years. These books show how,” by the LA Times’ Gustavo Arellano. — “Lincoln Riley leaving Oklahoma for USC in 'probably the most difficult decision of my life,'” via the Athletic. — "California, Colorado eliminating 'dehumanizing' terms for immigrants in state laws," via the AP. | | | | 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. | | | | | | | TRANSITIONS | | Kara van Stralen is now director of policy and research to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. She most recently was chief of staff for Rep. Mike Levin. | | BIRTHDAYS | | SUNDAY: WaPo’s Matea Gold … Suzi Emmerling of the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation SATURDAY: Meta’s Kaiya Waddell … Google’s Kathryn Ciano THURSDAY: Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) … Lee Dunn … Ben Stein | | IN MEMORIAM | | — “Anne Rudin, first woman elected mayor in Sacramento history, dies at 97,” by The Sac Bee’s Vincent Moleski: “Rudin was first elected to the City Council in 1971 — at the time, the first woman to be elected to the dais in two decades — and was elected as the city’s mayor in 1983. She served two terms as mayor up until 1993, when she decided not to run for re-election. She was followed in office by Joe Serna Jr.” | | A message from Our Health California: Access to quality health care is a right and not a privilege for some – a service for all.
Our Health California, a grassroots advocacy community of more than 1 million people, is dedicated to building a healthier society. We champion equitable access to affordable, high-quality health care because every Californian deserves to get the care they need, when they need it.
Our Health California connects health care supporters and patients to their state and federal lawmakers. Working together, as one powerful voice, we advance care in every community – including health to behavioral health – because patients across the Golden State deserve access to greater control of their health and their future.
Our work is supported by our state's hospitals, health systems, and the California Hospital Association.
Visit ourhealthcalifornia.org to learn more about issues Our Health California supports. | | | 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 | | | | |  |
