What. A. Year.

From: POLITICO California Playbook - Friday Dec 17,2021 02:23 pm

Dec 17, 2021

By Jeremy B. White, Isabella Bloom and Graph Massara

Presented by Our Health California

THE BUZZ — LOOKING BACK: This is the final California Playbook of 2021 — and what a year it has been for California politics.

Cast your mind back to mid-December of 2020. We were in an uneasy interstice between election and certification, with California Republicans exulting in House seat flips and the horrors of Jan. 6 still to come. Gov. Gavin Newsom had locked down the state again as a brutal winter surge battered the state and brought new daily death records to Los Angeles. Hope glimmered on the horizon as the first vaccines went into arms. But Newsom’s political trajectory was about to take a sharp turn.

Few elected officials have seen their political fortunes shift as dramatically in the last year as Newsom has. Last December, simmering voter frustration was mounting to a boil that would lift a recall attempt to the ballot, consuming Newsom’s attention and casting a shadow over the state’s politics. “He had his back up against the wall, frankly, politically, with the recall coming down, and spent much of this year dealing with a huge political distraction that was hanging over his head,” former chief of staff Ann O’Leary said.

Now look where we stand: Newsom decisively repudiated the recall three months ago, matching his 2018 landslide win and setting him up for a 2022 reelection. He has sought to channel that momentum to reprise his role as a national Democratic figure, most recently by escalating a battle with Texas and the U.S. Supreme Court over abortion and gun rights . The state’s budget is overflowing, defying expectations of prolonged deficits. And in a stark contrast with last winter, Newsom has taken time off in recent weeks to vacation in Mexico and promote his children’s book on the East Coast.

Lights from the Capitol Christmas Tree glow in Sacramento, Calif.

Lights from the Capitol Christmas Tree glow in Sacramento, Calif. | AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

It is a time of both repetition and change: Repetition, because Newsom has again imposed a statewide mask mandate as a winter coronavirus surge menaces, with a looming election campaign that could feature some of the same Republican challengers as this year. And change, because our pandemic circumstances are starkly different — and because the major story closing this year is one of massive turnover in Sacramento and beyond.

The decennial redistricting process is set to yield new maps in a week or so, defining the contours of California’s political landscape for the next decade. The churn is already well underway: A dozen Assembly members have already departed or announced plans to do so this year. On Thursday, Rep. Alan Lowenthal became the fourth California House incumbent to reveal he will not be running in 2022. In a preview of inevitable member-on-member conflict, we could see three state lawmakers vying for the same L.A. supervisor seat: State Sen. Henry Stern on Thursday joined Assemblymember Richard Bloom in the contest for an opening seat that could also draw in State Sen. Bob Hertzberg.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — GARCIA GETS IN: Another taste of the ever-shifting landscape: Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is jumping into the race for Lowenthal’s seat. Garcia launches today with a campaign video that highlights his immigrant mother. Garcia is the first Latino and first openly gay mayor in Long Beach history, and he’s elevated his national profile in recent years, serving as a Kamala Harris surrogate, an enthusiastic Biden backer and a champion of coronavirus containment measures. But he may not have the field to himself: Latina state lawmakers on Thursday were also urging state Sen. Lena Gonzalez to get in.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. Thanks to all of our readers — and to the outstanding California journalists whose work we feature — for making California Playbook what it is. Whatever holidays you celebrate, we hope you get some time to be with loved ones and recharge ahead of another year, although the redistricting commission could throw a wrench in some of our plans. California Playbook will be back on Jan. 3.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m not going to talk about our conversations, but I will tell you this without any ambiguity: We do not talk about nor have we talked about re-election, because we haven’t completed our first year and we’re in the middle of a pandemic.” Vice President Kamala Harris on her 2024 plans, via the Wall Street Journal.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Equality California’s @SGarrettPate with a fitting coda: “What could be worse than a global pandemic, statewide recall and redistricting in the same year?! Bring it on, universe!”

WHERE’S GAVIN? Newsom will be in Dublin with Attorney General Rob Bonta and law enforcement leaders to announce new efforts and proposed investments to fight and prevent crime.

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

— “Kamala Harris Says She and Biden Haven’t Discussed Running for Re-Election in 2024,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Tarini Parti: “‘I’m not going to talk about our conversations, but I will tell you this without any ambiguity: We do not talk about nor have we talked about re-election, because we haven’t completed our first year and we’re in the middle of a pandemic,’ Ms. Harris said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Wednesday.”

— “What’s your favorite place in Sacramento?” by Sacto Politico’s Jeff Burdick: “For the 2nd holiday season, Sacto Politico takes a step back from raw politics to ask the same non-political question of a varied collection of California office holders, candidates, strategists, activists, and members of the media.”

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

‘CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH’ — Newsom caused a Twitter frenzy with his gun tweet. Now comes the hard part, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: While Newsom basked in the national spotlight, early reactions suggest his approach is not guaranteed to succeed. Tellingly, gun control advocates offered muted reactions that underscored the hazards in Newsom seeking to feed Texas a spoonful of its own medicine.

SELF-ENFORCEMENT? — “Will anyone enforce California’s new mask mandate? Counties are rejecting new COVID rule,” by The Sac Bee’s Lara Korte: “When asked about the lack of enforcement mechanism for the mandate, which went into effect Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he ‘has faith’ in Californians to follow it, but didn’t provide specifics on what would happen if they didn’t.”

— “California’s COVID workplace rule is changing. Why some businesses say it’s not feasible,” by the Sac Bee’s Jeong Park: CalOSHA is “requiring fully vaccinated asymptomatic workers to wear masks and practice social distancing for 14 days after their last exposure to COVID-19.”

JOIN TODAY FOR A WOMEN RULE 2021 REWIND AND A LOOK AHEAD AT 2022: Congress is sprinting to get through a lengthy and challenging legislative to-do list before the end of the year that has major implications for women’s rights. Join Women Rule editor Elizabeth Ralph and POLITICO journalists Laura Barrón-López, Eleanor Mueller, Elena Schneider and Elana Schor for a virtual roundtable that will explore the biggest legislative and policy shifts in 2021 affecting women and what lies ahead in 2022. REGISTER HERE.

PHOTO OP — “Newsom rolls up sleeves, paints over graffiti in DTLA as part of his Clean CA program,” by KABC’s Josh Haskell: “It's all part of Newsom's Clean California program, a $1.1 billion initiative to revitalize California's streets and public spaces by removing litter and turning those spaces into something the community can use. The program has created thousands of jobs including for those formerly homeless, incarcerated, veterans and at risk youth.”

— Guzman Aceves to leave CPUC ahead of rooftop solar vote, by POLITICO’s Colby Bermel: The state regulator who led the review of California's rooftop solar installation incentives will leave her agency before next month's vote on cutting those benefits, an unexpected plot twist ahead of a key decision on the popular program.

NEW LEADERSHIP — “Two out women to lead BART board,” by the Bay Area Reporter’s Cynthia Laird: “Rebecca Saltzman, a lesbian, is the new president, while Janice Li, a queer woman of color, is the vice president. Saltzman represents District 3 on the transit agency's board, which includes part of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Li represents District 8, which includes parts of San Francisco.”

PAYING OFF — “S.F. tenants made millions after suing landlords over bogus owner move-in evictions,” by the SF Chronicle’s J.K. Dineen: “In the last few months San Francisco real estate investors have paid a total of $4.7 million — $2.1 million in one case and $2.6 million in the other — to settle two lawsuits brought by tenants who claimed they were illegally evicted under the state ‘owner move-in’ laws, which allow property owners to get rid of rent-controlled tenants if they or a close relative moves in for at least three years.”

— “ Judge’s ruling limits what prosecutors can share about Torrance police text scandal,” by the LA Times’ James Queally: “A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued an order this week slowing the process by which prosecutors can disclose evidence of racist text messages and images sent by Torrance police officers embroiled in a scandal that could affect hundreds of criminal cases.”

— “ Prosecutor Going After Antifa Peddled Antisemitic George Soros Conspiracies,” by The Daily Beast’s Kelly Weill: “San Diego DA Summer Stephan, who is bringing a conspiracy case against leftist protesters, once paid for a website that accused George Soros of funding anti-fascists.”

3 STRIKES NO MORE — “Panel recommends ending California’s ‘three strikes’ law and life-without-parole sentences ,” by the SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “Eliminating the life-sentence mandate for third-strikers ‘would recognize the law’s failure to make California safer, and would be a significant step towards reducing racial disparities in our criminal legal system,’ said the committee, whose members include five appointees of Gov. Gavin Newsom and two legislators. It was established by lawmakers last year to study California’s criminal laws and recommend changes.”

TRANSPORTATION — " California’s High-speed rail project still needs to purchase hundreds of pieces of land," by The Sac Bee's Tim Sheehan: "As contractors hired to design and build the 119-mile stretch of the rail line in Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties tweak their plans, the number of property parcels needed for the construction work tends to ebb and flow. Of the 2,267 pieces of property identified as needed as of late October, 1,999 had been purchased or acquired and made available to contractors."

A message from Our Health California:

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

COMING SOON? — Biden admin asks Supreme Court to allow nationwide health worker vax mandate, by POLITICO’s Rachael Levy: Earlier this week, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the mandate could proceed in roughly half the country, while saying 24 states that challenged it were not subject to the rule.

— Senate parliamentarian rejects latest Dem proposal on immigration, by POLITICO’s Marianne LeVine: With bipartisan immigration reform talks stalled, Democrats widely viewed the social spending bill as their best chance to enact some type of immigration reform. But the latest rejection of their efforts leaves the party with few, if any, viable alternatives. Democrats are using the so-called reconciliation process to pass the social spending bill, which allows them to evade a GOP filibuster but forces them to abide by a set of budgetary rules.

CAMPAIGN MODE

DETECTION DOLLARS — A proposed ballot initiative to build California a pandemic early detection system got a $10 million boost from two nonprofits with wealthy backers. One of nonprofits’ political arm is funded by philanthropist Cari Tuna, the wife of tech entrepreneur Dustin Moskovitz; the other got its money from crypto/fintech firm Alameda Research, whose founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, is a prominent supporter of both Biden and pandemic tracking.

— “Democrats Find Urgent New Reasons to Worry About Latino Voters,” by The NYT’s Jennifer Medina: “Of all the 2020 hangovers, perhaps none is as befuddling to Democrats as the party’s eroding support among Latino voters. … And two new reports this week show why Democrats should be worried.”

SILICON VALLEYLAND

WHOA — “Tesla employee charged with ambushing, murdering co-worker with ‘ghost’ assault rifle after argument,” by The Mercury News’ Nate Gartrell: “A Bay Area man accused of murdering a co-worker outside of the Tesla factory in Fremont allegedly announced he was quitting that morning, left to retrieve an AR-15-style short barrel rifle, and returned to the area, where he waited for his victim to get off work, the police investigation found.”

GOOGLE CULTURE — "California probes Google's treatment of Black female workers," by Reuters' Paresh Dave: "California’s civil rights regulator is investigating Google’s treatment of Black female workers following alleged incidents of harassment and discrimination, according to two people familiar with the matter and emails from the agency seen by Reuters."

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? — “Regulators open probe into red hot 'buy now, pay later' industry,” by CNN’s Paul R. La Monica.

— “Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has book deal,” by the AP’s Hillel Italie.

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.

HOLLYWOODLAND

— “Chris Noth Ad Pulled By Peloton After Sexual Assault Allegations Prompt Police Investigation,” by Deadline’s Tom Tapp: “A recent Peloton ad featuring former Sex and the City star Chris Noth was scrubbed from the company’s social media accounts Thursday after a story that included allegations of rape against Noth surfaced.”

CANNABIS COUNTRY

— “California’s marijuana market heads into a difficult 2022,” by Capitol Weekly’s Uriel Espinoza-Pacheco: “With cannabis taxes poised to rise on Jan. 1 and a legitimate business landscape plagued by a thriving black market, California’s marijuana industry faces uncertainty.”

— "Santa Fe officials issue search warrant for Alec Baldwin’s iPhone in ‘Rust’ shooting inquiry," by the LA Times' Laura J. Nelson: "The eight-page affidavit for the warrant, submitted by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and approved by a local judge Thursday afternoon, will allow investigators to seize Baldwin’s phone and download information related to “Rust” and the production’s employees."

MIXTAPE

PACIFIC FOOTBALLFISH — “Ultra-rare, bizarre fish that washed ashore near San Diego is California’s third this year,” by the LA Times’ Lila Seidman.

— “ Fresno Latinos reflect on Vicente Fernández’s legacy: ‘He will always be one of the best,’” by The Fresno Bee’s Nadia Lopez.

A ‘BANNER YEAR’ FOR BARS — “The Bay Area’s best new bars in 2021,” by the SF Chronicle’s Esther Mobley.

— “ As omicron looms, Stanford requires boosters for students, moves classes online in early January,” by the SF Chronicle’s J.D. Morris.

DRILL, BABY, DRILL — “A frenzy of well drilling by California farmers leaves taps running dry,” by the LA Times’ Maria L. La Ganga, Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee and Ian James.

BIRTHDAYS

former Rep. Steve Knight … Richard Plepler

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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.

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