Newsom grapples with his ‘third-world country’

From: POLITICO California Playbook - Friday Jan 21,2022 02:23 pm

Jan 21, 2022

By Jeremy B. White, Chris Ramirez and Graph Massara

THE BUZZ — CLEANING UP: California has a perception problem — or so says its governor.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s frustration was palpable on Thursday, as he cleaned up trash-strewn railroad tracks in Los Angeles that have become the site of innumerable package thefts. You may have seen images of the property crimes in question. They’ve permeated California’s media markets and been beamed beyond our borders, where the coverage has often advanced a familiar narrative of California spiraling into dystopia. None of that is lost on Newsom.

Gov. Gavin Newsom removes cardboard from a Union Pacific railroad site on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Los Angeles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom removes cardboard from a Union Pacific railroad site on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Los Angeles. | AP Photo/Ashley Landis

“I’m asking myself, what the hell is going on? We look like a third-world country,” Newsom said — immediately prompting incredulous rejoinders from Republican officials and conservative critics, who will surely disagree with the governor’s assertion that nobody “particularly cares about who to blame.” Both Newsom’s possible gubernatorial opponent, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, and the Assembly Republican Caucus advised Newsom to “look in the mirror.” We’re guessing the “third-world country” line may surface in a GOP campaign ad or ten, though it wasn’t just Republican partisans who noted Newsom’s word choice.

Word-lovers that we newsletter-writers are, we still understand the singular power images have to shape public perception. So does Newsom, who on Thursday repeatedly decried not just the scourge of organized retail theft operations but also how litter and crime affect people’s views. “I see what you see,” Newsom said, of the “images that are on the nightly news day in and day out, some networks weaponizing them for their own political agenda.” He returned to that theme later: “My frustration with this in particular is the images,” Newsom added, “look like a third-world country.”

The data on California’s crime rates is mixed and short of comprehensive. Spikes in shootings and violent crimes like homicides are better established and arguably a more immediate public safety issue than property crimes. The causal relationship between reforms like Proposition 47, which reduced property crime penalties, and organized theft is not clear. But the types of images Newsom bemoaned can cement public belief far better than statistics.

Republicans who have already coalesced around crime as a midterm issue were all over the train incident. Frontline GOP Rep. Michelle Steel penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to take action, and the list of co-signers is also a roster of California Republicans facing contested re-election fights: Reps. David Valadao, Mike Garcia, and Young Kim all added their names.

ABOUT THOSE TRAINS — Train cars idled by supply chain issues, combined with a diminished private security force, created opportunities for thieves, as the LA Times’ Rachel Uranga, Andrew J. Campa and Richard Winton explain.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. Vice President Kamala Harris is back in California today, visiting San Bernardino with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

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 specifically designed to target a small number of specific companies, most of which are headquartered in my home state of California. … I’m told the companies involved are Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft — companies in California and Washington — and one (standard) for everyone else.” Sen. Dianne Feinstein pushes back on tech antitrust legislation.

TWEET OF THE DAY: @KarlTheFog breaks a yearlong silence on an exceedingly gray Bay day: “Oh, hey down there. I know it's been awhile, so hope you still recognize me (I put on a few metric tons over the last two years). Moved in with my parents in Point Reyes at the start of the pandemic. The free rent was great, but nothing beats hanging 6ft away from you.”

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

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TOP TALKERS

BLM BASHED — “Leaked Emails Show LA Mayor’s Former Chief of Staff Calling Black Lives Matter ‘Annoying,’” by VICE’s Cerise Castle: “Since his election in 2013, Garcetti, a Democrat, has offered limited comments on rising police violence and met only once with the local Black Lives Matter chapter, which has advocated for independent investigations into police killings.”

— “Cal State system adds caste to anti-discrimination policy in groundbreaking decision,” by the LA Times’ Nani Sahra Walker: “Caste-oppressed people call themselves Dalit, which means “broken people.” Formerly known as untouchables, Dalits fell at the bottom of a centuries-old — and now outlawed — social hierarchy that governed the lives of over a quarter-billion people worldwide, including many in the U.S.”

CRACKDOWN — “Omicron in California: S.F. goes after unauthorized COVID testing firm, ” by the SF Chronicle’s Dominic Fracassa and Aidin Vaziri: “ City Attorney David Chiu announced the legal action Thursday after the company missed a deadline to provide a valid license for its operation. Investigators believed the San Diego-based test operator was collecting personal information and had a profit motive, said Jen Kwart, a spokeswoman for Chiu’s office.”

— “No way out: How the poor get stranded in California nursing homes, ” by CalMatters’ Jesse Bedayn: “Saddled with hefty Medicare copayments that can reach $5,000 a month – and later stripped of Social Security income, diverted to pay ongoing nursing home costs – they are often unable to hang onto their former housing. They become effectively stranded, with Medi-Cal and Social Security paying for housing and daily living in the facility.”

CAMPAIGN MODE

BALLOT PUSH — “California solar group files ballot initiatives ahead of major agency vote,” by POLITICO’s Colby Bermel: “The initiatives landed just weeks before the California Public Utilities Commission is expected to vote on whether to reduce installation incentives and add a monthly fee. Gov. Gavin Newsom has indicated the agency's proposal could be reworked, but the new ballot initiatives could put pressure on the Legislature to pass similar protections and serve as a backup plan if the PUC approves its draft decision.”

MAHMOOD MAKES A MOVE: Democrat and physician Asif Mahmood is challenging GOP Rep. Young Kim in contested Orange County House district CA-40, launching with endorsements from numerous California House Democrats and statewide officials. Mahmood ran for insurance commissioner in 2018, finishing third in the primary, and Newsom subsequently appointed him to the Medical Board of California. Speaking of this race: incumbent Kim reported raising $1.2 million in Q4 last year and having $2.6 million in the bank.

VYING FOR THE VALLEY: Democrat Phil Arballo is jumping into the CA-13 contest, setting him on a collision course with Democratic Assemblymember Adam Gray. Arballo challenged former GOP Rep. Devin Nunes in 2020 and lost despite raising millions. Meanwhile, area state Sen. Anna Caballero — currently vying with fellow Democratic state Sen. Melissa Hurtado for reelection — is making a campaign announcement today.

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

SHOW THEM THE MONEY — Single-payer bill gets revenue requirement en route to Assembly floor, by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: The change helped Assembly Bill 1400 clear the Assembly Appropriations Committee and head to a full floor vote next week. That both sets up a critical test for the bill and underscores the challenge supporters will face in securing a two-thirds vote to finance an overhaul of California’s health care system.

COVID FUTURE — Newsom teases California's 'endemic' Covid strategy, by POLITICO’s Susannah Luthi: Newsom on Thursday told reporters that his administration is planning for the endemic phase of Covid-19, although he declined to offer a picture of what that would look like.

ABSENT — “San Diego community colleges hoped COVID-19 would boost enrollment. Instead they lost students,” by inewsource’s Jennifer Bowman: “School officials told inewsource their nontraditional programs — with many coming and going throughout the year — make it difficult to accurately track the true number of enrolled students. But the college’s headcount dropped by 38%, according to state numbers.”

PLAYTIME CUT SHORT — “California child-care workers struggle with COVID-19 test kit shortages,” by the LA Times' Mackenzie Mays: “Day-care closures continue to happen across the state, setting off a ripple effect that not only affects the income of providers — who are predominantly women of color — but that of their clients, as parents must forgo a work shift because of a sudden loss of child care.”

— “California could let teenagers get COVID vaccine without parental consent,” by the SF Chronicle’s Dustin Gardiner: “In California, children must currently have the consent of a parent or guardian to receive most vaccinations. There is, however, precedent for what Wiener is proposing: The state already allows minors ages 12 and older to receive the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines without parental consent.”

— “With pandemic protections gone, essential workers face omicron alone,” by CalMatters’ Alejandro Lazo: “Essential workers in food, agriculture, manufacturing and health care say they fear losing pay just as much as they fear falling ill during the latest omicron wave. Some who get infected are taking unpaid leave or vacation days to quarantine. Others are reporting to work infected, workers and union officials said.”

WATER WORLD — “A sign the drought is easing: California officials to ship more water to farms, cities ,” by the Sac Bee’s Dale Kasler: “The announcement came weeks after the department announced an initial allocation of zero, saying it would only deliver enough water to meet “critical health and safety needs” to a handful of urban districts such as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It marked the first time in the State Water Project’s history that the initial allocation was zero.”

— “ Police shoot and kill armed man at San Francisco International Airport,” by SFGATE’s Amy Graff: “San Francisco Police Department officers initially tried to deescalate the situation using nonlethal measures, but the suspect continued "to advance," Yakel said.”

BITING THE BULLET — “ Burbank officials fear bullet train will compromise airport safety and water supplies,” by the LA Times’ Ralph Vartabedian: “Major infrastructure projects in California often result in hard-fought negotiations with municipal officials and other groups, in part because the California Environmental Quality Act gives affected parties a powerful tool to extract concessions and compensation.”

— “ Lithium might not be a gold rush for California. But it could be for people near the Salton Sea,” by the LA Times’ George Skelton: “Lithium could at least be an economic salvation, providing hundreds and potentially thousands of good jobs. And, if that happened, perhaps enough resources could be generated to mitigate the lake problems.”

— “ Housing advocacy group sues S.F. over supes’ rejection of 500-unit housing tower,” by the SF Chronicle’s Lauren Hernández.

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

OPEN-MINDED — McCarthy open to Electoral Count Act reform, by POLITICO’s Marianne Levine and Olivia Beavers: “The comments, though mild, are particularly notable given that 139 House Republicans, including McCarthy, voted to object to certifying Trump's loss. They also come as GOP and Democratic senators begin talks on an update to the 1887 Electoral Count measure, which governs the congressional certification of presidential balloting that pro-Trump rioters interrupted last year.”

— “Kamala Harris to announce wildfire money in visit to California on Friday, ” by the LA Times’ Noah Bierman: “Harris’ speech in San Bernardino will be the first to feature the infrastructure bill’s $5 billion allocation to combat, prevent and prepare for wildfires.”

CHANGE OF HEART — “Pelosi opens the door to stock trading ban for members of Congress,” by NPR’s Deidre Walsh: “In recent weeks there's been a renewed push by members in both parties to ban lawmakers from making individual stock picks. Several bills have been proposed in the House and Senate. Some would cover just members of Congress, others would apply the ban to spouses and family members.”

— “Mourning the Death of his Wife, McClintock Yet to Return to DC,” by GV Wire’s David Taub: “The congressman has missed the first 11 votes, the Clerk of the House of Representatives reports through Jan. 19.”

DO BETTER — “Calling Civilian Casualties a ‘Failure,’ Democrats Urge Biden to Do Better,” by the New York Times’ Catie Edmondson: “The letter, which was also led by Representative Ro Khanna of California, was a stinging rebuke of the administration’s current policies amid growing evidence of recurring episodes over multiple administrations in which civilian bystanders have been killed during drone strikes.”

— “Senate confirms L.A. judge to Ninth Circuit, continuing Biden’s streak of diverse appointments,” by the SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko.”

SILICON VALLEYLAND

KHANNA COMMENTS — “A Tech Revival for America’s Hometowns,” by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Silicon Valley) for the Wall Street Journal: “Decentralizing the digital economy can help American towns strike a balance between fostering community and embracing change.”

TO THE FLOOR — “Tech antitrust bill headed to Senate floor,” by Axios’ Ashley Gold and Margaret Harding McGill: “It would prohibit Big Tech companies from favoring their own services in an anti-competitive way, something smaller tech companies have accused companies like Apple, Google, Amazon and Meta of doing for years.”

— “ Tesla Fremont factory employee dies while working on production line,” by the Mercury News’ Joseph Geha: “The worker collapsed while working on the powertrain line at the factory, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA.”

— “ Google Team That Keeps Services Online Rocked by Mental Health Crisis,” by Bloomberg’s Nico Grant: “Several members of the 100-person group, they say, took leaves to preserve their well-being.”

MIXTAPE

— “Is City Hall’s ‘document deleting’ cause for alarm?” by the SF Examiner’s Jeff Elder.

FOOD RECS — “ Five food specials and festivals to celebrate Lunar New Year,” by the LA Times’ Stephanie Breijo.

IN LIMBO — “‘Frustrating’ Delays in City Funding Affect Over 200 SF Arts Nonprofits,” by KQED’s Sarah Hotchkiss.

SHOPPING SPREE — “Amazon heads to the mall with prototype clothing store,” by the AP’s Anne D’Innocenzio.

LA’S PRODIGAL POET — “Why I Almost Didn’t Read My Poem at the Inauguration,” by Amanda Gorman in NYT.

— “Coronavirus transmission rates are falling across California, bringing guarded optimism,” by the LA Times’ Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II and Marissa Evans.

TRANSITIONS

— Joshua Schank is leaving LA Metro, where he’s been chief innovation officer, and heading to InfraStrategies LLC, which advises clients on infrastructure funding and financing. He is also taking a position as a senior fellow at the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Back in his D.C. days, Schank led the Eno Center for Transportation and the National Transportation Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

— Cetera Financial Group has named Jessica Caris as SVP, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations.

MEDIA MOVE — Allie Raffa is joining NBC as a Capitol Hill correspondent. She previously was a general assignment reporter at KNSD, NBC’s San Diego affiliate, and is a Fox News alum.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Lena Anderson, head of corporate comms at Block (formerly Square, Inc.) and a HuffPost alum, and Will Anderson, who works in federal law enforcement, on Sunday welcomed Levi Clifford Anderson, who joins big brother Everett. Pic ... Another pic

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