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Presented by CVS Health: Jeremy B. White’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Juhi Doshi, Chris Ramirez and Graph Massara | Presented by CVS Health | THE BUZZ — SAFE AT LAST? California’s contentious conversations about crime, homelessness and quality of life are set to converge. Publicly administered drug consumption sites may survive federal scrutiny, the Department of Justice signaled this week, telling the AP it was “evaluating” how the practice could proceed with “appropriate guardrails.” That would mark a major shift from the DOJ’s punitive approach to safe injection sites under former President Donald Trump. As recently as 2018, DOJ sued to stymie Philadelphia’s program and fired a warning shot towards California. The agency’s newfound leniency could reshape the debate in California. Lawmakers have repeatedly contended with federal resistance as they have considered bills allowing cities to set up places for people to use opioids and other narcotics under medical supervision. San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf wrote Attorney General Merrick Garland last year to express their “strong support” for the sites, but lamented the feds’ stance as “one of the greatest disincentives” to action. This year could be different. Sen. Scott Wiener’s safe injection site bill advanced out of its first Assembly committee last month. Wiener applauded the Biden administration’s shift yesterday, lauding the administration’s “science-based approach.” Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signaled he is open to the concept — a shift away from his predecessor, former Gov. Jerry Brown, who declaimed against “enabling illegal and destructive drug use” in vetoing a safe injection site measure in 2018. If Newsom gets and signs a bill, California wouldn’t be the first state to open this avenue to halting overdoses, but it would easily be the largest. | 
Injection supplies on a desk at a model safe injection site in 2018. | AP Photo/Eric Risber |
San Francisco hasn’t waited for state action. But its tentative foray into this arena shows just how divisive the issue can be. The city has effectively piloted safe injection sites by permitting people to use drugs within a homeless services hub located in the Tenderloin — a neighborhood that has become synonymous with the city’s homelessness crisis and its larger public health struggles. Breed this year condemned “the reign of criminals who are destroying our city” in vowing to crack down on violent crime and drug dealing there.
Supervised consumption site supporters like Wiener argue they reduce the chances of fatal overdose while making it easier to get people with substance use disorder treatment and housing. Wiener told POLITICO officials already have “a complete disaster on our hands in the Tenderloin with people using drugs on the streets,” and backed San Francisco preempting state legislation because “people are dying.” But to critics, the idea embodies the pernicious liberal lawlessness that has driven the decline of California’s large cities. That criticism will get louder if Wiener’s bill continues to advance, amplified by election-year incentives — a consideration for every assemblymember, senator and governor who has to take a position. BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. We’re glad second gentleman Douglas Emhoff was unharmed after a bomb threat led Secret Service agents to spirit him away from a school event in D.C. It gave us flashbacks to that time a furious Emhoff did some bodyguarding for spouse and then-Sen. Kamala Harris when a protester rushed the stage at a presidential candidates’ forum in California. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I am not some smooth-talking wine salesman from San Francisco. I'm a farmer from Bieber. You might say I'm the underdog.” Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle launches his challenge to Newsom. TWEET OF THE DAY: Rep. @KarenBassLA on a preposterous St. Louis writer’s column claiming L.A. lacks good food: “Have you ever even been here?” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! In 2018, California enacted a law requiring at least one woman on the board of every company based in the state. Did this law affect you? If yes, let us know via the form here . We want to hear from readers who have had personal experiences with the law and how it changed business and women’s careers in the state.
| | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We’ve opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 50 million vaccines. We’ve expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We’ve been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | |  | Top Talkers | | ASSEMBLY GOP SHUFFLE: Assemblymember James Gallagher has displaced Assemblymember Marie Waldron as head of the GOP caucus, taking over the responsibility for seeking policy wins and pickups for the 19-member bloc. While Waldron is not termed out until 2024 (and Gallagher in 2026), sources noted she was drawn into an overlapping seat with fellow Assembly Republican Randy Voepel. — “ After a Black student faced racist slurs, some wonder: Will O.C. ever change?,” by the LA Times’ Hannah Fry: “In recent years, students have expressed antisemitic, anti-Black, anti-Latino and anti-gay sentiments at other Orange County high schools including Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Harbor and San Clemente.” CASE FOR CONCERN — “ Red flags trailed ex-UCLA lecturer across elite universities ,” by the AP’s Stephanie Dazio: “A trail of red flags about his behavior toward women followed Matthew Harris on an academic journey that took him to three of the nation’s most prestigious universities — Duke, Cornell and then the University of California, Los Angeles.” ON STRIKE — “' A slap in the face': Hunger strikes and protests rock Oakland ahead of school closures,” by SF Gate’s Cat Ferguson: “ Thousands of Oakland’s students, parents and teachers have taken to the streets in the last week — and two teachers are on their eighth day of a hunger strike — protesting proposed school closures that would disproportionately affect Black students in low-income neighborhoods.” HIRING SURGE — “ Breed’s Tenderloin emergency: S.F. rapidly hires 100 workers to boost mental health, drug treatment,” by SF Chronicle’s Mallory Moench: “Under Mayor London Breed’s Tenderloin state of emergency, San Francisco quickly hired 100 public health workers to fill vacant positions that have hindered reform of the city’s mental health and substance use disorder care system.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — ANTE UP: Native American tribes are making a $100 million bet on defeating a proposed ballot measure that would give platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel control over online sports wagering in California. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Rincon Band of Luisueño Indians and Wilton Rancheria are budgeting for a nine-figure commitment that would match the initial investment from their wagering platform foes, whose ploy “violates that promise of [tribal] sovereignty” California has maintained for decades, spokesperson Roger Salazar said. The big money move reinforces that an escalating turf war over a lucrative sports betting industry could break some ballot spending records.
INCREASE IN POLICE — “Karen Bass wants more hiring at the LAPD, saying L.A. residents ‘don’t feel safe,’” by the LA Times’ David Zahniser: “U.S. Rep. Karen Bass unveiled her public safety plan on Tuesday, saying that as mayor she would move 250 Los Angeles police officers out of desk jobs and into patrols, while ensuring that the department returns to its authorized strength of 9,700 officers.”
A NEW TAX — “ Vacant-home tax could appear on San Francisco’s November ballot,” by SF Chronicle’s J.D. Morris: “If voters approve the new tax, half of its revenue would fund rental subsidies for seniors and low-income families, while the other half would support a new program to help the city buy empty buildings and convert them into affordable housing.” — Women, candidates of color lead GOP charge to flip the House, by POLITICO’s Ally Mutnick: So far, more than 253 women and 228 people of color have filed to run as Republicans across the House map, the committee says. In the most important seats, roughly two dozen open and battleground districts, a leading GOP candidate is either a woman or a person of color.” HE’S BACK — “ Nancy Pelosi's primary challenger is taking her to task for embracing congressional stock trading as he tries to unseat the 18-term Democrat,” by Insider’s Warren Rojas: “Pelosi's challenger in California thinks putting the House speaker on blast for supporting congressional stock trading might finally pay dividends for him in his third attempt at unseating the long-term lawmaker.” | | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY – A LONG GAME CONVERSATION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS : Join POLITICO for back-to-back conversations on climate and sustainability action, starting with a panel led by Global Insider author Ryan Heath focused on insights gleaned from our POLITICO/Morning Consult Global Sustainability Poll of citizens from 13 countries on five continents about how their governments should respond to climate change. Following the panel, join a discussion with POLITICO White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Gina McCarthy, White House national climate advisor, about the Biden administration’s climate and sustainability agenda. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | NET METERING BATTLE — 22 California lawmakers back proposal to cut rooftop solar benefits, by POLITICO’s Colby Bermel: The message — signed mostly by politically powerful moderate Democrats, including the chairs of both energy committees — stands in contrast to widespread criticism of the agency's net metering reforms from environmentalists, the solar industry and even celebrities like Elon Musk and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Gov. Gavin Newsom has also signaled his dissatisfaction with the proposal. — “Is the California Coalition Fighting Subsidies For Rooftop Solar a Fake Grassroots Group?” byInside Climate News’ Anne Marshall-Chalmers and Dan Gearino: “In the fight over California’s rooftop solar policy, a coalition that claims to represent low-income, senior and environmental leaders is running ads warning about a cost shift that forces consumers to subsidize solar for people who live in mansions.” ONE-WAY TRACK — “ Costs climb again for California’s high-speed rail project ,” by the AP’s Kathleen Ronayne: “Another $5 billion has been added to the cost of California’s ambitious but long delayed high-speed rail line.” — “ California bill aims to outlaw controversial seabed mining in state waters,” by SF Chronicle’s Tara Duggan: “Legislation introduced Tuesday aims to protect California waters from the controversial industry. While proponents say it holds promise for the expanding green energy sector, critics say it would kill marine life, damage habitats and pollute surrounding areas, and ultimately could have a negative impact on fishing and tourism, which together contribute more than $20 billion annually to the state’s economy.” GAPS IN SICK LEAVE — “ New COVID sick leave would leave out at least 1 in 4 California workers ,” by CalMatters’ Grace Gedye: “The bill, which the Legislature passed Monday, doesn’t apply to small employers with 25 or fewer workers. That exemption — which California’s 2021 COVID sick leave law also included — applies to more than 90% of companies in California and leaves at least 1 in 4 workers without access to the new paid leave.” — “ The push to unionize Starbucks stores has landed in California — and 5 Bay Area locations could be next,” by the SF Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli: “The campaign to organize Starbucks workers is finally coming to union-friendly California, as workers at three stores have filed federal paperwork to unionize over the past three weeks and organizers say colleagues in more than 14 other stores statewide are interested in joining them. SETTLEMENT REACHED — “ University of California agrees to $243.6 million settlement in UCLA sex abuse scandal,” by WaPo’s Susan Svrluga: “ The regents of the University of California have agreed to pay more than $240 million to settle claims from 203 women who say that a former gynecologist-oncologist at the University of California at Los Angeles sexually abused them.”
| | | |   | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | BAILING FOR CRYPTO — “ Silicon Valley is no longer the edgy tech frontier as workers flee Google and Amazon for crypto and Web3 startups, recruiters say,” by Insider’s Katie Canales: “Eight tech recruiters told Insider that they're seeing a significant trend of high-profile executives and developers leaving established firms to cryptocurrency and other decentralized tech ventures as the once-fringe startups elbow their way to the forefront of the industry.”
| | CANNABIS COUNTRY | | CANNABIS STUDY — “ NFL gives UC San Diego $500K to study whether cannabis helps athletes manage pain,” by the San Diego Union Tribune’s Gary Robbins: “The National Football League is giving UC San Diego $500,000 to study whether cannabis can be effectively used to help athletes manage pain from injuries and to recover more quickly.”
| | HOLLYWOODLAND | | CHECK YOUR FAVES — “ Oscars: Full List of Nominations ,” by the Hollywood Reporter’s Kimberly Nordyke and Hilary Lewis. — “ How China Captured Hollywood ,” by the Atlantic’s Erich Schwartzel: “The filmography of China in recent years has given its audiences what Americans have taken for granted: stories about people who look like them, who work and play in a country claiming a moment in history. Now China is trying to complete the hardest piece of the puzzle: shipping those movies overseas—and with them the values and vision that they embody and the alternative mode of governance to Western liberal democracy that they promote.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | — “ Judge places Santa Rita Jail under external oversight, ending mental health abuse lawsuit,”by the Oaklandside’s David DeBolt. — “ Government raises lag private sector’s by most in 40 years. Will California pay workers more?,” by Sac Bee’s Wes Venteicher. — “ Mapping a Bold Vision for the California African American Museum,” by the NYTimes’ Jori Finkel. — “ California Town Says Mountain Lions Don’t Stop Housing After All ,” by the New York Times’ Maria Cramer and Alan Yuhas. — “ Eileen Gu's Gold Medal for China Sparks Controversy,” by NBC Bay Area’s Sergio Quintana.
| | Transitions | | — The Long Beach Post has hired Laura Anaya-Morga as a general assignment reporter. — Tomicah Tillemann has joined Katie Haun's new firm, an as-yet-unnamed Web3 fund, as global chief policy officer. He, along with Rachael Horwitz and Nick Pacilio, who are running marketing and comms, respectively, left a16z crypto at the beginning of the year.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Kristen Hayford … David Silver
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