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Presented by Southern California Edison: 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 Southern California Edison | THE BUZZ — GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS: Welcome to the first election day of California’s 2022 cycle — an event showcasing parental fury and Sacramento turnover. San Francisco’s school board recall has generated the most buzz of the three contests before voters today. It will effectively function as a referendum on how parents in the proudly progressive city feel about pandemic-era schooling. Parent activists, prominent political supporters like Mayor London Breed and state Sen. Scott Wiener, and a deep-pocketed coalition of tech players, real estate interests and a charter-backing perennial school board kingmaker have all argued the board failed a test of basic competency and prioritization. The specific grievances undergirding the race are unique to San Francisco. Those particulars include board members spending hours on renaming schools while those schools were still bereft of students, inviting national ridicule, as well as one board member’s $87 million free speech lawsuit. But the contest also distills a broader angst among parents — even reliably Democratic San Franciscans — who became disillusioned with public school management during the pandemic’s long grind. Those tensions inform the San Francisco contest and make it something of a bellwether for how still-prominent education issues will permeate the midterms. Jeremy broke down the race’s singular significance. ASSEMBLY ASCENSION — San Franciscans and Angelenos are also choosing new Assembly members today, as California hosts the first in a wave of special elections triggered by Capitol churn. In Los Angeles, the contest to succeed Superior Court Judge Ed Chau in the San Gabriel Valley-anchored AD-49 doesn’t hold much drama: Los Angeles Community College District Trustee Mike Fong looks poised to win the liberal seat outright, after sidestepping a Democratic opponent and compiling a lengthy endorsement list. San Francisco’s AD-17 contest is more muddled, as Democrats jostle to replace City Attorney David Chiu. The paramount question: Can any Democrat win outright with a majority of votes, whether that’s SF Supervisor Matt Haney, former Supervisor David Campos, entrepreneur Bilal Mahmood or former S.F. City College Board President Thea Shelby? Or are we headed to a Democrat-on-Democrat runoff? Dozens of state lawmakers have split between supporting Campos or Haney. Outside spending has surged, with real estate, medical and organized labor interests deploying some $750,000 to help Haney or counter Campos, and Haney has far outraised Campos. A tech industry PAC has mobilized on behalf of Mahmood, who has chipped in $550,000 of his own money. Shelby has the least money and longest shot. BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. It’s the final day of California’s statewide indoor mask mandate as the coronavirus rate has dipped to 6.2 percent. What’s next? Circle February 28 on your calendar: that’s the day when California plans to announce its timeline to ease a student mask mandate, Health and Human services Secretary Mark Ghaly previewed yesterday. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The message today, which I hope is clear, is today a change isn’t being made, but in two weeks — confirming that the data continues to be where it is taking the time to prepare and work with the school community, and the communities at large — that we anticipate making the change at that point.” Ghaly on the school stricture schedule. TWEET OF THE DAY:LeBron James @KingJames on a dominant L.A. sports run: “We, Dodgers and Rams should all do a joint parade together!!!! With a live concert afterwards to end it!! City of Champions. Congrats once again!!!” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | | | A message from Southern California Edison: We believe everyone should have the right to breathe clean air. That’s why we’re leading the charge for more clean, renewable energy. We’re a national leader in battery storage and delivering solar energy to our customers. We’re working to cut emissions from buildings and freeways. And we proudly support the growth of green jobs. | | | |  | Top Talkers | | MASKS REMAIN … FOR NOW — “California punts on school mask decision for another two weeks,” by POLITICO’s Victoria Colliver: California's schoolchildren will remain masked indoors for at least two more weeks as state health officials say they'll wait until Feb. 28 to consider lifting the mandate. BATTLE FOR BERKELEY — “UC Berkeley must slash new enrollment by a third unless high court intervenes,” by Berkeleyside’s Frances Dinkelspiel: “About 5,100 fewer high school seniors and transfer students will be offered a place at Cal for the next academic year because of an Alameda County Superior Court ruling that ordered UC Berkeley to freeze enrollment at the same level as 2020-21.” — “ Western megadrought is worst in 1,200 years, intensified by climate change, study finds,” by the LA Times’ Ian James: “The extreme dryness that has ravaged the American West for more than two decades now ranks as the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years, and scientists have found that this megadrought is being intensified by humanity’s heating of the planet.” — “San Francisco police linked a woman to a crime using DNA from her rape exam, D.A. Boudin says,” by the SF Chronicle’s Megan Cassidy: “The San Francisco police crime lab has been entering sexual assault victims’ DNA profiles in a database used to identify suspects in crimes, District Attorney Chesa Boudin said Monday, an allegation that raises legal and ethical questions regarding the privacy rights of victims."
| | | | 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 | | — “It’s time to get our lives back and declare the end to COVID-19 pandemic,” by Rep. Ami Bera in the SacBee: “It’s time to declare an end to this pandemic. As a member of congress, an internal medicine physician and the former chief medical officer for Sacramento County, I don’t say this lightly.” — “California domestic violence advocates ask Gov. Newsom to spend more on prevention programs,” by the Sac Bee’s Cathie Anderson: “A coalition of 100-plus crisis intervention agencies is once again appealing to the California Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom to set aside funding in next year’s budget to pay for programming found to prevent sexual and domestic violence.” LACK OF LAWSUITS — “No legal battles for California’s new election maps. But what lessons can be learned?” by CalMatters’ Sameea Kamal: “California’s independent redistricting commission was slammed on social media and pummeled in public meetings. But its new maps don’t face any lawsuits, unlike in many other states.” PLASTIC WASTE — “California lawmaker takes aim at plastic waste from online retailers,” by the SF Chronicle’s Dustin Gardiner: “State Assembly Member Laura Friedman, D-Glendale (Los Angeles County), unveiled a bill Monday that would require online retailers to stop shipping items in some common types of plastic packaging designed to be used once and tossed in the trash.” PRESCHOOL EXPANSION — “ California’s subsidized preschool program may expand to toddlers,” by EdSource’s Karen D’Souza: “The California State Preschool Program currently serves the state’s low-income 3- and 4-year-olds. The new proposal to expand the program to children as young as 2 is part of the K-12 “trailer bill,” clarifying policies related to the state budget for 2022-23.”
| | | |   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
PLAY FOR AD-10: Elk Grove City Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen is running to succeed Assemblymember Jim Cooper in the Sacramento-area seat Cooper is forfeiting to run for sheriff. Nguyen launches with endorsements in hand from Cooper and from Sacramento Assemblymember Kevin McCarty.
— “Political Ads in SF School Board Recall Election Target Chinese-Speaking Voters,” by KQED’s Scott Shafer and the SF Standard’s Han Li: “ A current campaign to recall three members of the San Francisco Unified School District board is courting this vital demographic by investing in television ads in Mandarin and Cantonese. The ads emphasize issues many people in the Chinese American community care about most: a controversial tweet from one of the targeted school board members, as well as changes to the merit-based admissions policy at Lowell High School.” THIEL APPEAL — “ The Right’s Would-Be Kingmaker,” by NYT’s Ryan Mac and Lisa Lerer: “Mr. Thiel, who became known in 2016 as one of the biggest donors to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, has re-emerged as a key financier of the Make America Great Again movement. After sitting out the 2020 presidential race, the venture capitalist this year is backing 16 Senate and House candidates, many of whom have embraced the lie that Mr. Trump won the election.” — “Another extremist-driven California county recall is just getting started. Here’s where,” by Sac Bee’s Jason Pohl and Ryan Sabalow: “In Nevada County, a group of activists allege that officials have overstepped their authority when it comes to COVID-19 contact tracing, lockdowns and other public health measures that “violated religious freedoms and individual liberty.” RECALL REFORM — “Fix the biggest flaw with California’s recall or next time a loser could win,” by the LA Times editorial board: “California’s system for recalling politicians has an enormous flaw: It creates the possibility that an elected official could be thrown out of office and replaced by someone voters like even less.” | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
— “Inside Facebook's African Sweatshop,” by TIME’s Billy Perrigo: “ Here in Nairobi, Sama employees who speak at least 11 African languages between them toil day and night, working as outsourced Facebook content moderators: the emergency first responders of social media. They perform the brutal task of viewing and removing illegal or banned content from Facebook before it is seen by the average user.”
— These companies stopped campaign donations to election objectors. Their lobbyists did not , by POLITICO’s Emily Birnbaum, Megan Wilson and Hailey Fuchs: The big tech companies were the largest group, highlighting Silicon Valley’s balancing act as it faces increasing scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. | | | | 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 | |
DOUBLE STANDARDS? — “Maskless celebs at Super Bowl spark upset,” by CNN’s Lisa Respers France: “Celebrities spotted not wearing a mask at Sunday's Super Bowl game were met with cries of ‘hypocrisy’ by some on social media.” — “Actor who faked movie deals sentenced to 20 years in prison for massive Ponzi scheme,” by the LA Times’ Michael Finnegan.CANNABIS COUNTRY:
| | MIXTAPE | | — “Levi’s exec says she resigned rather than end her campaign against COVID school closures,” by SF Chronicle’s Jessica Flores.PIGS GONE WILD — “ Wild pigs run amok in San Jose, residents want repayment for wrecked landscaping,” by the Mercury News’ Paul Rogers. CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION — “Super Bowl champion Rams will parade through L.A. on Wednesday ,” by the LA TImes’ Haylely Smith and Laura Newburry. — “ The Rams Won a Super Bowl. Have They Won Los Angeles?” by the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay.— “ Gas Prices Rise Again In The Southland, With A Potential Russian Invasion of Ukraine Looming Large,” by LAist’s Phoenix Tso and Nate Perez.TRANSITIONS: — Melissa Granville was elected partner and Alex Taghavian will become managing partner at Sacramento-based consulting firm Capitol Impact. | | BIRTHDAYS | |
Actum’s Jen Wlach … Alexandrea Borstein
| | | | A message from Southern California Edison: This is a time of great change and uncertainty. But what remains constant is our commitment to building a clean energy future for everyone. That’s why SCE is standing with California, leading the charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality and support continued economic growth. We’re a national leader in battery storage and delivering solar energy to our customers. We’re working to cut emissions from buildings and freeways. And we proudly support the fastest the growth of green jobs. We’re more than 13,000 employees serving 15 million Californians. When we work together, we can move full speed ahead into a clean energy future. | | |
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.
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