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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, Chris Ramirez, Juhi Doshi and Graph Massara | Presented by Southern California Edison | THE BUZZ — NOT IMPRESSED: Californians voted unequivocally in September to keep Gov. Gavin Newsom in office — but that doesn’t mean they’re thrilled with his performance. The Democratic governor’s failing grades on homelessness and crime blared from a new Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll . Three years into Newsom’s tenure, voters have seen so little progress on a protracted homelessness crisis that two-thirds believe Newsom has done a poor or very poor job on the issue — including half of Democrats and most independents. A majority said Newsom is faring poorly on public safety, and most say crime has worsened in the last year. Newsom’s standing has tumbled precipitously on both fronts. The share of voters disillusioned with his record on crime and homelessness has jumped by double digits since 2020, underscoring pervasive concerns about those basic quality of life issues. And like a subterranean river, a deepening discontent underlies those policy-specific grievances. Multiple polls have found a majority of voters see California heading in the wrong direction as pessimism increases. IGS found that Newsom’s approval rating is hovering under 50 percent (a recent PPIC poll found a markedly better Newsom rating but a plurality saying California was on the wrong-track). Issue by issue, voters expressed a decidedly lukewarm view of their governor. More voters perceived Newsom doing poorly than performing a good or excellent job on every issue except for climate change, where the governor wielded a single-point plurality. The next-closest was the coronavirus, where IGS found a one-point disapproval plurality. A fifth to a quarter of voters gave Newsom a passing grade of “fair” on each issue, which in IGS chief pollster Mark DiCamillo’s mind means this less of an “alarm bells” scenario than a “mixed assessment.” In an election year in most states, those numbers would preview peril for the incumbent. This is California, five months after Newsom crushed a recall attempt. That immediate precedent — combined with Newsom’s overwhelming financial strength, Democrats’ monumental registration advantage and the lack of a formidable and well-funded Republican challenger — means Newsom winning a second term is widely seen as a near fait accompli. But that open path to reelection clearly does not mean that all is copacetic in California, or that voters are brimming with enthusiasm for Newsom. While voters may have opted against replacing Newsom with someone holding the anathematic beliefs of lead Republican foe Larry Elder — thanks in part to Newsom spending some $70 million to battle back — they evidently still believe their governor has work to do. BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Lucky Los Angeles residents get to celebrate their third championship in a little over a year today as the triumphant Rams parade through town. Further north, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins will join the Sacramento Press Club at 11:30 to discuss their 2022 priorities. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We want to assure you that we are pursuing every possible option for avoiding what would be a dire situation for prospective students and our campus. And, should we not succeed in our efforts to keep the enrollment freeze from being implemented, we will do everything in our power to mitigate the impacts on prospective students and current members of the campus community.” UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor Olufemi Ogundele writes to applicants about a fight over enrollment that could land before the California Supreme Court. TWEET OF THE DAY: Democratic Los Angeles Supervisor @SupJaniceHahn on mask rules: “I want to follow the State’s lead and lift the mask mandates. I believe we are beginning to lose the trust of the people. We already saw thousands of people flagrantly violate LA County’s mask mandate at the Super Bowl.” BONUS TOTD: GOP Rep. @DarrellIssa on the same: “If California's indoor mask mandate expires tomorrow, why will children still be forced to be masked in school? Here's a Wordle with the answer: The Teacher's _ _ _ _ _” 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 | | — The kitchen of the future won’t be cooking with gas, by POLITICO’s Danielle Muoio Dunn, Debra Kahn and Ry Rivard: Having already reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out dirty heating oil and adding renewable energy largely without federal help, dozens of local governments are voting to drive down their carbon footprints by banning natural gas hookups in new buildings altogether. And it’s dividing Democrats and putting the party at odds with key allies. — “Gov. Gavin Newsom names first Latina to California Supreme Court ,” by the Sac Bee’s Sophia Bollag: “Newsom praised his pick, Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Patricia Guerrero, as a ‘keen legal mind and well-regarded jurist.’” — “Seas could rise up to a foot by 2050, posing 'a clear and present risk' to U.S. ,” by POLITICO’s Zack Colman: Sea levels along U.S. coasts will rise by as much as a foot in the next 30 years as climate change accelerates, leading to a “dramatic increase” in millions of Americans’ exposure to flooding, scientists warned in a federal report published Tuesday. — “D.A. Chesa Boudin drops case against suspect allegedly linked to a property crime from rape exam DNA, ” by the SF Chronicle’s Megan Cassidy: “San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has dismissed the property crime case against a woman whose DNA collected from a rape kit was used to link her to a recent property crime, officials said Tuesday.” REALITY CHECK —“ Berkeley, once hostile to development, is now inviting it. But has the city actually built much housing?” by SF Chronicle’s Sarah Ravani: “Once dominated by fervently anti-housing politicians and residents, Berkeley’s City Council and its residents are now talking about how to build more homes quickly and even considering allowing apartments in single-family neighborhoods.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | RESULTS CENTRAL — Here’s where we stand on a trio of races spanning San Francisco and Los Angeles as of publication:
— In a San Francisco school board recall that distilled parent anger over protracted school closures, all three targeted school board members were unseated. More on that from Jeremy and Chris.
— In a Democrat-dividing special election to replace former Assemblymember David Chiu in San Francisco’s AD-17 , current SF Supervisor Matt Haney and former SF Supervisor David Campos will face each other in an April runoff. More from the SF Chronicle’s Mallory Moench. — Los Angeles Community College Trustee Mike Fong was poised to win the open AD-49 seat formerly held by Ed Chau outright, easily breezing past Republican Burton Brink. More on that from Pasadena Star News’ Robert Morales. — “Caruso wants 1,500 more officers, says he’ll put company in a blind trust, ” by the LA Times’ Benjamin Oreskes: “His plan to add 1,500 officers to the LAPD puts him in line with Councilman Joe Buscaino, a rival candidate, who has said he wants to expand the LAPD to 11,000 officers.” SD-16 — Republican farmer David Shephard has launched a campaign for the Central Valley’s 16th Senate district, pitting him against Democratic former Assemblymember Nicole Parra, Democratic civil rights attorney Rob Fuentes and Democratic labor leader Imelda Ceja in a district with a double-digit Democratic registration edge. SD-4 — Former GOP Rep. George Radanovich is running for state Senate in the new 4th district, stretching from the Modesto area over the Sierra and into Death Valley, where incumbent state Sen. Andreas Borgeas is not seeking reelection. — “Another homeless ballot measure could go to Sacramento voters. Here’s what it would do,” by the Sac Bee’s Theresa Clift: “The county ballot measure would make it harder for residents to kill homeless shelter and affordable housing projects, Kennedy said.” ANOTHER ONE — “ Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland councilmember, announces bid for Alameda County Board of Supervisors,” by the SF Chronicle’s Sarah Ravani. | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — New California bills target Covid disinformation, by POLITICO’s Susannah Luthi: California lawmakers from the Legislature’s “vaccine caucus” on Tuesday unveiled a pair of bills aimed at clamping down on misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines and targeting Big Tech and physicians. MASKING … “Parents lose patience over school mask mandate,” by CalMatters’Joe Hong: “Since California health officials decreed the end of the mask mandate for restaurants and grocery stores last week, frustrated parents have been asking: When can their kids take their masks off at school?” … AND UNMASKING — “Disneyland to lift indoor mask mandate for vaccinated visitors starting Thursday,” by the LA Times’ Hugo Martín, Luke Money and Rong-Gong Lin. — “ Coachella, Stagecoach festivals won’t require COVID-19 vaccination, tests or masks,” by the OC Register’s Kelli Skye Fadroski and Jeff Horseman. LA SCHOOLS SHIFT — “Supt. Alberto Carvalho won high marks in Miami, but can he move L.A. Unified forward? ” by the LA Times’ Paloma Esquivel and Howard Blume: “Late last year, Supt. Alberto Carvalho gathered with his Miami-Dade principals to review disappointing data on the impact of the pandemic on student learning.” THAT’S SUSPICIOUS … “ California says disability fraud became rampant during COVID. Who is to blame?” by the Sac Bee’s David Lightman: “ Most of the 345,000 disability claims the state is investigating as suspicious appear to be fraudulent and involve imposters posing as doctors and other medical providers, according to the California Employment Development Department.”
| | | |   | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | JUST LIKE OLD TIMES — “Harris works her old Senate colleagues in anticipation of SCOTUS fight,” by POLITICO’s Marianne Levine and Christopher Cadelago: “The one-on-one outreach comes as Harris has struggled to find her footing as an effective emissary for President Joe Biden.” — “California Returns as Climate Leader, With Help From the White House,” by the New York Times’ Coral Davenport: “ The Biden administration is preparing strict new limits on pollution from buses, delivery vans, tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks, the first time tailpipe standards have been tightened for the biggest polluters on the road since 2001.”
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION — “Elon Musk Enlisted Poker Star Before Making $5.7 Billion Mystery Gift,” by Bloomberg’s Sophie Alexander: “Where that donation is going is a mystery, but it’s just one more signal that the world’s richest person is taking philanthropy more seriously.” SUPE SUBTWEET — “San Francisco Proposes Moratorium on New Amazon Delivery Stations,” by Vice’s Lauren Kaori Gurley: “Although Amazon’s name does not appear in the legislation or resolution, the bill’s proponents told Motherboard it is specifically designed to force Amazon to slow down its expansion into the city.”
| | CANNABIS COUNTRY | | LOWERING TAXES —“San Diego lowers some cannabis taxes to encourage more local production,” by the San Diego Union Tribune’s David Garrick: “The San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved a reduction to some city cannabis taxes to encourage the opening of more indoor cannabis farms and factories that make cannabis edibles.”
| | | | 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 | | — “Family of ‘Rust’ cinematographer shot by Alec Baldwin files wrongful-death lawsuit,” by the LA Times’ Anousha Sakoui and Meg James: “The lawsuit placed much of the blame on Baldwin, who, according to the lawsuit, refused training in the ‘cross-draw’ maneuver that he was practicing that day — just four feet from Hutchins and other crew members.” DEEP DIVE — “A Hollywood union tried to promote diversity. Then things got complicated,” by the LA Times’ Anousha Sakoui. REBRAND — “ViacomCBS renamed Paramount in a nod to its past and streaming future,” by the LA Times’ Meg James.
| | Transitions | | — Judy Lin is leaving CalMatters for Kaiser Health News, where she will be a deputy California news editor.
| | MIXTAPE | | — “Eileen Gu: Navigating two cultures, judged by both of them,” by the AP’s Janie Har and Sarah DiLorenzo. — “ Silicon Valley jail workers say short staffing led to attack,” by the San Jose Spotlight’s Eli Wolfe. — “ Vallejo police sergeant referred to police chief as ‘Black Jesus,’” by the Vallejo Sun’s John Glidden. — “Marin County approves housing project for homeless despite objection from residents,” by KGO’s Liz Kreutz. — “Hunger strike protest against Oakland school closures enters Day 15,” by EdSource’s Ali Tadayon. — “Nearly 500 arrested in statewide human trafficking operation ,” by the LATimes’ Alene Tchekmedyian.
| | Transitions | | — UCLA professor Cynthia Telles will be sworn in today as ambassador to Costa Rica, reprising her father Raymond Telles’ holding that role back in 1961.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Amazon Web Services’ Alexa Dragoumis … Adam Sharp … Meta’s David Keating
| | | | 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. 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.
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