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Presented by the California Clean Cars Campaign: 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 the California Clean Cars Campaign | THE BUZZ — TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón’s tenure has never been smooth, but he may be navigating the most turbulent stretch yet. It has been a dizzying few days for the progressive prosecutor, whose 2020 defeat of then-incumbent Jackie Lacey captivated a surging national criminal justice reform movement. Gascón has faced aninternal revolt and cyclical voter anger from practically the day he took office and announced a sweeping array of sentencing reforms. The DA and his defenders would call that backlash the cost of seeking to overhaul how L.A. prosecutes and punishes crimes.
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George Gascón in 2020. | Bryan Chan/County of Los Angeles via AP |
But the situation has escalated dramatically. Over the weekend, Gascónannounced a retreat from two of his major changes by ending blanket prohibitions against trying juveniles as adults or seeking life without parole. He also backtracked and said he had erred in trying as a juvenile a woman who was arrested at 26 for allegedly sexually assaulting a child when the suspect was 17. That case spurred outrage andled Fox News to publish a jailhouse recording of the alleged assailant bragging about a lighter sentence. “The complex issues and facts of her particular case were unusual, and I should have treated them that way,” Gascón said.
Then, on Tuesday, Gascón’s line prosecutors announced they had voted almost unanimously to endorse a burgeoning recall attempt. That breach isn’t new. The Association of Deputy District Attorneys union has clashed with Gascón from the start, going to court to block his sentencing. The statewide California District Attorneys Association backed the LA prosecutors’ challenge, an unusual public rebuke that speaks to a wider schism betweena small core of progressive DAs like Gascón and other prosecutors. A judge ultimately ruled Gascón had overstepped. So we’ve already seen concrete policy implications from anti-Gascón dissent. By court order or by politically pressurized choice, Gascón has modified some of his further-reaching plans to reduce incarceration. A spike in violent crime is shifting the public mood, with more than half of Angeleno voters telling Berkeley IGS pollsters that crime has increased “a lot” in the past year. The political implications are still unfolding. An initial recall attempt fizzled for want of signatures. But a follow-up effort is underway and attracting support. In addition to the line prosecutors’ nod, the new push has drawn endorsements from elected officials like Sheriff Alex Villanueva and City Council member and mayoral candidate Joe Buscaino. It has raised at least $1.8 million, drawing money fromsome Hollywood players, in addition to more than half a million dollars from consistent conservative funders Geoff Palmer and Gerald Marcil. Former police chief Charlie Beck has renounced Gascón. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin will be first to feel voters’ judgment when his recall vote arrives in June. We’ll see if Gascón fares similarly. BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Democrat Mike Fong is formally the newest member of the California Assembly, after he was sworn in Tuesday to represent the 49th district, which encompasses Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Valley. There are now four vacant Assembly seats, all safely blue. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Your economy in California is bigger than the size of Russia’s. … But who’s paying attention, right?” President Joe Biden, during a clean energy event with Gov. Gavin Newsom that directly followed Biden’s address on Russia and Ukraine. TWEET OF THE DAY: Assembly Republican Leader @J_GallagherAD3 on SF Mayor London Breed saying parental frustration drove school board recalls: “She’s right. It’s a parent thing. 2022 will be the year of the parent and there will be a reckoning for leaders who ignored parents and the real damage done to our children by their inaction.” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | A message from the California Clean Cars Campaign: DROUGHT. WILDFIRES. SMOG. Exhaust from cars and trucks is the number one source of climate and air pollution in California. Electric vehicles are pollution-free. Strong standards that put more electric vehicles on the road faster will protect public health, fight the climate crisis and create jobs. We need our regulators to adopt electric vehicle sales targets that achieve 75% pollution-free car sales by 2030. Click here to learn more about how we can improve California's landmark Advanced Clean Cars program. | | |
|  | Top Talkers | |
UNDER THE SURFACE —“What Lies Beneath: Vets worry polluted base made them ill,” by the AP’s Martha Mendoza, Juliet Linderman, and Jason Dearen: “For nearly 80 years, recruits reporting to central California’s Fort Ord considered themselves the lucky ones, privileged to live and work amid sparkling seas, sandy dunes and sage-covered hills.”
— “Meth, a mother, and a stillbirth: Imprisoned mom wants her ‘manslaughter’ case reopened,” by CalMatters’ Nigel Duara: “Since her guilty plea, Perez’s story has drawn national attention for her rare plea to manslaughter of a fetus – a charge that doesn’t exist in California law. Abortion rights advocates believe her case has broad implications for abortion access in California, potentially opening the door to criminal prosecutions of people seeking to terminate pregnancies.” — “‘ Injections, Injections, Injections’: Troubling Questions Follow Closure of Sprawling Pain Clinic Chain,” by Kaiser Health News’ Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Jenny Gold: “The lawsuit, filed in Fresno County Superior Court, accuses a Lags Medical provider in Fresno of puncturing a patient’s lung during a botched injection for back pain.” | | | | JOIN THURSDAY TO HEAR FROM MAYORS ACROSS AMERICA: The Fifty: America’s Mayors will convene mayors from across the country to discuss their policy agendas, including the enforcement of Covid measures such as vaccine and mask mandates. We’ll also discuss how mayors are dealing with the fallout of the pandemic on their local economies and workforce, affordable housing and homelessness, and criminal justice reforms. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | VYING FOR THE VALLEY — CD-13: The Central Valley’s CD-13 House race is heating up as Democrat Phil Arballo throws jabs at a fellow Democrat, Assemblymember Adam Gray, who has long been a fixture of Sacramento’s moderate Democratic bloc. Arballo excoriated Gray for taking oil and tobacco money and not supporting a minimum wage boost, deriding Gray as someone who “cozies up to corporate interests and sells out his constituents.” Arballo snagged the sole endorsement of labor powerhouse SEIU California. Gray already has endorsements from Newsom and a roster of current and former Valley elected officials, but he fell just short of getting the California Democratic Party’s pre-endorsement. Campaign representative Mike Lynch said that backing underscores Gray’s “strong record of delivering stuff for the Valley,” whereas “Phil doesn’t have a record. Phil’s only record is that he’s a perennial candidate.” — SD-16: And Democratic elbows are flying in a contested state Senate race, where redistricting has caused some heartburn. Sen. Melissa Hurtado sidestepped a showdown with Sen. Anna Caballero by shifting to the newly drawn SD-16, but that doesn’t mean the field is clear. “It’s too late,” Democratic former Assemblymember Nicole Parra told us. “Valley voters are very smart, and they don’t appreciate Sacramento telling us who we should vote for.” For her part, Hurtado told us that a clash with Caballero would have been “a distraction” for Senate Democrats. Hurtado said she was “not a fan of redistricting” but made her decision based on the results. As for other SD-16 candidates? “It’s a personal decision they have to make,” Hurtado said, “and I can’t make that for them.” BASS RING — “ Rep. Karen Bass’ L.A. mayor campaign manager departs,” by the LA Times’ Julia Wick: “Jamarah Hayner has departed as Rep. Karen Bass’ campaign manager in the Los Angeles mayor’s race, a campaign spokesperson said Monday.” — “Will L.A.’s mayoral race channel Orange County? ”opines the LA Times’ Gustavo Arellano: “From Pacific Palisades to Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley, there’s a level of discontent among the city’s liberals I would’ve never imagined in the megalopolis.” DEBATE DEBACLE — “Protesters shout down candidates in raucous L.A. mayor debate ,” by the LATimes’ James Rainey, Julia Wick, Benjamin Oreskes and Dakota Smith: “Five leading candidates for mayor of Los Angeles squared off Tuesday night in the first televised debate of the campaign, but the most stinging barbs of the evening were directed at a sixth candidate who didn’t attend — billionaire and civic activist Rick Caruso.” — “ Alex Padilla makes it official: He wants a chance at a full term in the U.S. Senate,” by OC Register’s Ryan Carter: “U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla officially filed on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to run for a new term in the United States Senate, citing a personal story and voice that he believes is needed in Washington.”
| | | | A message from the California Clean Cars Campaign:   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | COVID PROTOCOL — “New California bill would require schools to make Covid testing plans,” by POLITICO’s Victoria Colliver: CA SB1479 (21R) would require the California Department of Public Health to help school districts develop a testing plan for each California school, including preschools, child care centers and after-school programs. CLOSING IT DOWN — California lawmaker proposes 2027 closure of Aliso Canyon, by POLITICO’s Colby Bermel: CA SB1486 (21R) from Sen. Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) is forcing the issue amid state regulators’ continued indecision over when to shutter the site. His legislation is part of a broader bicameral energy package that would reduce reliance on natural gas and boost clean sources of electricity in California. — “Can the grid’s wildfire defense stay ahead of extreme weather?” by Energy Wire’s Peter Behr: “Emerging options include sharpening extreme weather forecasts, detecting dying trees and cutting off electricity to broken lines before they start a blaze, according to Mark McGranaghan, vice president of technology innovation at the Electric Power Research Institute.” — “ PG&E, Sonoma County prosecutors in settlement talks over 2019 Kincade Fire charges,” by the SF Chronicle’s Julie Johnson : “A Sonoma County judge halted criminal proceedings against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. stemming from the 2019 Kincade Fire Tuesday after prosecutors said they were negotiating a settlement with the company blamed for causing the wildfire.” STUDENT HOUSING — “Proposed bill would exempt UC, Cal State from environmental review for new student housing,” by the LATimes’ Colleen Shalby: “ A bill introduced Tuesday — in the wake of a potential student enrollment crisis at UC Berkeley — would exempt public universities’ housing developments from California’s arduous environmental review process.” A NEW VISION — “Sacramento Mayor Steinberg offers a vision of downtown with fewer office towers, more apartments,” by the Sac Bee’s Randy Diamond : “Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg offered a vision Tuesday morning of a downtown with more office buildings being converted to apartments towers as remote work continues to keep employees away from their former digs.” GAS PRICES ON THE RISE — “Ukraine crisis could send California gas prices even higher,” by the LA Times’ Kenan Draughorne and Hugo Martin: “ The average price paid for a gallon of regular gas across California hit a record high of $4.742 on Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Assn. That figure is the highest in the country and more than $1 higher than the national average, which currently sits at $3.531 a gallon.” SLOW DOWN —“L.A. will reduce speed limit by 5 mph on 177 miles of streets,” by the LATimes’ Rachel Uranga: “On Tuesday, the City Council took action, unanimously approving a plan to lower speed limits by 5 mph on 177 miles, or about 2%, of city streets. The move was hailed by pedestrian advocates and city officials alike as a small but significant step toward safer streets in a city that has been unable to rein in deadly crashes.” GUNS — “Authorities seize guns in L.A. County sweep ,” by the LATimes’ Alene Tchekmedyian: “More than 100 guns and 49,000 rounds of ammunition were seized during a five-day operation across Los Angeles County, authorities said Tuesday.”
| | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | — “Biden and Newsom want to secure a domestic supply chain for critical minerals,” by the LATimes’ Anumita Kumar: “President Biden is looking to California to help secure a permanent pipeline of critical materials essential to the tech industry that can boost the nation’s green energy production and its competitiveness.” INCLUDING SCOCA’S KRUGER — “Biden has met with at least three potential Supreme Court nominees; announcement expected soon,” by CNN’s Ariane de Vogue, Joan Biskupic and Manu Raju: “One source familiar with the three meetings – including the meeting with Jackson, who has long been considered the frontrunner – said the President has yet to make up his mind. Two other sources confirmed the meetings with Kruger and Childs. Biden’s final decision is expected by the end of this month.” — “California Congressman Adam Schiff asks FBI to investigate ‘deeply concerning’ misuse of rape exam DNA ,” by the SF Chronicle’s Michael Cabanatuan: “Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, asked the head of the FBI to investigate whether federal law enforcement officials can take any action to prevent police from using DNA collected from rape victims to tie them to unrelated crimes, vowing legislation to prevent the practice, if necessary.”SILICON VALLEYLAND: — “ Key upcoming decisions could intensify the battle over Uber and Lyft drivers’ employment status,” by SF Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “The high-stakes battle over the status of hundreds of thousands of California drivers for gig companies such as Uber and Lyft has entered a new phase.” NOT SO FAST — “ Amazon wants new delivery centers in the Bay Area. Big Labor might stop it,” by Protocol’s Anna Kramer: “Like most people living in big cities, San Francisco residents want free and fast delivery — the freer and the faster, the better. Amazon wants to do that for them. But the company is now facing major opposition to its plan to build a large, new fulfillment center in the Mission Bay neighborhood.” | | | | 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. | | | | | | | CANNABIS COUNTRY | |
— Cannabis tax overhaul proposals flood California’s statehouse, by POLITICO’s Alexander Nieves: Interest among lawmakers in rewriting California’s marijuana tax structure has exploded this year after the issue failed to gain traction in previous sessions. Gov. Gavin Newsom last month made cannabis tax simplification a priority, indicating that he’d push the Legislature to include a plan as part of the June budget.
— “Guilty plea in $1 million bribe offer by pot growers to Northern California sheriff ,” by Sac Bee’s Sam Stanton. | | MIXTAPE | |
TURN OF EVENTS — “ An errant golf shot launched Mariposa Castro’s devotion to Trump. Now the Gilroy mom will be sentenced for storming the Capitol,” by SF Chronicle’s Matthias Gafni.
— “Poseidon vows 100% clean energy for desalination plant in Huntington Beach,” by OC Register’s Martin Wisckol. — “ Escondido, La Mesa stop illegally sharing drivers’ location data — for now,” by Inewssource’s Cody Dulaney. HOUSE HUNTING — “ The Bay Area’s hottest real estate neighborhood is a tiny waterfront community. Here’s what it’s like to live there,” by SF Chronicle’s Kellie Hwang.
| | Transitions | | — Joshua Soven now a partner in Paul, Weiss’ litigation department. He previously was at Wilson Sonsini, and is a DOJ antitrust alum.
| | BIRTHDAYS | |
Hugh Hewitt … Viet Dinh … Netflix’s Rachel Whetstone … Becky Beland McNaught … eBay’s Elizabeth Oblinger
| | A message from the California Clean Cars Campaign: California is home to the most polluted air in the United States. The American Lung Associationranked seven California cities in the top 10 of the most ozone polluted cities in the country. Polluted air contributes to asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and premature death, and harms the those most vulnerable like our seniors and children.
It’s time to take big steps toward creating a safer, healthier future. If we don’t significantly cut our climate pollution the average 6-year-old today will live through roughly three times as many climate disasters and experience twice as many wildfires as their grandparents.
With stronger early electric vehicle sales targets we can help protect health and mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
We need Governor Newsom and the Air Resources Board to act boldly in setting new electric vehicle sales targets in the Advanced Clean Cars program! | | |
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