|
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 | THE BUZZ — HOME TURF: Brace yourself for a down-to-the-wire showdown over renter protections this week. Evictions can resume on Friday for California tenants who haven’t made rent, even if they’re still waiting on Covid-related rent relief to come through. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon have vowed to move swiftly to prevent mass displacement, committing to advance a newly unveiled bill that would extend an eviction moratorium for people awaiting funds to the end of June. The bill could be the difference for hundreds of thousands of people with pending aid applications. The bill will need to clear a two-thirds vote threshold in both houses — and surmount some industry opposition — in a matter of days. The California Rental Housing Association came out swinging on Friday, arguing that overextended landlords can’t keep forfeiting rent. “Enough is enough,” the organization’s president, Christine Kevane LaMarca, said in a statement. But the California Apartment Association is neutral on the bill, which means supporters will not need to contend with one of the Capitol’s most influential interest groups. Months into the legislative year, Sacramento has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to move quickly on pressing matters. Both houses sped an emergency Covid relief package and an extension of paid sick leave to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Legislators showed similar alacrity in rushing through legislation to reverse looming enrollment cuts at the University of California, Berkeley stemming from a court decision. Leadership’s imprimatur and a statement of support from Newsom presage the eviction moratorium’s smooth passage. But the fact that the Legislature is scrambling to avert more Covid-related fallout is a reminder that the virus’ broad societal effects continue to drive policymaking, even with the state’s transmission rate as low as 1.4 percent on Friday and school mask mandates relegated to the past. BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. Newsom marked a milestone on Friday by selecting Andi Mudryk to be a Sacramento Superior Court judge — the first time a governor has appointed a transgender person to the bench. Alameda Superior Court Judge Victoria Kolakowski became the state’s first transgender judge when she won election in 2010. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m looking forward to being just an anonymous, never-heard-of her person, absolutely. I love for public health to be spotlighted. But I don’t need to stay in the spotlight.” Santa Clara health officer Sara Cody on becoming a public figure thanks to the coronavirus, via the SF Chronicle’s Erin Allday. TWEET OF THE DAY: @BillMartinKTVU shares an image that must be seen to be believed: “Trail Camera. Courtesy GGNRA” VIDEO OF THE DAY: BuzzFeed’s David Mack got an uncensored clip of actor Will Smith hitting comedian Chris Rock live onstage during last night’s Oscars. (Warning for language.) More context via the LA Times' Christi Carras. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL SECURITY DAILY : Keep up with the latest critical developments from Ukraine and across Europe in our daily newsletter, National Security Daily. The Russian invasion of Ukraine could disrupt the established world order and result in a refugee crisis, increased cyberattacks, rising energy costs and additional disruption to global supply chains. Go inside the top national security and foreign-policymaking shops for insight on the global threats faced by the U.S. and its allies and what actions world leaders are taking to address them. Subscribe today. | | | | | |  | Top Talkers | | LABOR — “California union president fails to regain leadership powers at court hearing,” by the Sac Bee’s Wes Venteicher: “The president of California’s largest state employee union won’t be able to exercise leadership powers for at least several more weeks after an appearance in Sacramento County Superior Court Friday.” COVER UP— “Fearing bad publicity, LASD covered up case of deputy who knelt on inmate’s head ,” by the LATimes’ Alene Tchekmedyian: “Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials attempted to cover up an incident in which a deputy knelt on the head of a handcuffed inmate for three minutes because they feared the “negative light” it could shed on the department, according to internal records reviewed by The Times.” FORCED OUT — “ Longtime activist Cleve Jones to leave Castro after tense landlord dispute,” by John Ferrannini for the Bay Area Reporter: “Jones said he wants to bring awareness to his situation not because he needs financial assistance — ‘I'm going to be fine,’ he insisted — but for the benefit of fellow San Franciscans who may end up having no choice to leave when they and their landlords butt heads.” OSCARS DRAMA — “The slap heard around the world: Will Smith really did hit Chris Rock at the Oscars,” by the LATimes’ Christi Carras: “In a shocking event that stunned a worldwide audience, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards Sunday after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | TECH BUCKS: Major tech player Sam Altman has maxed out to Michael Shellenberger’s challenge to Newsom, a sign Newsom won’t have a monopoly on Silicon Valley bucks in his reelection bid. NOT SO FAST — “Hold the mimosas. Redistricting rules bar East Sacramento voters from recalling Valenzuela,” by Sac Bee’s Yousef Baig: “East Sacramento residents pushing for a recall of Sacramento City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela aren’t allowed to vote her out of office — even if the campaign gathered enough signatures for a special election.” — “The Wrong Prosecutors Are Being Recalled,” opines Lara Bazelon in Slate: “While it is true that any California elected official can be recalled for any reason, the provision authorizing this remedy in the state constitution was designed as a bulwark against corruption and malfeasance.” WE LOVE A FLOWCHART — “These flowcharts show what makes Chesa Boudin different from past District Attorneys,” by SF Chronicle’s Susie Neilson and Abhinanda Bhattacharyy. | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | MORE LABOR — “In a union town, Sacramento teachers have allies in power as their strike continues,” by the Sac Bee’s Sawsan Morrar: “Now, with the Sacramento City Teachers Association and classified staff represented by SEIU Local 1021 on an ‘open-ended’ strike, [Mayor Darrell] Steinberg and other elected Sacramento leaders largely are staying out of the dispute aside from issuing neutral statements urging the two sides to reach a deal.” GAS PRICES — “Politicians eager to send Californians cash for gas ,” by CalMatters’ Dan Walters: "Californians face stubborn shortages of necessities — housing, water and perhaps electrical power — but in this election year, politicians are offering numerous plans to give them billions of dollars to offset a sharp increase in gas prices." — “ Economists doubt pumping more oil in California would lower fuel prices,” by Bakersfield.com’s John Cox: “Economists say no, for two main reasons: Oil trades on a global market, and in-state production will remain a proverbial drop in the bucket almost no matter how much money and effort are invested in it.” A LACK OF TRUST — “ Bay Area air regulators didn’t tell public about illegal emissions for three years. Can residents trust what comes next?” by SF Chronicle’s Julie Johnson: “Some remain skeptical about the explanations officials have provided for how such emissions could go undetected for so long in a state with some of the toughest pollution controls in the country.”
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | JOB GROWTH — “Bay Area, California rocket to big job gains in February, post-COVID rebound widens,” by the Mercury News’ George Avalos: “The nine-county Bay Area added 22,500 jobs last month backed by big increases in the East Bay and the San Francisco-San Mateo corridor, according to the state Employment Development Department, while the state posted its strongest performance since the summer of 2021.” — “How California’s last remaining nuclear power plant transformed marine life off the coast ,” by Fresno Bee’s Mackenzie Shuman: “The operation of a high-energy nuclear power plant has, in effect, transformed a Central Coast ocean environment into a habitat more commonly found in Southern California.” MENTAL HEALTH PROPOSAL — “A deep dive into Newsom plan to overhaul mental health policy ,” by Capitol Weekly’s Sigrid Bathen: “If approved by the Legislature, Newsom’s plan would create an entirely new system of civil court supervision, connecting individuals with intensive treatment and, equally important, housing.” — “Free speech doesn’t mean hecklers get to shut down campus debate ,” opine Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman in WaPo: “Two recent incidents at law schools where protesting students sought to keep invited speakers from addressing their audiences are deeply troubling.” UNDER INVESTIGATION — “FBI, Contra Costa County D.A. investigate Antioch, Pittsburg police officers ,” by SF Chronicle’s Lauren Hernández: “Sworn law enforcement officers with Antioch and Pittsburg police departments are under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office in connection with “crimes of moral turpitude” among other alleged offenses, authorities said Friday.” | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | |
BACKSTORY — McCarthy nudges convicted Rep. Fortenberry to resign, by POLITICO’s Sarah Ferris and Olivia Beavers: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Friday suggested Rep. Jeff Fortenberry should resign from Congress, hours after the Nebraska Republican was convicted of lying to the FBI over illegal campaign contributions.
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | VOTE TO UNIONIZE — “Google Fiber contractors vote to join union,” by the Verge’s Kim Lyons: “A group of workers for a Google Fiber subcontractor in Missouri has voted to unionize, the first of its kind at Google’s parent company Alphabet.” — “Black Tesla employees describe a culture of racism: ‘I was at my breaking point’,” by the LATimes’ Margot Roosevelt and Russ Mitchell: “Three Black former employees described how jobs at the pioneering automaker devolved into personal nightmares due to a pattern of rampant racism and harassment at Tesla’s Fremont, Calif., factory.” DIGITAL MARKETS ACT — U.S. slow to respond to EU’s landmark tech regulation , by POLITICO’s Leah Nylen and and Samuel Stolton: Washington and Brussels hailed a new agreement on trans-Atlantic data flows Friday, while conspicuously avoiding the elephant in the room: antitrust enforcement for the world’s largest digital platforms. IMMIGRATION REFORM — “ A visa crisis is hitting the children of Silicon Valley tech workers,” by SF Chronicle’s Deepa Fernandes and Tal Kopan: “Despite the advocacy of documented Dreamers, they have not succeeded in winning a fix in gridlocked Washington, instead finding themselves caught in the same political battles as many other immigrants seeking reform.”
| | HOLLYWOODLAND | | HERE YA GO — Oscars winner list, via the Hollywood Reporter’s Kimberly Nordyke. — “In rebuke of Florida bill, Oscars hosts are feeling ‘gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay,’” by the LA Times’ Christi Carras. ONE TO WATCH — “ Donald Glover Is Impressed by His Writer Malia Obama’s Work Ethic,” by Vanity Fair’s Paul Chi: “Barack and Michelle Obama’s eldest daughter was hired to share her experiences for a series potentially titled Hive, which is reportedly about a Beyoncé-type character.” | | MEDIA MATTERS | | — “A year ago tensions between the press and police erupted in Los Angeles,” by NPR’s Marc Rivers and David Folkenflick. | | MIXTAPE | |
CHARGES FILED — “California AG charges 9 people in organized retail thefts in Sacramento and around state,” by Sac Bee’s Cathie Anderson.
— “Iconic Pioneer Tree in Marin County toppled by massive fire,” by SF Chronicle’s Dominic Fracassa and Danielle Echeverria. — “ Chemical spill at Compton plastics factory triggers hundreds of odor complaints,” by the LA Times’ Lila Seidman. —“ It took 27 years and $300 million. Will S.F. Van Ness BRT improve traffic congestion?” by SF Chronicle’s Ricardo Cano. POLICE DOGS — “The murky business of K9 cops: Did an Oakland police officer cross the line? ” by the Oaklandside’s David DeBolt.
| | Transitions | | Mattingly Messina is now director of development at the Bentley School. He most recently worked on civil and regulatory legal investigations at Google.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | SUNDAY: Natalie (Buchanan) Joyce of McCarthy’s office … Niki Christoff … Iain Hart of Rep. John Garamendi’s office SATURDAY: Nancy Pelosi … Twitter’s Lexi Neaman ... Larry Page … Juan Londono of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation 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.
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
