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Presented by California Environmental Voters: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte | Presented by California Environmental Voters | THE BUZZ: The June primary is scarcely behind us, but we’re already getting down to the wire for making the November ballot. Three direct-democracy pushes in different phases of the process illustrate the point: one racing to gather signatures, one rushing to secure votes and one waiting to see if time will run out. Here's a field guide: LADA: Progressive Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón could face a recall vote this fall, months after incensed San Franciscans ousted Gascón’s successor and ally. Foes of Gascón spotted a harbinger of his downfall in Chesa Boudin recall. But first they have to get before the voters. The Gascón recall campaign announced yesterday they’d surpassed the 566,857 signatures needed to trigger an election. But since many are bound to be rejected, they’ll need a cushion to ensure they have enough valid backers by July 6. Let’s say their validity rate is a robust 75 percent. That would require getting around 190,000 more signatures in three weeks — a challenging task with the most fervent backers already in the fold (the campaign is seeking up to 700,000, which would require an extraordinary 80 percent rate). This is where the money can make a difference. The principal recall committee reported having $1.5 million on hand at the end of March, the most recent period for which there’s a filing, and the LATimes’ Seema Mehta observed the campaign is paying a handsome $8 per signature. PAGA: The U.S. Supreme Court made major California news yesterday by narrowing the scope of the state's Private Attorneys General Act, which allows employees to enforce labor law enforcers by suing businesses. We get into the details of that ruling below. But while SCOTUS preserved PAGA and left room for legislative action — “California is not powerless,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, and “the California Legislature is free to modify the scope” — voters could discard the 2004 statute altogether in the fall. But that fight may have to wait another cycle. A business coalition seeking to overturn PAGA, funded in large part by car dealers, has piled up more than $9 million and submitted hundreds of thousands more signatures than they need to qualify. But there may not be enough time for counties to verify those signatures. The Secretary of State’s office advised campaigns to turn in tallies by April 26 if they wanted enough runway. The PAGA-pursuers got theirs in on June 3. A bid to boost California’s minimum wage to $18 an hour, meanwhile, began submitting its surplus signature pile on May 12. ABORTION ACCESS: Legislative leaders are moving swiftly to advance a constitutional amendment cementing abortion rights. SCA-10 will need to clear committees and secure two-thirds floor votes in both houses by June 30 to get on the ballot. Then voters would need to approve it in November — a likely outcome, given California’s overwhelming support for reproductive rights, and the measure could have broader ripple effects if it motivates Democrats to turn out in a year where a bleak outlook threatens to depress liberal turnout. In a whole-ballot sense, Gascón’s fate could end up being linked to the abortion access campaign. BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. That constitutional amendment doesn’t look like it will encounter much trouble in the Legislature. After easily passing a pair of policy committees, it’s now scheduled to be up in the Senate Appropriations Committee today, setting up a potential Senate floor vote as early as Monday. It would be on to the Assembly after that. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up: jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There’s just so much bad stuff. We don’t want you all to have to think about it to the degree that we do.” Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci tells the Chron about converging climate threats. TWEET OF THE DAY: Assembly member @MattHaneySF boosts the Legislature’s financial relief plan — and takes a swat at the governor’s: “The CA legislative budget agreement includes $8 billion in direct relief for families: $200 per person in relief and is not tied to ownership of a vehicle. A family of five would receive a $1,000 rebate. This is a fairer, more equitable approach than giving it by car owned.” WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. | | | | A message from California Environmental Voters: Governor and Legislature: stand with our kids! Your choices in this year’s state budget can save California from a future plagued by deadly drought, wildfires, and heat waves. Invest California’s record budget surplus in climate solutions now. The governor’s $47.1 billion proposal is unprecedented but only 3% of spending over 5 years. We need at least $75 billion invested in a Climate Courage Budget. The choice is yours. Our kids’ future is at stake. | | | |  | Top Talkers | |
— “The cruelest summer yet? California is facing drought, heat, power outages and fires — all at once,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Kurtis Alexander: “This year’s extraordinarily dry, warm weather, which is expected to continue in the coming months, is stoking fears of a multitude of problems: increasing water restrictions, extreme heat, power outages, wildfire and smoke — potentially all of the above in one vicious swoop.”
— “ Gunman who killed El Monte police officers was on probation for gun charge,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Richard Winton, Andrew J. Campa, Matthew Ormseth and Nathan Solis: “Two sources with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office identified the gunman as Flores. Records show he was on probation for a gun possession offense at the time of the shooting.” — “ As Sacramento residents let lawns die in drought, some of their water is being sold elsewhere,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow: “Led by the city of Sacramento, several water agencies in the area are putting the finishing touches on a deal to deliver water for about 70,000 households to Silicon Valley’s water agency, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and other jurisdictions where the drought has hit particularly hard.” | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
SHERIFF RACE UPSET — “How Yesenia Sanchez toppled incumbent Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern,” by Oaklandside’s David DeBolt: “She fell into a civilian technician job in the sheriff’s department, and later a sworn position because she needed more stable employment. Then over the past two decades, she rose through the ranks of the sheriff’s office to become the commander of Santa Rita Jail.”
GASSED — Prices at the pump continue to dominate campaign season as the NRCC has launched digital spots targeting Democratic Reps Josh Harder, Julia Brownley, Katie Porter, and Mike Levin. Take a look. | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — “No deportation protection. No work permit. On DACA’s 10th anniversary, thousands left behind,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Cindy Carcamo, Andrea Castillo and Jeong Park: “They are coming of age without the benefits and protections that their older peers enjoy, because they were too young to qualify for the program before the Trump administration moved to end it five years ago and a court ruling limited the government to process DACA renewals, not new applications.” — “California legislators want to help you buy a house with down payment, ‘shared equity’ ,” by CalMatters’ Alejandro Lazo: “Lawmakers are proposing creating a billion-dollar fund in this year’s state budget that would provide California’s first-time buyers either all of the money they need for a down payment, or very close to it, in exchange for partial ownership stakes in those residences.” CORRUPTION CENTRAL — “ A 20-story tower. A liquor box with $100 bills. The first trial in the Huizar case begins,” by the Los Angeles Times’ David Zahniser: “It was one of the more evocative scenes described by prosecutors as part of their City Hall corruption investigation: A political aide arrives at the home of a Los Angeles city councilman and presents him with a liquor box filled with cash.” PLAY BALL — “An underserved Sacramento neighborhood could get a $50 million sports complex in mayor’s plan,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Theresa Clift: “The complex, which still needs City Council approval, would be built on about half of a 102-acre property the city bought in January, a dirt lot off Meadowview Road behind the Sacramento Job Corps Center.” RUNNING DRY — “Did California learn anything from the last drought? ‘Gambling’ with water continues,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Hayley Smith: “Seven years later, California is once again facing urgent calls for cutbacks as heat waves, record dryness and climate change converge to create critically short supplies. But what has California learned since then? Is the Golden State really ready to do this again?” | | | | A message from California Environmental Voters:   | | |
| | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | |
LABOR LAWSUIT LIMITS — Supreme Court undercuts California labor law letting employees sue, by POLITICO’S Jeremy B. White: “The justices reversed California courts in a ruling that narrows the scope of the Private Attorneys General Act, a 2004 state law that allows employees to act as agents of California by filing claims of labor law violations.”
ROE BEYOND OUR BORDERS — Global abortion-rights advocates worry their countries are next if Roe falls, by POLITICO’s Daniel Payne: In meetings last week, the activists said they spoke to officials not only about their fears of the international impact if Roe were to fall but also proposed changes to U.S. policy that has long restricted funding for abortions abroad. | | | | DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
DONE EXPLORING — “Internet Explorer, star of Windows, dies at 26,” by the Verge’s Tom Warren: “Microsoft is retiring [Internet Explorer] today after nearly 27 years. The aging web browser is being sunset in favor of Microsoft Edge, with support being officially withdrawn for IE 11 today.”
| | HOLLYWOODLAND | |
— “Fans told Lizzo a word in her song was offensive. She changed the lyrics.” by the Washington Post’s Jaclyn Peiser: “Many fans responding to the change said the controversy surrounding the lyrics educated them on the harmfulness of the word.”
| | MIXTAPE | |
— “Sacramento moves to protect Planned Parenthood as Supreme Court abortion ruling nears,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Theresa Clift.
— “Supervisor Connie Chan challenges Mayor Breed to allocate $118 million to the Asian-Pacific Islander community,” by Mission Local’s Yujie Zhou. — “ The Sriracha shortage has hit the Bay Area, with stores running out of the iconic hot sauce,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Elena Kadvany. ODE TO BATHROOMS — “Luxury is not a walk-in shower with a toilet. It’s a vintage tile L.A. bathroom ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Krystal Chang. | | BIRTHDAYS | |
Brandi Hoffine Barr … Liz Bourgeois … Jenna Galper … Aaron McLear
| | | | A message from California Environmental Voters: Governor and Legislature: do you stand with our kids?
Your choices in this year’s state budget can either save California or doom it to a future plagued by deadly drought, wildfires, and heat waves. Investing California’s record budget surplus in clean energy and transportation, water, and other vital infrastructure now will provide a lifeline.
Climate change will soon bring our home state to a point of no return. We can’t overcome this massive threat to our health, lives, and livelihoods without bold leadership and a massive investment. The governor’s $47.1 billion climate proposal is unprecedented but only 3% of spending over 5 years.
Think bigger and pass a Climate Courage Budget that invests at least $75 billion over five years. The choice is yours but it’s our kids’ future at stake. Learn more here. | | |
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