Another safe injection sites veto

From: POLITICO California Playbook - Tuesday Aug 23,2022 01:23 pm

Aug 23, 2022

By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White and Sakura Cannestra

Presented by Stop AB 257

THE BUZZ: Maybe next time, folks.

Gov. Gavin Newsom yesterday vetoed a divisive and high-profile piece of legislation by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) that would have allowed three cities to operate safe injection sites for illegal drugs, marking the second time a California governor has nixed the idea, which advocates say would have ultimately reduced overdoses and deaths.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown did the same thing four years ago — vetoing a bill (also by Wiener) that would’ve let San Francisco operate safe injection sites after a three-year pilot program. Newsom had previously expressed openness to the idea. But he said in his veto message Monday that he’s concerned that Senate Bill 57 would’ve allowed an “unlimited number” of safe injection sites.

Newsom: “It is possible that these sites would help improve the safety and health of our urban areas, but if done without a strong plan, they could work against this purpose. These unintended consequences in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland cannot be taken lightly. Worsening drug consumption challenges in these areas is not a risk we can take.”

Context, as always, is extremely important here. Nothing Newsom does stays solely in the realm of California politics, especially as he wages a crusade to raise his national profile. Crime in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco is already a favored topic of conservative pundits. Signing a bill authorizing supervised injection sites would almost certainly lead to accusations that he was sanctioning illegal drug use.

Maybe not all is lost for supporters of the bill: The governor is asking the secretary of health and human services to convene a group of city and county officials to discuss “minimum standards and best practices” for overdose prevention programs. Newsom said he “remains open” to the discussion when those officials come back with a “truly limited pilot program.” No word on when that will be, however.

But advocates weren’t satisfied with Newsom’s promise to eventually reconsider overdose prevention sites, which other cities like New York City and Vancouver have already adopted. It’s been studied enough, Wiener said, and is a proven way to prevent overdose deaths.

"We don't need additional studies or working groups to determine whether safe consumption sites are effective. We know from decades of experience and numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies that they work,” he said i n a lengthy statement. “...Each year this legislation is delayed, more people die of drug overdoses — two per day in San Francisco alone."

Some officials aren’t interested in waiting on Newsom to give the green light. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said in a statement that he’d “fully support a non-profit moving forward now with New York’s model of overdose prevention programs." Wiener agreed, saying it’s “crystal clear the state isn’t going to step up.”

BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. We’re now officially in the dog days of the 2022 session, and we’ve still got some serious legislative ends to tie up. Chief among them — prolonging the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. And as POLITICO’s Camille von Kaenel reported yesterday, Assembly Democrats are talking about a proposal to nix Newsom’s extension plan. Stay tuned.

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: "This is a fight not only between the Trades, but between the Assembly and the Senate. The Assembly held up our bills and didn’t do much to try and broker the compromise. It’s always best if people can come together.” State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) talking to CalMatters about the onerous task of passing California housing bills.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Journalist Zachary Siegel @ZachWritesStuff: “I feel like Dan and Amy from Veep took Gavin Newsom aside and said he could never be president if he signed the CA consumption site bill.”

WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

A message from Stop AB 257:

AB 257 imposes a restaurant tax that will lead to higher prices at thousands of local restaurants in California. This bill would hurt our small business owners, their employees, and the communities they serve. Between skyrocketing food and gas prices, working families can’t afford to pay another tax on meals.
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TOP TALKERS

— “In California’s largest race bias cases, Latino workers are accused of abusing Black colleagues,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Margot Roosevelt: “In interviews, Black employees said a torrent of racist insults and discriminatory treatment was mainly inflicted by Latino co-workers and supervisors who composed roughly three-quarters of the workforces at the sprawling facilities in Ontario and Moreno Valley.”

CAMPAIGN MODE

— “California congressman becomes latest Republican to invoke Nazis to defend Trump, bash Biden,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Melanie Manson: “Referencing the recent FBI search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of former President Trump, Garcia accused the Biden administration and what he called the ‘Deep State’ of ‘weaponizing federal agencies’ for political purposes.”

— “Cool or cringe? Politicians try to connect on TikTok, but risk the dreaded ‘teenage eye roll’ ,” by the Los Angeles times’ Priscella Vega: “As Gen Z’s go-to social media app has surged in popularity, with more than 138 million active users in the U.S., politicians are catching on, trying to attract young voters.”

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CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

— “From critical race theory bans to anti-LGBTQ rules: Will conservatives transform California schools?” by the Los Angeles Times’ Ryan Kost: “Many believe this ban probably represents just the beginning of a ‘parental rights’ movement in California schools that aims to ban discussion of systemic racism and, in some cases, topics around both LGBTQ people and sex education.”

TOUCHING GRASS — “Employers couldn’t fire workers for off-site cannabis use under California bill ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Camryn Pak: “AB2188 would prevent employers from penalizing workers who use cannabis outside of work hours. Employees could still be fired for being impaired while on the clock. It would also set new standards for employer-administered drug-screening tests.”

— “ Column: Newsom tries to have it both ways on fighting climate change and California’s housing shortage,” by the Los Angeles Times’ George Skelton: “Gov. Gavin Newsom is caught between two top priorities, although he doesn’t acknowledge it. He’s trying to be a global leader on climate change. But he has also promised to build more housing.”

SIDESHOW SORROW— “ Inside L.A.’s deadly street takeover scene: ‘A scene of lawlessness’,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Nathan Solis and Melissa Hernandez: “In the last eight months, at least six people have died during or near street takeovers. In November, two men were shot and killed in a car parked near a takeover in Compton. In June, two women were killed in a crash near a Compton event.”

NOWHERE TO GO — “ Exclusive: How a deal to build Sacramento’s largest downtown homeless shelter fell apart,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Theresa Clift: “The county abandoning the downtown proposal preceded a four-month period in which city and county elected leaders hardly spoke to each other about homelessness, Sacramento’s most pressing crisis.”

NO TIME LEFT — “Deadline looms to clear San Jose’s largest homeless camp; nearly 100 people remain,” by the Mercury News’ Marisa Kendall: “The city recently announced it will start removing the people still living at the camp Sept. 1. The news sent a wave of anxiety through the remaining campers, many of whom still have nowhere else to go, though the city says it’s working hard to find beds for everyone.”

A message from Stop AB 257:

SILICON VALLEYLAND

— “Websites Selling Unapproved Abortion Pills Are Booming,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Dominique Mosbergen and Vibhuti Agarwal: “Sites selling abortion drugs without a prescription charge as much as $500 for a pack of abortion pills. Medical support isn’t included.”

HOLLYWOODLAND

— “These celebrities are accused of drought restriction violations,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Hayley Smith and Sean Greene: “They’re among the biggest names in entertainment and sports: Sylvester Stallone, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Hart, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian.”

INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY.

MIXTAPE

— “How a homeless woman and her ‘emotional support duck’ survive on the streets of L.A.,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Brittny Mejia and Mel Melcon.

— “Interview: How the Yurok Tribe is revitalizing traditions through redwood canoes,” by CapRadio’s Vicki Gonzalez.

— “ Sanas, the buzzy Bay Area startup that wants to make the world sound whiter,” by SFGate’s Joshua Bote.

— “The Times’ 1982 series ‘Black L.A.: Looking at Diversity’ ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Archive.

— “S.F. Bay Area warns of incoming wildfire smoke. Here’s where skies will be haziest,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sam Whiting.

BIRTHDAYS

Stephen Miller … former California Gov. Pete Wilson … Bradley Singer of WME

A message from Stop AB 257:

AB 257 would establish new regulations for counter-service restaurants, creating a tax on working families’ dining choices by forcing menu price increases. This bill will affect tens of thousands of counter service restaurants where customers pay first then eat. It creates a food council of unelected appointees to take the place of legislators and set wages and duplicative and conflicting workplace laws. This extra layer of decision-making will raise costs at these establishments, essentially creating a tax on working families' dining choices by increasing menu prices. Increased costs mean fewer local restaurant openings, slower job growth, fewer employees per shift, decreases in hours and less opportunity for career advancement. It's a lose-lose situation for everyone. Tell your legislator to STOP AB 257.

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