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Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | |  | | By Lara Korte , Jeremy B. White , Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith | Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming | THE BUZZ: Paul Krekorian is the new president of the Los Angeles City Council. It wasn’t easy getting there, and it’ll only get harder from here. Krekorian was unanimously elected yesterday at the first full meeting of the Los Angeles City Council since the release of the secret audio that captured former President Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León in a conversation about redistricting that included racist comments. Krekorian, a former state assemblymember who represents part of the San Fernando Valley, now bears the weighty task of steering a body that has been rocked by scandal and has two members who refuse to resign despite pleas from most of LA and even President Joe Biden. Easy peasy, right? "This is, needless to say, one of the most challenging times our city has ever faced. And I'm ever-mindful of what's before us,” Krekorian said following the vote. You might remember that the council tried to meet multiple times last week, but was shut down by protesters. This time, due to one member testing positive for Covid, the council convened virtually. That didn’t do a whole lot to stem the tide of protesters yesterday, who have consistently demanded the body not meet until Cedillo and de León joined Martinez in resigning from the council. Protesters camped outside of members’ houses over the weekend and gathered outside City Hall on Tuesday, where police in riot gear prevented some from entering the building. Votes on a replacement for Martinez, and dozens of other agenda items, were delayed for more than three hours as callers excoriated the members, calling on them to break quorum and end the meeting. The comments included expletive-laden rants, a failed attempt at a moment of silence , and someone playing circus music.
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The empty seats of Los Angeles City Council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon are seen in the chamber before the cancellation of the Los Angeles City Council meeting on Oct. 12, 2022. | Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo | In addition to absences from the three members caught on tape, two others, Monica Rodriguez and Curren Price , who had earlier been floated as a potential presidential candidate, were also absent. A spokesperson for Rodriguez said she had to log off for a family emergency. Price said he decided not to attend a virtual meeting that “silenced the public outcry.” Altogether, five members were absent Tuesday, leaving just the minimum 10 members for a quorum. So, what’s next? It’s still unclear if Cedillo and de León will resign. Cedillo, we should note, lost his reelection bid in the spring, and only has a few months left on the council. Krekorian on Tuesday said he’s not going to wait for the two to resign to hold meetings. “We just can't allow two members who are in a position now of having dishonored their offices, to — by their decision, or lack of decision — hold the business of the city hostage,” he said. And there is plenty of business to handle in Los Angeles right now. In addition to the ongoing homelessness crisis, the city is preparing for a new mayor to take office in a few months, and now, in light of the recordings, is under pressure to make sweeping changes to the redistricting process and, possibly, the council as a whole. BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. The Democrats’ fight against oil companies is going national. President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a speech today pressuring companies over increased costs — as playbook California knows all too well. Gov. Gavin Newsom has been pushing for a windfall profit tax on oil companies to compensate for the state’s eyebrow-raising prices, but the White House has yet to fully embrace the concept. 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 . Send us your political mailers! We’re looking to bring more transparency to the elections process. How you can help: Send us photos of the campaign ads you’ve gotten in the mail. You can upload photos here or email them to mailers@politico.com . QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The legislature should take a lesson from Nike and ‘Just do it.’ People need help now, not empty promises of something months down the road.” State Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk calling for a special session to reduce gas prices. TWEET OF THE DAY:
|  Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Cardroom casinos have a well-documented history of flouting the law and have been fined millions of dollars for violating anti-money laundering laws, racketeering, and illegal gambling. Now, cardroom casinos and their gambling bankers are spending millions attacking California Indian tribes and tribal gaming. Hold these bad actors accountable! Get the Facts about Cardroom Casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com | | | |  | Top Talkers | | WHO DID IT? — “ Union calls leak of racist recordings illegal, but LAPD has not been asked to find culprit ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Richard Winton and Connor Sheets: “Even though Los Angeles labor officials have called the leak of racist recordings involving three L.A. City Councilmembers a serious crime, the Los Angeles Police Department is not investigating who recorded and posted the clips because no one has filed a police report.” — “ Paul Flores guilty of murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart ,” by the SLO Tribune’s Chloe Jones, Kaytlyn Leslie and Stephanie Zappelli: “A jury has found Paul Flores guilty of murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart in 1996. After months of court proceedings, 12 jurors in a Salinas courtroom unanimously agreed Tuesday to convict Flores of first-degree murder.”
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | THE BLUE AND THE BALLOT— Future Democratic stars at risk of getting wiped out in the midterms , by POLITICO’s Elena Schneider: Democrats elected their political future in 2018. Now, that bench of potential statewide leaders could get wiped out. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: California Republican controller candidate Lanhee Chen has won the backing of Andy Slavitt, who ran Medicare and Medicaid during the Obama administration and served a senior adviser on Biden’s White House Covid team. The endorsement may seem out of step given that Slavitt, who served a key role in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, and Chen, a leading conservative voice on health policy and an Obamacare critic, have been on the opposite sides of many health policy debates. But Slavitt described Chen as “someone who puts country over party” and could serve as the “thoughtful, independent-minded” controller the state needs. Chen told POLITICO that the two have a longstanding collegial relationship. From Slavitt in today’s announcement: “We may not agree on the exact policy prescriptions that policymakers in Sacramento should enact, but we do agree that our state is in need of greater accountability for how our tax dollars are being spent.” — via POLITICO’s Victoria Colliver DEM DROPS IN BATTLEGROUNDS: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dropped new ads in two closely contested California races yesterday, targeting Republican candidates on abortion and farming issues. One ad, which aired in Fresno, goes after John Duarte , who is battling Democratic Assemblymember Adam Gray in CA-13. In San Diego, the DCCC aired another ad targeting Brian Maryott, who is running against incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike Levin in CA-49.
| | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | — “ Anti-camping rules and sweeps: Homelessness roils race for new Sacramento Assembly district ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Lindsey Holden: “The two Democratic candidates in a newly-drawn Assembly district straddling Sacramento and Elk Grove are competing to show voters who has been most effective in curbing homelessness, trading charges about their records.” — “ An L.A. homeless camp, a Rick Caruso sign and the tough choices ahead ,” Opines Steve Lopez for the Los Angeles Times: “One day not long ago, after I spent some time with Rep. Karen Bass and heard her recipe for homelessness — better leadership, smarter alignment of services, and much cheaper housing that’s built faster, etc. — I knocked on Prieto’s door.” 14 QUESTIONS — “ San Francisco votes on an unusual number of propositions. Do they usually win? ” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Nami Sumida: “San Francisco voters will weigh in on 14 local ballot measures next month. Those who are new to city elections may balk at the large number of local measures, but it’s only slightly above the average count since the 1960s.”
| | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | CASH CONUNDRUM — “ Having problems activating your California gas tax refund debit card? Try again ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Grace Toohey: “The 800 number required for activation — the same number listed on the website for the program — had no option to activate the cards, and calling the line was the only method to initiate card use.” — “ Will Sacramento teacher strike shake up city school board? Union backs newcomers in election ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Marcus D. Smith: “Sacramento’s teachers’ union is putting its weight behind three newcomers this election, aiming to flip seats on the city school board months after an eight-day strike ground the district to a halt.” — “ California Becomes First Sanctuary State for Transgender Youth Seeking Medical Care ,” by KQED’s Lesley McClurg: “California is the first state in the nation to create a sanctuary for transgender youth seeking gender-affirming medical care. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law in September that ensures transgender kids from elsewhere can safely access hormones or puberty blockers here.”
| | | | 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 . | | | | | RIGHT ON BOARD — “ Has a right-wing movement to flip school boards really landed in the Bay Area? ” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Joshua Sharpe and Sophie Bollag: “Across the country, right-wing groups are pouring money and support into local school board races amid lingering outrage over COVID closures and concepts such as white privilege being taught in schools.” — “ Huntington Beach oil spill: $50 million settlement agreed to for locals hurt financially ,” by the Orange County Register’s Andre Mouchard: “Amplify Energy will pay $50 million to individuals and businesses that lost money last year when nearly 25,000 gallons of oil flowed into the ocean from of a ruptured pipeline about 4 miles off the coast of Huntington Beach, according to terms of a preliminary class action settlement filed late Monday, Oct. 17.” 'INESCAPABLE' NAME — “ Who is Danny Bakewell, the Black L.A. power broker named in the Nury Martinez audio? ” by the Los Angeles Times’ Brian Contreras: “Relatively unexamined in the maelstrom has been [Nury] Martinez’s brief references to Bakewell, a high-profile leader among Black Angelenos, real estate developer and the executive publisher and owner of the Los Angeles Sentinel, the long-running Black newspaper.” — “ Students, Legal Scholars Push California Universities to Hire Undocumented Students ,” by the New York Times’ Miriam Jordan: “A coalition of undocumented student leaders and some of the nation’s top legal scholars is proposing that California, a state that has served as an incubator for progressive policies on immigration, begin employing undocumented students at the 10 University of California campuses.”
| | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | | — “ With midterms approaching, Biden pledges to veto any abortion ban ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Shira Stein: “President Joe Biden promised to veto any national abortion ban passed by the U.S. Congress as his party fights to retain control of the House, re-take the Senate and Californians are set to vote on the issue in November.” — White House taking every step possible to avoid direct Biden-Putin encounter at G-20 , by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire: President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are slated to attend next month’s G-20 summit in Indonesia, setting up the possibility of a high-stakes face off in the midst of an increasingly deadly Moscow invasion of Ukraine. U.S. officials are taking steps to ensure that doesn’t happen.
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:   | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | WHO? — “ The Quiet Political Rise of David Sacks, Silicon Valley’s Prophet of Urban Doom ,” by the New Republic’s Jacob Silverman: “While not yet a household name like his pal Elon Musk, he’s a regular across conservative media and on Twitter, where he has more than 400,000 followers, and exerts a growing influence in the political battles playing out in the tech industry.”
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | WELCOME HOME — ELI STOKOLS is returning to POLITICO as a White House reporter and co-author of West Wing Playbook. He most recently was a White House reporter for the L.A. Times and is a WSJ alum. Read the announcement
| | MIXTAPE | | — “ UC Berkeley is repatriating cultural artifacts, including ancestral remains, to Indigenous tribes ,” by CNN’s Alaa Elassar. THE NITTY GRITTY — “ End Of California COVID Emergency Won't Affect Insurance, But End Of National Health Emergency Will ,” by LAist’s Jackie Fortiér. — “ Pandemic-related fraud totaled billions. California is trying to get some of it back ,” by NPR’s Eric Westervelt. HERE WE GO AGAIN — “ New COVID variants are coming. Will there be a winter surge? ” by SFGATE’s Amy Graff. — “ California’s Solar Problem Could Be Solved by Floating Wind Farms ,” Opines Liam Denning for Bloomberg. — “ The Gig Law Causing Chaos in California Strip Clubs ,” by WIRED’s Morgan Meaker.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Protocol’s Satchie Snellings
| | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming: Cardroom casinos are contributing millions to politicians to curry political favors. These bad actor cardroom casinos have dished out more than $50,000,000 on contributions to politicians, party bosses and other political campaigns. It's time to finally crack down on cardroom casino's unlawful gambling and criminal activity.
Learn more about cardroom casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com | | | 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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