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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 Jeremy B. White , Lara Korte , Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith | Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming | THE BUZZ: So much could swing on $6 gas. Of all the issues driving California voters , soaring fuel prices may be the most potent. Gas station signs advertising exorbitant prices are a concrete and constant reminder of inflation’s bite. Republicans have spent months hammering Democrats for their economic and energy policies. In the campaign’s final weeks, leading Democrats are also going on the offensive — against oil companies. Both Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden have argued that a profit-hoarding energy industry is responsible for higher costs. Biden made that point repeatedly in a speech yesterday warning that fossil fuel companies were channeling profits to shareholders rather than consumers as the per-barrel cost declines. “You should be using these record-breaking profits” to bolster production and “bring down the price you charge at the pump to reflect what you pay for the product,” Biden said. That earned a shoutout from the governor. Newsom has taken an even more aggressive stance , repeatedly assailing “greedy oil companies” as he pushes the Legislature to enact a tax on windfall profits. The governor’s calling for a special session to tackle the tax in December. That means he can trumpet the idea in the heat of campaign season without forcing vulnerable Democratic candidates to vote on a new tax. That will be a task for the incoming class, which could include some Democrats getting showered with oil money. Legislative Republicans want to move more quickly . While Biden insisted yesterday that his energy moves were “not politically motivated at all,” there’s no doubt prices at the pump will be a defining variable in midterm elections. That could be particularly true in California, where the high cost of living has been exacerbated by gas prices that sat $2 above the national average yesterday. | 
A customer pumps gas into his vehicle on May 24, 2022. | Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo |
That incongruence presents a political problem for California Democrats . Republicans argue Democrats have driven up costs through federal legislation (principally Biden’s Covid stimulus package) and state policies (California’s stringent energy regulations and gas tax increases). Of course, much of this is determined by a global marketplace beyond the control of U.S. policymakers.
Some frontline Democratic candidates have swung the spotlight onto oil companies: Rep. Katie Porter spearheaded legislation cracking down on price gouging. Environmental groups are hitting GOP Rep. Mike Garcia today for opposing it. Rep. Mike Levin and Porter asked the feds to investigate California price spikes. Much of that will float over voters’ heads. They’ll have plenty to consider when casting ballots over the next three weeks, including abortion rights , climate change, crime, homelessness and the state of democracy. But the prices posted on their neighborhood gas stations could be decisive. BUENOS DÍAS, good Thursday morning. Reporters from the LATimes and Fox 11 are hosting a live town hall discussion tonight on the crisis enveloping Los Angeles after tapes leaked in which city council members used racist language to discuss consolidating power. More details here. 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: “I’ve always been up against many, many challenges, and obviously this is surely the biggest one I’ve ever confronted in my life, but my constituents do deserve representation. We need to heal as a city and we need to come together as a city and I want to be part of that … It’s not about me. It’s about City District 14.” Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de León saying he won’t resign over the tapes, although he said he “failed” by not pushing back, via CBSLA . TWEET OF THE DAY |  Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter |
BONUS TOTD
|  Bonus 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 | | SHOCK POLL — “ Election 2022: New poll shows LA mayoral candidates in dead heat ,” by the Los Angeles Daily News’ Linh Tat and Olga Grigoryants: “The Southern California News Group poll, conducted by Irvine’s J. Wallin Opinion Research, surveyed 400 likely voters in L.A. about the biggest issues facing the city, which mayoral candidate they prefer and whether they support the two city initiatives on the ballot.” LA FALLOUT— LA Council member de León says he won't resign in first interviews since release of leaked recording ignited scandal , by POLITICO’s Lara Korte: The former powerful state lawmaker was caught on the recording in a discussion with former Council President Nury Martinez and fellow member Gil Cedillo and a union official in a discussion of efforts to manipulate district boundaries along racial lines — using deeply offensive language that exposed racial animosities in America’s second-largest city. CURLED AND CRAMPED — “ L.A.’s love of sprawl made it America’s most overcrowded place. Poor people pay a deadly price ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Brittny Mejia, Liam Dillon, Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee and Sandhya Kambhampati: “Los Angeles’ most overcrowded neighborhoods have experienced COVID-19 death rates that are at least twice as high as those with ample housing.” — “ Celebration for S.F.’s $1.7 million toilet canceled after backlash: ‘The cost is insane’ ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Heather Knight: “[Assemblymember Matt] Haney told me he will also send Recreation and Parks Director Phil Ginsburg a formal letter asking for a fuller explanation for how one little bathroom can cost as much as a single family home and take more than two years to build.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | CARUSO CASH: After pledging months ago to spent $1 million to pass California’s abortion-protecting constitutional amendment, Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso moved $100,000 yesterday into a “right to choose” committee. — “ Exclusive: Two candidates locked in tight Oakland mayor’s race, according to new poll ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sarah Ravani: “The Oakland Chamber of Commerce released the poll results Wednesday, which show Council Members Loren Taylor and Sheng Thao will be battling it out at the polls — 21% of respondents selected Taylor, who is moderate, as their first choice vote and 20% selected Thao, who is progressive.” — “ Control of Congress could come down to these 3 California districts. Why they’re so close ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Gillian Brassil: “More than 2,785 miles away, in Washington D.C., donors, analysts and incumbents blast polls, predictions and political plays in attempts to ensure either their preferred party holds the power in the United States House of Representatives in 2023. Valley voters wield important, particular power in that determination.” TWO SIDES OF THE SAME ELECTION — “ In California’s TV multiverse, there are two separate elections taking place ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Seema Mehta and Terry Castleman: “GOP candidates paint their rivals as out of touch with the financial hardships facing voters amid economic uncertainty not seen in more than a decade. After the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, many Democrats frame their opponents as antiabortion extremists in a state where voters overwhelmingly support abortion rights.” | | | | 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 . | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — “ After O.C. school district bans critical race theory, it faces Cal State Fullerton backlash ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Debbie Truong and Gabriel San Román: “Months after an Orange County school district banned teaching critical race theory, Cal State Fullerton has told school officials it is pausing placement of its student teachers in the system’s K-12 classrooms, citing concerns that district policies conflict with university goals that promote equity and inclusion in education.” IT ALL CHECKS OUT — “ The city of Sacramento investigated itself and found no wrongdoing. Sounds about right ,” opines the Sacramento Bee’s Editorial Board: “Can the city of Sacramento investigate itself? That remains an open question after a lawyer contracted by the city ruled that Councilman Sean Loloee lives in his district despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” — “ S.F. D.A. Brooke Jenkins is removing one of California’s most veteran judges — without explanation — from new juvenile cases ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “Judge J. Anthony Kline, a 42-year judicial veteran, retired from the First District Court of Appeal last December, then agreed to serve for a year on the juvenile court in San Francisco, a term due to end in February.” HOUSING HELP — “ California is trying to house the homeless through a health insurance program. It worked for this man ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Lila Seidman: “At the beginning of the year, California began rolling out extensive reforms to Medi-Cal, the state and federally funded healthcare program which serves low-income adults and children. The reform initiative is known as California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal, or CalAIM.” TO BIKE OR NOT TO BIKE — “ Can an electric bike legally travel in the bike lane? Here’s what California law says ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Brianna Taylor: “An electric bike, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicle’s website, is equipped with “fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.” Generally, e-bikes can be used in bike lanes throughout California.” — “ Oakland Police Department says it’s no longer considering armed robots ,” by Kron4’s Alex Baker: “However, the department admitted it apparently had considered the use of the robots.” — “ This domestic violence program keeps California abusers from repeating violence. Few finish it ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Cathie Anderson: “The auditing team found that 65 percent of batterers who did not complete the full program returned to abusing their partners or committed an abuse-related crimes, but among offenders who completed all their courses, only 20 percent went back to abusing their partners.“ | | | | A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:   | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — “ Carbon dioxide emissions grew less than expected this year ,” by Protocol’s Michelle Ma: “In actual numbers, carbon dioxide emissions are projected to increase by 300 million tons in 2022 to a grand total of 33.8 billion tons. That growth is a lot less than 2021, when they climbed nearly 2 billion tons.” | | MEDIA MATTERS | | — “ Trump dominated politics on L.A. TV news. A ‘sobering’ City Hall scandal changed that ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Greg Braxton: “[KNBC-TV Channel 4 chief political reporter Conan] Nolan was among the veterans in local TV newsrooms who have been rocked by the firestorm at City Hall following the leak of a recorded conversation in which [former LA City Council President Nury] Martinez and two other councilmembers made racist and disparaging remarks in a conversation with Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.” | | | | 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 . | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | | — “ This Stanford academic says he helped build Horn Barbecue. Then he sued the hit Oakland restaurant ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Elena Kadvany. — “ A new system for online passport renewal is here and this is how it works ,” by SFGate’s Silas Valentino. SHAKE IT UP — “ Get ready — Thursday is the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Jordan Parker. — “ As Baby Boomers Retire, The Water Workforce Faces Its Own Drought ,” by LAist’s Erin Stone. — “ Fed up with L.A.'s skyrocketing rent, they embraced communal living ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Lisa Boone. | | BIRTHDAYS | | VP Kamala Harris … former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis … Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) … Webber Xu | | | | 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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