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Presented by the Electric Trucks Now Campaign: 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 the Electric Trucks Now Campaign | THE BUZZ: Will Kevin de León’s decade-plus political career conclude with voters firing him ahead of schedule? It’s been a precipitous plummet for the former state Senate leader and mayoral candidate who in 2018 took the California Democratic Party endorsement from Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The end has looked imminent from the moment leaked tapes captured de León taking part in a racism-marred discussion with two other City Council members and a labor leader about consolidating Latino clout by carving up Los Angeles. Yet de León has resisted the apparently inevitable. Even as City Council President Nury Martinez resigned, even with the list of elected officials demanding de León’s ouster encompassing seemingly every prominent Democrat in California and beyond , even as persistent protesters have showed up at de León’s home and made him a no-show at City Council meetings, even as the council has censured him and its new president denied his request for excused absences and told him unequivocally to leave so the city can “function” and begin its “healing process,” he has hung on. De León, who is up for re-election in 2024, has said it’ll take an election. He framed his persistence as a matter of representing his constituents, saying it’s “not about me” but about respecting the wishes of CD-14 voters who put him here. “They are the ones who elected me,” he told NBC 4 . “If they are the ones who say that I need to leave, then I will respect that decision by them.” We’ll see if they heed that call. One of those constituents, Pauline Adkins, launched her third KDL recall effort yesterday with the city clerk’s office. She has twice before channeled her frustrations over homelessness into failed attempts. But that was before the recordings dropped. Now, Adkins told us, she believes more people will agree with her abiding belief that de León is “an arrogant narcissistic knucklehead who needs to go bye-bye.” | 
A sign demanding a resignation from Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon is seen near his home in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. | Jae C. Hong/AP Photo |
Other Angelenos and CD-14 residents may agree with those sentiments, but they have yet to launch a recall drive of their own or coalesce behind the Adkins effort. East Area Progressive Democrats President Hans Johnson, another de Leon constituent, predicted earlier this month that, should de León defy calls to resign, we would see “a more diligent recall effort.” But Johnson told us in a text message yesterday that “most serious activists & community leaders” are focused on this election and hoping sustained protests will force him out.
Qualifying a recall takes about 21,000 valid signatures. Hitting that threshold would likely require money, an organized volunteer effort, or both. We’ve heard a fair amount of skepticism that Adkins has the resources to pull it off, although she wouldn’t be able to start collecting until after the November election. But for all the fury directed at de León in recent weeks — a backlash that shows few signs of abating — the endgame remains uncertain. BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. Today was the deadline for Elon Musk to close his purchase of Twitter, but he finished up last night and started cleaning house . It’s also the start of a World Series bereft of California teams — sorry, Dodgers and Padres fans. 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 reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital down square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence … That said, Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said without consequences!“ Musk, in an open letter to advertisers . TWEET OF THE DAY
|  Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter |
WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | A message from the Electric Trucks Now Campaign: DIESEL POLLUTION KILLS. ELECTRIC TRUCKS SAVE LIVES. California’s freight communities, neighborhoods near warehouses and families living next highways are breathing the most polluted air in the country. The disproportionate exposure of these mostly Black and Brown communities to diesel exhaust pollution is one of the clearest examples of environmental racism. The California Air Resources Board's (CARB) own analysis shows we can save lives and deliver environmental justice with a stronger Advanced Clean Fleet standard. | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | BREAKING THIS MORNING — Pelosi’s husband assaulted in San Francisco home , by POLITICO's Kelly Hooper: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was “violently assaulted” early Friday morning by an assailant who broke into their residence in San Francisco. A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi said the assailant is in custody, and the motivation for the attack is under investigation.
The speaker was not in San Francisco at the time of the attack and Paul Pelosi was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesperson said. “The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time,” the spokesperson said.
ONLINE OVERTURE — Gavin Newsom has quietly constructed one of the biggest digital forces in politics , by POLITICO’s Christopher Cadelago: Newsom tapped his email list and fundraising events to help spread more than $6 million to other Democratic candidates and causes ahead of the election, advisers tell POLITICO, with much going to fellow gubernatorial candidates.
MCCARTHY LAND — “ Ambition keeps him loyal to Donald Trump. But what does Kevin McCarthy stand for? ” by the Los Angeles Times’ Jeffrey Fleishman and Nolan D. McCaskill: “Despite his 1.6 million Twitter followers, McCarthy is analog in a digital age. He is affable, if at times self-deprecating and contradictory. He is intimidated by hard-right radicals and has passed no landmark legislation.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | BROWNLEY BROUHAHA — How Maloney got here: The suddenly tough race rattling Dems at the finish , by POLITICO’s Anna Gronewold, Sarah Ferris and Ally Mutnick: There’s growing panic about Democratic-leaning seats flipping in the Portland suburbs and in California, where Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), who has warned colleagues her deep-blue seat could be in trouble … Though her district went for Biden by 20 points, she’s been dialing up fellow California delegation members seeking more financial help, according to several people familiar with the conversations. Her team was rattled by a recent internal poll that showed her up by only 1 point, those people said. — “ California’s 10 Most Critical Elections for Criminal Justice and Policing ,” by Bolts’ Piper French and Daniel Nichanian: “Against the backdrop of national conflicts over policing and crime, and repeat scandals affecting the state’s law enforcement agencies, California’s primaries already resolved many of the local races with big implications for criminal justice.” LA BOILING POINT — “ ‘We’re broken.’ In the suburbs north of Los Angeles, voters feel fed up and afraid ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Tyrone Beason: “Sergio Amalfitano’s attitude about the country is as dark and brooding as the name of his vinyl record shop in downtown San Fernando — the Midnight Hour.” — “ Column: Rick Caruso’s Latino appeal isn’t bought — it’s real. But is it enough to win? ” by the Los Angeles times’ Gustavo Arellano: “Pedestrians stopped and squealed over Caruso, not [telenovela star Kate del] Del Castillo. Bicyclists sped by and offered words of support. Eaters at a taco truck across the street craned their necks for a better view. Cars honked, and some drivers shouted, ‘¡Viva Caruso!’ There were a few boobirds, but no one seemed to notice.” FAST MOVING FAST-FOOD — “ California union alleges that fast-food effort to block new labor law is ‘willfully misleading voters’ ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Suhauna Hussain: “The union alleges that in a sprint to qualify the referendum for the November 2024 ballot, business trade groups, fast-food corporations and franchisees are backing a vigorous and costly voter signature-gathering process that is ‘willfully misleading voters.’” — “ Anti-recall candidates could win S.F. school board seats, shifting the balance of power ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Jill Tucker: “Currently, Breed-backed candidates have a majority on the board — board president Jenny Lam was an education adviser to the mayor. That slim majority reverted the academically elite Lowell High School to merit-based admissions. If either Motamedi, Weissman-Ward or Hsu lose, the political balance of the board could shift.”
| | | | 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 | | JUDGMENT DAY — Newsom to tap California state lawmaker for judgeship , by POLITICO’s Jeremy B. White: Outgoing Assemblymember Richard Bloom could be headed for the Los Angeles Superior Court after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped him for a judge role. — “ Feds appoint special election monitor for Northern California. Here’s what he’ll do, ” by the Sacramento Bee’s Andrew Sheeler: “Kevin Khasigian will serve in the position, which is responsible for overseeing election complaints in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.” READ AND LEAD — “ New literacy standards for teacher candidates could be pivotal to improving student reading scores ,” by EdSource’s Diana Lambert: “A set of new literacy standards and teaching performance expectations, approved by the California commission that issues teaching credentials, should ensure all universities are on the same page when it comes to training future educators.” — “ ‘A well-oiled machine’: The Mexican Mafia’s money-making operation in L.A. County jails ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Matthew Ormseth: “ The Mexican Mafia, about 140 men who control Latino gang members behind bars and on the streets of Southern California, has long considered the Los Angeles County jail complex — the largest in the country — a base of power and a source of wealth.” ZAPPED — “ Going electric: Opponents clash as California aims to force diesel trucks off the road ,” by CalMatters’ Nadia Lopez: “Opponents clashed over a state proposal to ban gas-fueled truck sales and make large trucking firms convert to electric within two decades.” FUTURE FUEL — The Hidden Fight for Tomorrow’s Fueling Station , by POLITICO’s David Ferris: Ford and General Motors, America’s two biggest automakers, and the Biden administration have coalesced around a goal of electrifying half of new cars by 2030. Crucial to that future is a nationwide network of charging stations. SACRAMENTO — “ Exclusive: Sacramento police have highest pursuit rate in California, Bee investigation finds ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Pohl, Kevin V. Nguyen, Phillip Reese and Ryan Sabalow: “Decades of data show that police chases put innocent bystanders at risk. A chorus of experts have called for a ban on them in all but the rarest life-and-death circumstances.” IN LIFTING NEWS — “ Tahoe is getting a massive upgrade. Here's how it will transform the ski destination ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Gregory Thomas: “A long-awaited mountaintop ski gondola that promises to reaffirm Lake Tahoe’s stature as a marquee skiing destination is set to start carrying skiers as soon as mid-December.” GASSED UP OR HOT AIR — “ Newsom wants to tackle high gas prices with a new tax. Here’s why it won’t be easy ,” by the Sacramento Bee’s Maggie Angst: “But interviews with economists and oil industry observers suggest that passing and successfully implementing such a tax poses difficult political, legal and practical questions. The levy could lead to unintended consequences, some warn, including even higher gas prices.“ DRIP-DRIED-UP — “ Rising cost of water threatens to leave some Californians dry due to unpaid-bill shutoffs ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Kurtis Alexander: “Earlier this year, a state moratorium on water shutoffs, put in place during the pandemic, came to an end, leaving hundreds of thousands of households, and perhaps more, with the possibility of having their taps go dry.” EDUCATION — “ Controversial and often used, these little-known practices cause harm, even death, among U.S. schoolchildren ,” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Emilie Munson, Matt Rocheleau, Alex Putterman, Libby Seline and Alexandra Kanik: “These practices are used thousands of times per school day nationwide. They cause thousands of injuries to students and staff members each year. While rare, dozens of young people have died after being restrained or kept in seclusion over the past three decades; most deaths have happened in residential facilities or other settings that cater to children with special needs.”
| | | | A message from the Electric Trucks Now Campaign:   | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | TWITTER TATTER — “ Top Twitter executives fired as Elon Musk takeover begins ,” by the Washington Post’s Faiz Siddiqui and Elizabeth Dwoskin: “Elon Musk took control of Twitter late Thursday as his $44 billion deal to takeover the company closed. As one of his first moves, he fired several top Twitter executives, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.” — “ Kia cars are being stolen nationwide as how-to videos swirl online ,” by the Washington Post’s Jennifer Hassan: “Social media platforms say they are trying to contain the videos. TikTok has said it ‘does not condone this behavior, which categorically violates our policies and will be removed if found on our platform.’” | | MIXTAPE | | — “ The high school teacher turned lawyer accused of being a fixer for the Mexican Mafia ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Matthew Ormseth. A LITTLE BIRDIE SAID… — “ Amid Elon Musk buyout, some Twitter workers are seemingly filled with dread ,” by SFGate’s Joshua Bote. — “ Feds urged to reject plan to sell troubled Chinatown building for low-income seniors ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Connor Sheets. CAREFUL DAYCARE — “ ‘This Is A Business. I’m Not A Babysitter’: How An LA Child Care Influencer Became A Role Model For Providers Across The Country ,” by LAist’s Mariana Dale. — “ The Bay Area’s best park turns 50. Don’t forget to thank … Richard Nixon? ” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Peter Hartlaub. | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, “At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy” on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America’s national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | TRANSITIONS | | — Santa Clara County Executive Jeffrey V. Smith announced he’s retiring effective July 1, 2023, after four decades in public service. | | IN MEMORIAM | | — “ Roz Wyman, city’s youngest council member who helped bring Dodgers to L.A., dies at 92 ,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Valerie J. Nelson and Kenneth Reich. | | BIRTHDAYS | | Bill Gates … Protocol’s Lisa Jenkins … Steve Hartell of Amazon … Uber’s Alix Anfang | | A message from the Electric Trucks Now Campaign: ELECTRIC TRUCKS NOW TO STOP DIESEL DEATH. CARB's own research shows that we will achieve greater pollution reductions, save more lives and achieve $10 billion more in additional societal benefits by moving up the 100% electric truck sales goal by just four years. That is mostly public health savings from cutting almost 40% more deadly diesel soot pollution and 50% more smog-forming pollution than the proposed standard.
There is massive support from equity, health, business, labor, clean air and climate groups from across California for the Advanced Clean Fleet Accelerated ZEV Transition Alternative that hits 100% electric truck sales by 2036. Electric truck technology is here and strategies and funding are already in place to grow charging options to meet these reasonable and gradual goals.
Tell CARB to deliver cleaner air faster to our most polluted communities with a stronger electric truck standard. | | | 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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