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Presented by Consumer Action for a Strong Economy: Jeremy B. White and Lara Korte’s must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State | | | | | |  | | By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White and Sejal Govindarao | | | DRIVING THE DAY: In the latest chapter in California’s homelessness crisis, Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking voters to endorse his sweeping plans for housing Californians with severe behavioral health problems and substance use disorders. The administration laid out details on Tuesday for two ballot measures Newsom previewed during his March State of the State tour. The first, carried by Sen. Susan Eggman, would reform the 2004 Mental Health Services Act to require counties to use a greater portion of funds for housing, The other bill, authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, asks voters to approve a $4.68 billion bond measure to create 10,000 beds for behavioral health treatment. There was little immediate reaction , but if history is any indicator, counties and behavioral health workers may have strong feelings about new homeless mandates from the state. Stay tuned. THE BUZZ: STREET SMARTS — For the intrepid California lawmaker or lobbyist who is on a tight schedule and hates chit-chatting with Uber drivers, there’s an increasingly preferred method of transportation around Sacramento — the electric scooter. California officials for years have tussled with electric scooter companies — including on the issues of data privacy and injury liability. Now, many state lawmakers seem to be adopting them as a primary source of transportation, especially with the traffic headaches caused by Capitol construction. Legislators often live too far away to drive a car to Sacramento every week, and frequently have to run back and forth between the Capitol, the Swing Space, and the many fundraisers and happy hours that fill their evenings. Perhaps chief among the growing cohort of devotees is Fullerton Sen. Josh Newman, who has earned himself a reputation for zipping around downtown on two wheels, sport coat fluttering in the wind. In a place known for buttoned-up dispositions and political paranoia, Newman is decidedly unpretentious — waving to the staffers and fellow lawmakers from his scooter as he goes about his errands. He’s been known to carry with him a pack of toilet paper from Target, or an order of six Shake Shack burgers and fries with a big bottle of ketchup (“I don’t like the little packets.”) But on a recent evening, with a POLITICO reporter in tow, Newman hopped on a Lime scooter and took a load of shirts to be dry cleaned at Mercury Cleaners on 16th Street. "It takes the otherwise kind of onerous errand and makes it really easy,” he said afterwards, dismounting on the sidewalk outside the Swing Space. “To me, it's way more enjoyable than riding an Uber or having the transportation folks drive you around. Because you're still kind of part of your environment." It’s not just the electeds who are electing to go electric. The formidable State Building and Trades Council recently purchased a fleet of scooters for legislative and office staff to make their advocacy work in Sacramento easier. With most legislative operations moving over to the Swing Space on O Street, President Andrew Meredith said scooters allow them to get to lawmakers faster. “The investment has paid itself off multiple times over,” he said in a statement. “They’ve been a huge asset.” Republican Sen. Shannon Grove has also impressed many bystanders with her ability to ride the scooters in high heels. (“She’s nimble!” Newman remarked.) Others find the mode of transportation so handy they’ve bought their own scooters. Sen. Dave Min has used one since he taught law at UC Irvine. Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, has one, too, and says he prefers it to getting in a car or using the sergeants to get around. “You can actually do more in less periods of time, and environmentally, it’s sound,” he told POLITICO.
|  Sen. Shannon Grove has impressed many bystanders with her ability to ride scooters in heels. | Courtesy of Grove's office. | Typical scooters go about 15 miles an hour. But for those who want a bit more zoom in their zip there are alternatives. Assemblymember Heath Flora was recently seen departing his own fundraising event on a white moped-esque vehicle emblazoned with a red “Phat” logo (It’s the name of the company, it turns out, that sells a variety of models starting at $3,000). Flora was all too happy to talk about it when asked during a recent floor session. He said he’s had the scooter for a few years and is trying to convince others to get their own. The scooter goes about 30 miles an hour, isn’t a hassle to park and doesn’t burn any fossil fuels. “I’m a proud EV owner,” Flora, a Republican, said with a laugh. BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Join the POLITICO California crew tonight at 6 p.m. for trivia at Fox & Goose! You don’t have to participate — just mingling is acceptable — but it’d be a lot cooler if you did. Details here. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up at jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.
| | | | A message from Consumer Action for a Strong Economy: The Biden administration is waking up to the alarming issue of illegal Chinese-made flavored disposable vapes. Now is the time to strengthen our resolve, redouble our efforts, and eradicate these illegal products from American store shelves. The health and safety of our youth depends on it. Join us in urging the FDA to finish the job to protect minors from the risks posed by illegal Chinese-made flavored disposable vapes. Learn more. | | | WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Everything needs an update after 20 years. Your roof does, your knees do, everything else needs an update after 20 years.” Sen. Susan Eggman on why Californians should reform the 2004 Mental Health Services Act. CROWDSOURCING: Californians: Have you asked Sens. Dianne Feinstein or Alex Padilla for help recently? Send us your receipts.
| | | | JOIN US TONIGHT! Think you know a lot about politics? PROVE IT! Compete in California Playbook’s inaugural Trivia Night. Grab a drink, kick back, and put your knowledge on display! Join top political power players on Wednesday, June 21st at Fox & Goose Public House for a night of fun and competition that you won’t want to miss. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | TOP TALKERS | | — "Bused from Texas to L.A.: Little food, sketchy bathroom facilities for 20 hours on the road," by the Los Angeles Times’ Brittny Mejia and Jack Herrera: “As the bus full of migrants prepared to embark June 13 on a more than 20-hour journey from Texas to Los Angeles, the passengers were offered bags of chips, water and energy bars. Ambar, who asked to be identified by her first name due to privacy concerns, said they were offered their first real meal several hours later. It was military field rations, known as MREs, or meals ready to eat. Her 10-year-old daughter took a couple of bites of packaged lentils and soon after battled a stomachache.” — "In San Francisco, Biden says AI has ‘enormous promise’ but comes with risks," by the Los Angeles Times’ Queenie Wong: “President Biden said Tuesday that artificial intelligence has “enormous promise” but that it also comes with risks such as fueling disinformation and job losses — dangers his administration wants to tackle.”
| | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Emily’s List is endorsing Laura Friedman in the crowded race to take over Rep. Adam Schiff’s Los Angeles district. Friedman, who has represented the area in the Assembly since 2016, has been “a dedicated supporter of reproductive freedom in every elected office she has ever held,” said Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler. The race has drawn in a plethora of interested candidates, including West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne, state Sen. Anthony Portantino and Boy Meets World actor Ben Savage. MONEY MOVES — The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria have donated $1 million to Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis’ ballot measure committee, per campaign filings. Kounalakis, of course, launched her campaign for the 2026 governor’s race earlier this year. — "Marianne Williamson loses second campaign manager in two months," by POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson: “Roza Calderon’s departure was announced Monday on a small far-left podcast, the Vanguard, and independently confirmed by two sources to POLITICO granted anonymity to discuss internal staffing dynamics. One person familiar with the campaign said that Calderon quit.”
| | | | A message from Consumer Action for a Strong Economy:   | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — "Supreme Court declines — again — to hear challenge to California worker law AB5," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bob Egelko: “The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge Tuesday to a California law that classifies political signature-gathering “doorknockers” as employees entitled to payment of wages by the companies that hired them. It is at least the third time that the court has left the law intact.” SHOT — "The biggest survey of homeless Californians in decades shows why so many are on the streets," by Cal Matters’ Marisa Kendall: “Losing income is the No. 1 reason Californians end up homeless — and the vast majority of them say a subsidy of as little as $300 a month could have kept them off the streets.” CHASER — "Column: The truth about our homelessness crisis: As Californians age, they are priced out," opines Anita Chabria for the Los Angeles Times: “Public policy and common perception have long tied the road to homelessness with mental illness and drug addiction. But a new study out Tuesday — the largest and most comprehensive investigation of California’s homeless population in decades — found another cause is propelling much of the crisis on our streets: the precarious poverty of the working poor, especially Black and brown seniors.” — "As opioids kill more Californians than guns, liberal Democrats block solutions," opines Assemblymember Joe Patterson for The Sacramento Bee: “For the past several years, our state has been entrenched in a fight against fentanyl. According to The Associated Press, fentanyl kills roughly 110 Californians each week. This poison is a synthetic opioid often used to manufacture counterfeit prescription pills with deadly results. Unfortunately, powerful legislators in the Democratic Party are blocking the Assembly and Senate from advancing bipartisan solutions attempting to address the fentanyl crisis from public health and public safety perspectives.” — "Harris-Dawson says he and others are ‘scratching their heads’ over case against Price," by the Los Angeles Times’ Julia Wick and David Zahniser: “News of the criminal filing jolted council members early last week. But as the shock subsided and the details of the case became more widely known, some at City Hall began quietly questioning whether Price’s actions warrant such severe charges.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO 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 | | — "L.A. public health officials warn about fentanyl-tainted pills in Mexican drug stores," by the Los Angeles Times’ Keri Blakinger and Connor Sheets — "California Assembly prepares to honor outgoing speaker by naming a room after him," by The Sacramento Bee’s Andrew Sheeler — "The big plan to save Tahoe from itself has finally arrived," by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Gregory Thomas
| | TRANSITIONS | | — Erin Curtis is joining Fiona Hutton & Associates as a vice president based out of the firm’s Sacramento office. Curtis had served as deputy secretary of communications and external affairs for CalEPA.
| | | BIRTHDAYS | | | — Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) … former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) … Chloe Frelinghuysen … Jackie Berkowitz
| | | | A message from Consumer Action for a Strong Economy: Recently, the FDA has taken steps to control and enforce the laws on illegal, foreign-made disposable vapes in kid-friendly flavors, including issuing a Red Alert allowing for the seizure of these products at ports of entry and sending warning letters to several foreign vape manufacturers.
The recent actions taken by the FDA and the Biden administration against these foreign manufacturers are promising first steps. However, words alone won’t suffice. We need the FDA and the Biden administration to go the distance and fully protect American youth from the dangers posed by illegal Chinese-made disposable vapes, especially those enticingly flavored for kids.
Together, we can ensure a safer future for our children and our communities. Tell the FDA to "Finish the Job" and get illegal foreign disposable vapes in kid-friendly flavors off store shelves. Learn more. | | | 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 | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |  |
