THAT’S AWKWARD — Assemblymember Miguel Santiago is ready to face off against Kevin de León, just not in public, it appears. La Opinión, the Spanish-language newspaper based in Los Angeles, published an account on Tuesday of a press conference gone awry. Per reporter Araceli Martinez Ortega, Santiago, who is running for de León’s L.A. City Council seat, was supposed to be part of a press conference coordinated by the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition to promote a bill he co-authored with Assemblymember Juan Carillo that would expand a cash assistance program for aged, blind and disabled immigrants. But, as La Opinión reports, Santiago was not aware that KDL would also be in attendance — and as he was walking up to the event, he suddenly turned on his heel and left. As the paper put it: “Some immigrants, who watched from a distance, reported that Santiago at that moment became nervous, spun around, walked a few steps, maybe thinking about what to do, but finally left,” leaving behind those he asked to organize the event. We called up Santiago to get his version of events. The assemblymember, who has come out strongly against de León for his participation in a racist, backroom conversation that was leaked last year, said he was invited to the press conference but didn't know the council member was going to attend as well. Santiago was less than two blocks away from the conference when he got notice about KDL and decided not to attend. "I did not know the council member would be there at the press conference or I would not have attended, given what we heard in those tapes,” he told us. "How could I possibly be expected to stand there after he was involved in those actions? After I called him to resign? And President Biden called him to resign?” DIDJA MAKE IT? — The Capitol community packed into the Sutter Club last night for an evening of sweaty schmoozing and Sacramento’s favorite popularity contest. Capitol Weekly’s annual Top 100 list of California’s most influential players and power brokers serves as the roadmap for journalists, lobbyists and consultants looking to get in good with the people who matter. On this 15th anniversary of the list, editor Rich Ehisen says the Capitol Weekly team made “the conscious choice to include a greater number of chiefs of staff, policy experts and consultants who often toil in obscurity but who make the wheels turn on a daily basis.” And for the first time ever, women make up the majority of the list. Elected officials aren’t eligible, but Capitol Weekly enlisted two to rattle off the names — Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and former Sen. Bob Hertzberg, who embodied the spirit of John Burton in dropping a few f-bombs while trying to hush the masses. As is custom, a few select journalists made the list, with Los Angles Times’ Sacramento Bureau Chief Laurel Rosenhall coming in at 94 alongside LAT columnist George Skelton at 84. KCRA’s Ashley Zavala also made the list at 91. Newsom’s team of political consultants at Bearstar — Ace Smith, Sean Clegg and Juan Rodriguez — came in 69th place. Another Newsom adviser, Brian Brokaw, clocked in at 64, followed by Jason Kinney (of French Laundry infamy) at 34. A few notable additions this year, courtesy of the transition of power in the Assembly: Speaker Robert Rivas’ chief of staff Liz Snow made number 19, and his brother, Rick Rivas — whom Wicks dubbed the “operator of operators” — came in at number 15. The top 10, as usual, is packed with those closest to the governor, including first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who clocked in at number five. Top of the list, unsurprisingly, was Newsom’s chief of staff Dana Williamson, who celebrated a birthday last night. To close out the event and honor Williamson, Hertzberg led the room in singing “Happy Birthday, number one.” FIRST PLAYBOOK — MAYORKAS CALLS UP LAFD CHIEF: The secretary of Homeland Security today is appointing Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley to the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Crowley’s appointment reflects the department’s growing focus on fires as a threat to homeland security. Through the U.S. Fire Administration, DHS supports first responders, including firefighters, across the country as they prepare for, prevent, mitigate and respond to hazards. Crowley will be sworn in at the next advisory council meeting on Sept. 14 and will continue her job as head of the city’s fire department.
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