| | | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Carla Marinucci, Graph Massara and Mackenzie Hawkins | THE BUZZ: Gov. Gavin Newsom spent his Tuesday reordering the landscape of California politics. THE SENATE PICK: Newsom finally ended the supercharged Senate lobbying and frenzied speculation by picking the presumed frontrunner: his longtime ally, Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Newsom's calculus for replacing White House-bound Sen. Kamala Harris always involved the variables of loyalty to Newsom, representation of California's diversity and confidence that Democrats would hold the appointee's post. Padilla fits all those categories, which helps explain why he's long been seen as the likeliest choice. The blessing of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, his former boss, solidified Padilla's standing as the Democratic establishment pick. | 
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, tells state Secretary of State Alex Padilla that Newsom will appoint him as U.S. senator during a virtual meeting from Newsom's home in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. | Office of the Governor via AP | This is a historic, full-circle moment for California's enormous Latino population. The state's political trajectory in recent decades has paralleled the growth of the Latino electorate and the ascendancy of Latino elected officials, many of them galvanized by the immigration battles of Proposition 209 and Proposition 187. Many of the Latinos whose formative political years coincided with those battles have won elected office or even led the Legislature. But until now, none of them have made it to the U.S. Senate. Given Padilla's tender age of 47, Californians could have a Latino senator for a few decades. Conversely, this was a disappointment to those who wanted to see a Black woman replace Harris. The Senate will not have a single African American woman once the VP-elect leaves for the White House. But Newsom could still secure more statewide officeholder diversity with his picks to replace Padilla as Secretary of State and Xavier Becerra as attorney general, assuming Becerra gets through his Health and Human Services Secretary confirmation hearings. Which leads us to… SECRETARY OF STATE WEBER: The prevailing wisdom that saw Padilla as the Senate frontrunner also presupposed that if Newsom did indeed go with Padilla, he would need to go with a Black woman for one of the other statewide spots. That's exactly what he did in selecting Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who is one of Sacramento's most respected advocates for racial justice. Weber championed efforts to fortify police use-of-force standards and to reinstate affirmative action, although voters ultimately rejected the latter. | 
Assemblymember Shirley Weber speaks during an Assembly session in Sacramento, Calif., June 11, 2020. | AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, | LOOKING TO 2022: Secretary of State hopefuls weren't waiting for Newsom to settle on Padilla, who would already be termed out in 2022. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) has in recent weeks ramped up a campaign to replace him by rolling out endorsements from various elected officials and labor groups. Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) is toying with challenging for the seat, which could set up a Gonzalez-v-Low microcosm for larger tensions among legislative Democrats; business and tech groups irate over Gonzalez championing controversial labor law Assembly Bill 5 will also have some opinions. Weber will now go into 2022 as an incumbent, but she could either be a frontrunner or a temporary caretaker who yields to other contenders. BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Whether you just finished lighting the candles for Hanukkah, are getting ready to celebrate Christmas or both or neither, we hope you get some relaxation and restoration. Thanks for reading California Playbook. See you in 2021! QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I can't tell you how many pancakes my dad flipped or eggs he scrambled trying to provide for us, or the many, many years of my mom cleaning houses doing the same thing. That's why I try so hard to make sure that our democracy is as inclusive in California as we've built, and it's a hell of important perspective to bring to Washington." An emotional Padilla remembers his Mexican immigrant parents after Newsom informs him he's headed to D.C. TWEET OF THE DAY: HuffPost politics reporter and California native Igor Bobic @IgorBobic: "new CA senator will also make history in pronouncing freeway directions correctly" PODCAST OF THE DAY: Passing Judgment with Jessica Levinson : "Pardon Time for President Trump and Musical Chairs Time for Politicians in California," with POLITICO's Carla Marinucci. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. PROGRAMMING NOTE: California Playbook will take a holiday hiatus from Thurs. Dec. 23-Friday Jan. 1. We'll be back on our normal schedule on Monday Jan. 4. | | | | EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITION PLAYBOOK, SUBSCRIBE TODAY: A new year is quickly approaching. Inauguration Day is right around the corner. President-elect Joe Biden's staffing decisions are sending clear-cut signals about his priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to the new administration and one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news daily and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today. | | | | |
|  | TOP TALKERS | | HUNTER AND PAPA D SKATE — Trump pardons former Rep. Duncan Hunter, by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: Trump has pardoned former Rep. Duncan Hunter just weeks before the San Diego Republican was set to report to prison for violating campaign finance law. The White House said in an announcement of multiple pardons — including one for former Trump aide George Papadopoulos, who ran for California's 25th congressional district seat this year — that Trump had granted a full pardon for Hunter at the request of House members and of Federal Election Commission Bradley Smith. — " Former Rep. Katie Hill sues ex-husband, Daily Mail, Redstate.com over 'nonconsensual porn'," by NBC's Andrew Blankstein: "The legal action comes two weeks after a judge approved a temporary restraining order against Kenny Heslep, Hill's ex-husband, directing him to stay 100 yards away from his ex-wife, her relatives and pets." GRENELL'S LATEST — Trump nominates Hope Hicks, Ric Grenell to government posts, by POLITICO's Nick Niedzwiadek. NOT SO THRILLED — "Alex Padilla senate pick makes history but leaves California with $34 million bill," by the Sac Bee editorial board: "Unfortunately, Padilla's history-making moment is marred by the fact that he will leave California taxpayers holding the bag for an apparently illegal $34 million contract he signed but has no money to pay. What is Newsom's plan to pay SKD Knickerbocker the millions that Padilla owes them?" | | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | LIGHT TOUCH — "California's COVID Enforcement Strategy: Education Over Citations," by Kaiser Health News' Angela Hart: "The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which can issue criminal misdemeanor citations, fine businesses and revoke liquor licenses, has issued just 45 citations against bars and 119 against restaurants since July. No fines have been issued or licenses revoked for the 94,000 businesses it regulates. By comparison, the state of New York — with half the population of California and far fewer eating and drinking establishments — has issued 1,867 fines against bars and restaurants and temporarily suspended 279 business liquor licenses from June 18 to Dec. 8." — "Newsom's restrictions on indoor religious services ruled valid by federal judge,' by the SF Chronicle's Bob Egelko: "A federal judge says Gov. Gavin Newsom's shutdown of indoor worship services in most of California is a valid measure to protect public health and protects religious freedom by allowing outdoor services, unlike the New York restrictions struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court." — "As coronavirus raged, Sonoma County did little to enforce rules on weddings with as many as 100 people," by the SF Chronicle's Tara Duggen: "No citations or fines were issued to any of the gatherings violating state and county event restrictions, according to the permit department that's charged with enforcement, saying it wasn't necessary because they were 'one-time events' that would be difficult to enforce after the fact." THANKSGIVING ROUND 2 — "Dire COVID warnings go unheeded as many insist on Christmas traditions; officials fear new surge," by the LA Times' Hayley Smith, Rong-Gong Lin and Luke Money. — "Why a negative COVID test doesn't 'clear' you for holiday gatherings ," by the LA Times' Hayley Smith and Rong-Gong Lin. A LOOK INSIDE — "'It's a disaster': Inside a California hospital running out of beds," by CNN's Sara Sidner. — "New, more infectious strain of coronavirus worries California ," by the LA Times' Rong-Gong Lin, Luke Money and Melissa Healy: "Newsom said Monday that he's been having discussions with airlines and others about the potential for new quarantine protocols from people flying into California from the United Kingdom in an effort to keep the more contagious variant of the virus out of the state." — "Hundreds of People at San Quentin Petition for Release as COVID-19 Surges," by KQED's Julie Small: "The incarcerated men allege in court filings that prison officials violated their Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment by exposing them to the virus." NEXT IN LINE — "California's high-risk inmates to get COVID-19 vaccines," by the LA Times' Richard Winton. | | TRANSITION TIME | | A.K. FOR AG? — "San Jose Assemblyman Ash Kalra wants to be the next Attorney General," by San Jose Spotlight's Carly Wipf: "Kalra told San José Spotlight in an interview that his legislative experience combined with more than a decade of service as a public defender sets him apart, and gives him a unique stance on criminal justice reform." — "Trump Will Face Different Twitter Rules When He Leaves Office," by WSJ's Emily Glazer: "Mr. Trump's Twitter account, which has more than 88 million followers, will no longer receive special privileges when he becomes a private citizen, Twitter spokesman Nick Pacilio said. The loss of privileges reserved for world leaders and public officials would mean that if Mr. Trump violates the site's rules, those tweets would be taken down rather than labeled in the future, Mr. Pacilio said." | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | KAMLAGER CASH — Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles) is getting a boost in her state Senate bid, with a new PAC launching to propel Kamlager into the seat formerly held by Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell with independent expenditures. Initial donations came from dental and insurance players. The bedrock blue 30th Senate District is all but certain to go to a Democrat, so the question is which Democrat prevails; Playboy scion Cooper Hefner suspended his campaign last month. | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | — California unveils policing settlement with Kern County, by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: The agreement announced Tuesday grows out of a years-long probe into alleged civil rights violations like deputies using excessive force. An independent monitor will now oversee the department as it implements a variety of changes to policing and reporting. — "Lawmaker urges UC regents to reject $73-million settlement in doctor's case, says it's unfair to scores of women," by the LA Times' Richard Winton. EVICTIONS LOOM — "Tenants Wonder When Evictions Will Resume As Their Landlord Faces Rebuke ," by LAist's Aaron Mendelson: "The state's renters are $1.7 billion in debt to their landlords, according to an estimate by the Philadelphia Fed." ALREADY BEGINNING… "Renters receive eviction notices as LA County, state bans are set to expire," by the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Hayley Munguia: "In the case of the Long Beach building, run by COAR Property Management, the company's president, Austin Rogers, said he and the owner are complying with all laws, which included waiving the final month's rent for all tenants. … The notices that COAR issued informed residents they had to move because of a planned remodel for every unit." … AND IN SAC — "California landlord evicts Sacramento residents despite holidays, winter and COVID-19 ," by the Sac Bee editorial board: "The hotel's owners seem determined to press ahead with these callous evictions, which they say are necessary to convert the building into an apartment complex." — "Renters fled S.F. and the Bay Area in 2020 — but many didn't go far, data suggests," by the SF Chronicle's Kellie Hwang: "California's capital region — the Sacramento area plus Stockton and Modesto — was the biggest draw by far for Bay Area residents in 2020 making inquiries on apartment listings website Zumper." — "Who will pay for all of California's unemployment fraud?" by CalMatters' Lauren Hepler and Stephen Council. — "To solve budget woes, Oakland prepares to let go temporary employees, furlough others," by the East Bay Times' Annie Sciacca. — "Audit slams San Diego program that aims to help minorities, women land more city contracts," by the San Diego Union-Tribune's David Garrick. | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | | — "The political chief at Mark Zuckerberg's philanthropy is stepping down," by Recode's Theodore Schleifer: Mike Troncoso "is leaving his post, Recode has learned, which is stirring some speculation that he could take on a new role with his former boss, Kamala Harris." TECH TRUST? "Google, Facebook Agreed to Team Up Against Possible Antitrust Action, Draft Lawsuit Says," by WSJ's Ryan Tracy and John D. McKinnon: "Ten Republican attorneys general, led by Texas, are alleging that the two companies cut a deal in September 2018 in which Facebook agreed not to compete with Google's online advertising tools in return for special treatment when it used them." — "Apple targets car production by 2024 and eyes 'next level' battery technology," by Reuters' Stephen Nellis, Norihiko Shirouzu and Paul Lienert: "The iPhone maker's automotive efforts, known as Project Titan, have proceeded unevenly since 2014 when it first started to design its own vehicle from scratch. … Since then, Apple has progressed enough that it now aims to build a vehicle for consumers, two people familiar with the effort said, asking not to be named because Apple's plans are not public." — "How Amazon Wins: By Steamrolling Rivals and Partners," by WSJ's Dana Mattioli: "To keep customers happy, which Mr. Bezos has long said is Amazon's fixation and growth strategy, executives behind the scenes have methodically waged targeted campaigns against rivals and partners alike—an approach that has changed little through the years, from diapers to footwear." — "East Bay biotech firm to move headquarters to Nashville," via the AP. | | HOLLYWOODLAND | | — "The show must go on. But will it after the pandemic?" by CalMatters' James Bikales: "A dashboard created by Americans for the Arts found that 97% of responding arts organizations in California have canceled events this year, for a total lost attendance of nearly 8 million patrons. About 42% of organizations indicated they had to lay off or furlough artists, and 13% are not confident they'll survive the pandemic." — "Kat Von D says she's leaving California part-time due to 'tyrannical government overreach,'" by Fox's Nate Day. — "George Lucas sues San Anselmo over property line conflict," by the Marin Independent Journal's Matthew Pera. — "Time's Up Financial Reports Show Growth, Detail CEO Severance," by Variety's Gene Maddaus.
| | CANNABIS COUNTRY | | — "Nearly 60 LA cannabis businesses poised to lose licenses on New Year's Day," by Marijuana Business Daily's John Schroyer: "At issue is those companies' annual license renewal applications and fees for 2021, which were due Nov. 2. The vast majority of licensed cannabis companies in the city paid and got their paperwork in on time, but at least 57 failed to do so." — "Snoop Dogg's Casa Verde Capital closes on $100 million as the cannabis industry bounces back," by TechCrunch's Jonathan Shieber.
| | MIXTAPE | | — "What do basketball, ballet and parties have in common? All 3 live-event industries are in trouble," by CalMatters' James Bikales. — " An aspiring Bay Area 'mom influencer' said her kids were almost kidnapped. Then came the backlash," by SFGATE's Katie Dowd. — "CitizenM builds hotels with Lego-like modules. One is about to open in L.A. amid COVID," by the LA Times' Roger Vincent. | | BIRTHDAYS | | Google's Patrick D. Smith ... | | | | TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now. | | | | | 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 subscriber-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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