News : Sound and fury, signifying nothing

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Sound and fury, signifying nothing

Jun 01, 2022

By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White and Juhi Doshi

Presented by The Nature Conservancy

THE BUZZ — IT'S OVER, FOR NOW: As it turns out, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister ) did have the support of the majority. But he won't be speaker anytime soon.

After six hours of caucusing, Assembly Democrats returned to chambers late Tuesday evening, rapidly adjourning without any signal of how deliberations had gone. Lawmakers scattered. Rivas didn't take questions on his way out the door. Minutes later, the joint statement landed in inboxes: Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) will keep his job until at least the end of the session.

Rivas: "I agree with the majority of our current caucus that Speaker Rendon should remain as Speaker for at least the rest of this legislative session." Rendon: "I applaud Robert Rivas for securing the support of a majority of the current Democratic Caucus to succeed me as Speaker of the Assembly."

It was a dramatic tone shift from five days ago when Rivas declared with confidence he had the votes to secure the speakership. It had appeared, at the time, that he was intent on taking over as soon as possible. But after reaching an apparent stalemate on Tuesday, Rivas insisted it was all part of the plan — a thoughtful transition rather than a power coup.

After most of the lawmakers had left the Capitol, Rivas returned for a quick debrief with reporters, saying the body is in a critical moment as the state prepares to hammer out the behemoth budget. The lengthy caucus meetings, he said, were an "important first step in transitioning the speakership."

"I'm excited to be the next speaker and I'm very confident in the support we have built up but knowing all along that this was not about Speaker Rendon," he said standing in the rotunda. "This was about our future, about stability, and about working with our existing colleagues, about working within our caucus now to facilitate a peaceful and collaborative transition moving forward."

Was this indeed the outcome that Rivas had hoped for? What we do know after the closed-door negotiations is that at least a fraction of those who support Rivas' speakership also aren't ready to say goodbye to Rendon, or maybe, they aren't so dissatisfied with the current speaker's leadership that they feel an immediate shakeup is necessary.

Even if Rivas does have the support right now , those margins could dwindle rapidly after the midterm elections, which will result in some significant turnover in the Assembly. Note that Rendon conceded Rivas having the support of a majority of the "current Assembly Democratic caucus" — that "current" carries a lot of weight. When asked about how a new cohort of members could affect his shot at the top job, Rivas gave no indication he was worried.

"I'm excited to work with them and start to plan for the future," he said.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Wednesday morning. Happy Pride Month, y'all. This year California has a record number of LGBTQ candidates (94) running for office, from city councils to Congress, per the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

BALLOT TRACKER'S BACK — It's shaping up to be a record year for spending on ballot initiatives. Here's the low-down on nine measures Californians could vote on this November, by POLITICO's Alex Nieves, Chris Ramirez, Juhi Doshi and Beatrice Jin.

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.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "(Rivas) has a big lead over anyone who wants to be the next speaker." Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) told CalMatters' Alexei Kosseff when asked about the incoming class of lawmakers.

TWEET OF THE DAY: Assemblymember Chad Mayes, @ChadMayes, the sole independent in the chamber, apparently having some internal turmoil: "BREAKING: the Independent caucus of the California Assembly announces that it has taken a vote and canned its Leader. Negotiations are ongoing and an election will be held soon to elect a replacement. Story developing…"

WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.

A message from The Nature Conservancy:

GOV. NEWSOM: CA Needs $1B to Protect Nature.

California is not mobilizing fast enough to protect itself from climate change. A $1 billion investment in the Nature-Based Solutions Budget Package is needed to protect people and nature from climate change. The May Revise funding is not enough -- $200 million more needs to be added with funding directed to the Wildlife Conservation Board and state conservancies. That's a budget that will deliver results on the ground.

Top Talkers

CAR CRASH — "DUI arrest of Nancy Pelosi's husband came after minor two-car crash," by the AP: "The weekend arrest of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), on suspicion of driving under the influence came after the Porsche he was driving was hit by another vehicle in Northern California's wine country, authorities said."

SECURITY MEASURES — "Bay Area schools look to improve security after Uvalde shooting, but options are limited ," by SF Chronicle's Julie Johnson: " Amid all this, school officials are left with having to figure out the best way to prevent violence and protect children, their teachers and staff. On the same day as the shooting in Texas, a second-grade student in Sacramento allegedly brought a gun and ammunition to school, reinforcing the feeling that the threat is constant and that school violence could erupt anywhere, anytime."

REPARATIONS REPORT — " California to unveil groundbreaking Black reparations report," by the AP's Janie Har: "California's first-in-the-nation task force on reparations for African Americans will release a report Wednesday documenting in detail the harms perpetuated by the state and recommending steps to address those wrongs, including expanded voter registration, making it easier to hold violent police accountable and improving Black neighborhoods."

CAMPAIGN MODE

ONE OF A KIND — "L.A. school board races like no other in recent memory: less spending, little mudslinging," by the Los Angeles Times' Howard Blume: "There hasn't been a school board election quite like this in Los Angeles Unified in more than a decade — no record spending, much less mudslinging — and no deluge of campaign mailers with candidates backed by the teachers union facing off against those backed by charter school advocates or a city mayor.

— " The perfect conservative? This California Republican congressman gets the highest rating," by Sac Bee's David Lightman: "Rep. Tom McClintock is officially the perfect conservative. He got a 100% score on votes crucial to the American Conservative Union, which tracks loyalty to its views. It selected 38 House votes as important for its 2021 rating, and the veteran Elk Grove Republican voted the ACU's way every time."

MEET THE UNDERDOGS — "Their long-shot California dream: Beating Gov. Gavin Newsom," by the LATimes' Phil Willon : "With no widely known, well-funded challenger to Gov. Gavin Newsom's bid for reelection, a motley assortment of deep-thinkers, also-rans and fed-up political neophytes each holds a modicum of hope that, just maybe, they will shock California by winning enough votes in the June 7 primary to face off against the governor in the general election."

— " Is Villanueva staying or going? A guide to L.A. County sheriff's race," by LATimes' Staff.

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.

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

NOT SO FAST — "COVID-19 spikes in California state offices, forcing departments to revisit reopening plans," by Sac Bee's Wes Venteicher: "The latest COVID-19 surge has hit California state offices, forcing department leaders to decide whether to stick to in-person work or allow employees to go back to working from home."

— "California DA Candidate Previously Excluded Black Juror Based On Race, Judge Found," by HuffPost's Jessica Schulberg: " A federal court threw out two convictions in a 2000 case after the finding against Ron Freitas, who is now running for top prosecutor in San Joaquin County."

ANTICAMPING ORDINANCE — "L.A. City Council seeks to ban homeless encampments near every school, daycare center ," by the LATimes' Benjamin Oreskes & David Zahniser: "The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday instructed its lawyers to draft a major change to the city's anticamping ordinance, barring homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers."

IF YOU SAY SO — " Does California have enough water for lots of new homes? Yes, experts say, despite drought," by the LATimes' Liam Dillon: "Case in point: Angelenos use 44% less water per person annually than they did four decades ago, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power."

— " More than half of California community colleges refuse to drop dead-end remedial courses," by the LATimes' Matt Krupnick: "Advocates who want to largely do away with remedial education in California and in a handful of other states — including New York, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia, all of which have made changes — say many students can handle college-level work if given the opportunity, especially when they get help from tutors or supplemental classes. Students shouldn't have to pay for classes that don't count toward a degree and that they most likely won't pass, these advocates say."

COVID MIA — " 'Some counties have significant undercounts': Data reveals California's 'hidden' COVID pandemic deaths," by SF Chronicle's Susie Neilson: "COVID-19 has officially killed more than 90,000 Californians, roughly equivalent to the populations of Santa Barbara and San Leandro. But research suggests the true toll of the pandemic could be much higher, with more than 20,000 "hidden" excess deaths concentrated in the southernmost counties, plus a handful of rural counties to the north."

— " COVID in California: UCSF's Wachter says S.F. is in 'a big-time surge'," by SF Chronicle's Rita Beamish & Dominic Fracassa: "A new UCSF study shows how COVID-19 has become milder for many people over time, but also how it remains a threat that's stubbornly difficult to control. Gov. Gavin Newsom has tested positive for the coronavirus. Some 20,000 pandemic-related deaths in California may be missing from the states official COVID mortality toll."

A message from The Nature Conservancy:

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

DEPARTURES FROM WHITE HOUSE — "Biden sees exodus of Black staffers and some frustration among those who remain ," by POLITICO's Daniel Lippman: At least 21 Black staffers have left the White House since late last year or are planning to leave soon. Some of those who remain say it's no wonder why: They describe a work environment with little support from their superiors and fewer chances for promotion.

AAPI HATE — " BTS Delivers Powerful Message Against Asian-Targeted Hate Crimes at White House Press Briefing," by the Hollywood Reporter's Billboard Staff: "BTS joined White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday to share a heartfelt testimony against the devastating rise of Asian-targeted hate crimes in the United States, as AAPI Heritage Month comes to a close."

— " The White House has one problem that rules them all: Gas prices," by POLITICO's Adam Cancryn: The White House's focus on gas prices is bred from two sobering political conclusions top officials have made. The first is that they have little control over the problem. The second is that as prices rise at the pump, so do Democrats' odds of a midterm wipeout — especially as the average U.S. gallon of gas hits fresh record highs.

SILICON VALLEYLAND

NOTED — Supreme Court blocks Texas law on social media censorship," by SF Chronicle: "A divided Supreme Court has blocked a Texas law, championed by conservatives, that aimed to keep social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter from censoring users based on their viewpoints."

CANNABIS COUNTRY

DIFFERENT KIND OF GRASS — "How Scotts Miracle-Gro became one of the biggest players in cannabis," by CNN's Alicia Wallace: "The US cannabis industry is flush with fledgling companies and many unfamiliar brands.In that mix, however, is a 154-year-old company that is a household name: Scotts Miracle-Gro."

— "Sacramentans could get help clearing their criminal records courtesy of the weed industry," by Sac Bee's Andrew Sheeler: "The California Community Reinvestment Grants Program, which receives funding from cannabis cultivation and excise tax revenue, announced a $450,000 grant to United Core Alliance to support the organization's criminal record expungement clinics."

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MEDIA MATTERS

— Longtime Sacramento Bee politics editor Amy Chance announces her retirementafter 40 years in the biz. Congrats, Amy!

— " Judge: No 'speck' of proof in Palin's libel case against NYT," by the AP.

MIXTAPE

DIY IT — "On a block full of lawns, she ditched grass for a DIY drought-tolerant oasis," by the LATimes' Lisa Boone.

— "Asian Americans are typecast as successful students, but new report finds troubling gaps," by the LAtimes' Teresa Watanbe.

ANOTHER CASE APPEARS — " Third monkeypox case found in Sacramento County, another close contact of first," by Sac Bee's Michael McGough.

— "California man, 78, gets high school diploma 6 decades later ," by the AP.

BUZZ BUZZ — "Do bumble bees count as fish? Here's why a California court just said yes, actually," by SF Chronicle's Bob Egelko.

— "Catholic woman could get $445,000 for unauthorized cremation of slain son," by the LATimes' Hyeyoon Alyssa Choi.

BIRTHDAYS

Naomi Kadish … John J. Fisher

A message from The Nature Conservancy:

GOVERNOR: CA Needs $1B to Protect Nature.

The May Revise proposes an additional $68 million for nature-based solutions including biodiversity, but California needs a bigger down payment on climate resilience to get our state on track. A $1 billion investment is needed in the 2022 Nature-Based Solutions Budget Package to protect people and nature on our warming planet.

To ensure funds are spent efficiently and effectively, investments must be allocated to the Wildlife Conservation Board and state conservancies, which have a longstanding track record of effectively advancing protection and supporting the public use of natural resources.

Invest $1B in the Nature-Based Solutions Budget Package to protect our planet.

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