| | | | |  | | By Melanie Mason, Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte | Presented by the American Lung Association | | 
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivers her State of the City address from City Hall in Los Angeles, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) | AP | THE BUZZ —SHAKE IT UP: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ long resume in elected office and even-keeled demeanor doesn’t exactly scream “shake up the system.” But the mayor leaned so hard into her message of upending how City Hall operates that her State of the City address sounded more like a Silicon Valley Ted Talk. “The state of our city is stronger today because we have made change and disrupted the status quo,” Bass said at the outset of her speech on Monday evening — the first of eight times she uttered “status quo” in the roughly 35-minute speech in council chambers. Bass portrayed nearly every major initiative and priority as a break from the old ways of doing business and promised “turning the page” on City Hall’s reputation for internal dysfunction and rocky relationships with the LA County Board of Supervisors. She even framed her support for giving raises to police officers, an effort that is getting renewed grumbles from the left as the city’s budget picture darkens, as a necessary move to stanch the department’s retention troubles — “a status quo [that] simply cannot protect Angelenos.” She described her signature program Inside Safe, which focused on moving people off of the streets into temporary housing such as motel rooms, as “a sea change” in how Los Angeles approaches homelessness. The implicit subtext of all this rhetorical sweeping change was that disruption can be messy work. Bass has enjoyed high popularity ratings since being elected, but she is acutely aware that Angelenos’ patience can run thin, particularly on vexing challenges like solving the homelessness crisis. Inside Safe, for example, would be moving from its initial “rescue phase” — which Bass acknowledged came with a precariously high price tag — to a “recovery phase” focused more on long-term planning. Bass also appealed to the city’s wealthiest residents to help solve the homelessness crisis, announcing a new campaign dubbed LA4LA to tap into the largesse of the private sector. She called it “an unprecedented partnership to confront this emergency, an example of disrupting the status quo to build a new system to save lives.” The next test for Bass is whether she can bring a status-quo shakeup to the city’s fiscal planning. Bass is expected to release her new spending plan next week against a tough reality of a cash crunch at City Hall. Bass has faced heat from the Los Angeles Times editorial board, among others, for backing expensive raises for police officers and other city employees. She did not back down from her support for the pay hike, asserting that the city must “pay our workers fairly.” But she did promise to disrupt, so to speak, the budget process by eliminating “ghost positions” — vacant city positions that had been carried over on the books year after year, while promising to “preserve core services.” Now she’ll just have to sell that budgeting overhaul to the City Council — and Angelenos at large. GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Now you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? In the Bay Area to announce a climate partnership with Norway. | | A message from the American Lung Association: Billions of state investment dollars for climate and clean air programs are being deferred. Doctors and Californians agree: cuts to the climate budget have health consequences. California’s vulnerable communities are counting on legislators to protect clean air programs that save lives and money! We’re asking them to protect public health by investing in clean cars and healthy homes, not fossil fuel subsidies and polluting highway expansions. Learn more from the American Lung Association in California. | | | |  | CASH DASH | | |  George Whitesides in 2016. | AFP via Getty Images | Democratic challengers are outraising Republican incumbents this year in all but one of California’s five most competitive House districts they aim to flip, the latest batch of FEC filings shows. Our immediate takeaways from the candidates' first-quarter hauls: GEORGE IS KING — Democratic challenger George Whitesides is swamping GOP Rep. Mike Garcia in their Santa Clarita area House race. Whitesides raised nearly twice as much in the quarter, $1.34 million compared with $675,000 for Garcia. In past periods, Whitesides was heavily self-funded. But his latest fundraising sum came the old fashioned way, from hundreds of separate donors. Whitesides, a former Virgin Galactic CEO, has more than $3 million cash on hand, nearly double Garcia’s $1.7 million. GOP’S VALLEY SLUMP — The Dem-GOP gap was especially notable in the Central Valley, where two Democrats and former state lawmakers each raised over $1 million. Adam Gray brought in $1 million while Rudy Salas got $1.3 million in Q1 of 2024. Meanwhile Reps. John Duarte and David Valadao each fundraised just over half of their opponents. DEMS TRAIL IN OC — But Republicans held an edge in a highly competitive Orange County district: Rep. Michelle Steel brought in over $1 million while her Democratic challenger, Derek Tran raised just over $433,000. In the state’s open seat to replace Rep. Katie Porter, Democrat Dave Min outraised Republican Scott Baugh by about $200,000. Baugh, however, has about $1.5 million more cash than Min. STACKS FOR STEVE — Former Dodgers first baseman and Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey raised $3.4 million from mid-February to the end of March, bringing his first-quarter haul to $4.9 million. He reported having $1.6 million cash on hand. It didn’t come easily — Garvey also reported spending more than $1 million on fundraising services and costs, as Lara reported. — with Mia McCarthy
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | | | SAN FRANCISCO | | SCHOOL BEAT — San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Farrell today releases his plan to improve the local public school system. At the top of the list is a requirement that the city more quickly respond to public-safety disturbances and poor street conditions near school campuses. Farrell said he would create a new priority code, under the city’s 311 reporting system, to call attention to harmful or illegal activity within one block of a school serving students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. He said he constantly hears from parents who are upset about unsavory street conditions — drug use or homeless encampments — near schools. “Our children at a minimum deserve a safe environment,” he told Playbook. Farrell, a former interim mayor and city supervisor, said he would also make permanent a program that makes mass transit ridership free for youth (a program that could expire at the end of the year). In addition, he would require the city to partner with the county school district on an initiative to improve its poor performance on third-grade reading metrics. There’s an old adage that the city has “more dogs than kids.” And while that’s statistically true, Farrell said the city has too many families who feel forgotten. He added, “We need a mayor who will prioritize families.”
| | | | A message from the American Lung Association:   | | | | | STATE CAPITOL | | TRIPPIN’ — State Sen. Scott Wiener’s bill to allow the therapeutic use of some psychedelics made it through its first committee hearing on Monday, but not without a mutiny on the panel. As our colleague Rachel Bluth reported, members of the Senate Business and Professions Committee approved Wiener’s Senate Bill 1012 — against the recommendation of Chair Angelique Ashby. Ashby said the proposal lacks sufficient oversight from medical professionals and doesn’t give enough control to local governments. She also objected to its inclusion of ecstasy and said the bill would create a market for psychedelics. “In my opinion, it is too much, too fast, with too little input and too little medical participation,” she said. Ashby, who paused the hearing twice (once to go to the Paris Hilton press conference and once to accommodate floor votes) nearly ended it a third time before the final vote in favor could be cast. “OK, now I’m pissed,” Wiener said to his staff. Eventually, state Sen. Susan Eggman dashed into the hearing and voted the bill out, 7-4.
| | | | GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE. | | | | | | | ON THE AGENDA | | IN THE ASSEMBLY — East Bay Democrat Buffy Wicks will present Assembly Bill 2808 — which would end exclusive control over ticket sales — in the Arts, Entertainment, sports and Tourism Committee. The committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection is scheduled to hear a slate of AI bills, including two big ones from Chair Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: Assembly Bill 2930, the Microsoft and Workday-backed bill to prevent discrimination when using automated decision-making tools, and Assembly Bill 2885, which would define AI in California Code. Wicks is also scheduled to present her bill on watermarking standards in the privacy committee. In the Judiciary Committee, Jim Wood will present a bill requiring the attorney general to keep a list of tobacco products that don’t violate the state’s ban on flavored tobacco. IN THE SENATE — Members of the Judiciary Committee also have a full plate of AI bills to consider today, including state Sen. Josh Becker’s AI Transparency Act and a bill that adds “neural data” — aka, your thoughts — and other brain activity to the state’s definition of sensitive personal information. We are also tracking two reparations bills from state Sen. Steven Bradford inJudiciary today — one on racially-motivated government land taking, and another to create a fund to pay for any reparations-related policies the state may enact. | | A message from the American Lung Association: Investments in clean air save lives and make living in California more affordable.
Budget cuts threaten to completely zero out promised investments that directly support households and businesses struggling with high fuel prices, pollution, and a lack of affordable mobility options.
The Equitable Building Decarbonization Program is a vital part of California’s clean air safety net an important tool designed to provide relief to households impacted by indoor air pollution and energy bills.
Before the state even considers cuts to equitable clean air programs, we must expand the Governor’s proposed cuts to subsidies for big polluters and cut out infrastructure investments - like highway expansions – that increase pollution.
Join the American Lung Association in California in calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to deliver cleaner air and affordable clean energy solutions by protecting our climate budget! | | | | | CLIMATE AND ENERGY | | ABOUT YOUR UTILITY BILL — Pacific Gas and Electric has long made for an easy punching bag, with a neighborhood-flattening pipeline explosion, the state’s deadliest wildfire and an infamous nuclear blooper on its record. But the utility isn’t going anywhere as lawmakers try to defuse an energy affordability crisis and also pay for California’s transition to carbon-free power. Read more in last night’s California Climate newsletter.
| | Top Talkers | | — Tesla is cutting more than 10 percent of its workforce after multiple quarters of narrowing profits. Its biggest fans apparently aren’t worried. (The Wall Street Journal, The Sacramento Bee). — Prices at In-N-Out burger will stay grounded amid a minimum wage increase for fast food workers in California. (Desert Sun) — Weed is legal in California, but the state seized nearly 190,000 pounds of it last year. (The Mercury News)
| | AROUND THE STATE | | SOCAL: More than 200 California cities, including many in Southern California, have median home values over $1 million — more than the next five states combined. (Los Angeles Times) DUBLIN: A state women’s prison known as “the rape club” is shutting down after failed attempts at reform. (The San Diego Union-Tribune) HUNTINGTON BEACH: Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber are suing Huntington Beach over a change to its city charter allowing it to require voter identification in its elections. They say the law interferes with voters’ rights. (CalMatters) SILICON VALLEY: A recount has begun for a closely-watched House race after weeks of deadlock. (KQED) — with help from Ariel Gans
| | PLAYBOOKERS | | SPOTTED: Sammy the Banana Slug, UC Santa Cruz’s mascot, stopped by the Assembly on Monday to support member Gail Pellerin’s bill to make the Banana Slug the official state slug of California. TRANSITIONS — David Trujillo is the new executive director of ACLU California Action. He was previously chief program and strategy officer for the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. BIRTHDAYS — POLITICO’s Blake Jones … former Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) … Rishi Banerjee … Visa’s Cheyenne Hopkins MEA CULPA — In yesterday’s writeup on artificial intelligence, we incorrectly stated the sport that John Wooden coached at UCLA, definitively proving this newsletter is written by humans, not robots. SHARE YOUR B-DAY — Want us to feature a birthday or another special occasion in POLITICO's California Playbook? You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. Disclaimers: All information will be verified. We reserve the right to edit any final content. 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. | | | | 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 | | | | |
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