Maddy Institute – May 1, 2019

01May

POLICY & POLITICS

20th Anniversary Celebration of the Maddy Institute

Capitol Morning Report (Subscribers Only)

Political consultant Sal Russo has announced an invitation to meet past, present and future California political leaders at the annual private Ken Maddy Institute fundraising reception scheduled for May 6th in Sacramento.

North SJ Valley:

Merced Court CEO ‘harassed and retaliated’ against employees, staffers tell judge

Merced Sun-Star

Merced County employees blasted a retired court CEO on Tuesday before she was hired for a temporary consulting position for the Merced County Superior Courthouse.

Ex-Stockton vice mayor Holman challenges Patti

Stockton Record

On Tuesday, the day after his 70th birthday, Holman’s four-month hiatus concluded with his announcement that he will challenge incumbent Tom Patti for the District 3 seat on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors in 2020. The primary is March 3, only 10 months away.

California tech entrepreneur joins race to unseat Republican Rep. Tom McClintock

Sacramento Bee

Entrepreneur Brynne Kennedy, who recently relocated from San Francisco to Roseville, formally filed paperwork to challenge the conservative six-term congressman from Elk Grove.

Central SJ Valley:

Andrew Janz files for Fresno mayoral run. ‘You’re not Lee Brand,’ retorts incumbent

Fresno Bee

Fresno Democrat Andrew Janz has filed papers to challenge Mayor Lee Brand in 2020. In a statement to The Bee, the mayor called Janz inexperienced and touted his record of creating jobs.

Here’s how to stop thin-skinned bullies suing the media constantly

Columbia Journalism Review

Congressman Devin Nunes, the California Republican, is suing McClatchy for libel and demanding $150 million, in what his complaint alleges is “a case about character assassination and a public company that weaponized its powerful pen and used it as a terrible sword.”

Costs for California’s high-speed rail project may increase by $1.8 billion

Los Angeles Times

The cost of building a 119-mile section of the California bullet train in the Central Valley is projected to increase by $1.8 billion, taking the total to $12.4 billion, according an internal draft report by the state rail authority’s staff.

· State assemblyman calling for investigation into California high speed rail consultants KRON4

Attorneys pick jury for Fresno Assembly member’s abuse trial

abc30

The people who will decide the fate of California Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula arrived in court Tuesday, but nobody knows yet exactly who they are. Jury selection started Tuesday morning and will continue Wednesday in the misdemeanor child abuse case.

Council members aim to rid Fresno of unwanted title: ‘drunkest city in America’

abc30

With startling statistics on display and claims Fresno is not only the drunkest city in America but also second in the nation in liver disease deaths, three council members, along with business leaders and students said getting alcohol is way too easy in many parts of the city.

Supporters, opponents of Fresno parks tax are talking again. Can they craft a deal?

Fresno Bee

Supporters of a Fresno city parks tax, and opponents who helped defeat such a measure at the ballot box last November, are talking again. Where will the discussions lead? Way too early to predict. For now, the news is that the two sides are in the same room having a discourse.

South SJ Valley:

Tulare County ordinance changes the rules when it comes to animal safety

abc30

The board of supervisors voted unanimously at their meeting Tuesday to amend its ordinances to improve the quality of life of animals and promote public safety.

City of Lemoore settles litigation with Council member Holly Blair, some restrictions lifted

Hanford Sentinel

After several months of litigation and court-mandated mediation, the city of Lemoore has come to a compromise with Council member Holly Blair.

Assemblymember Salas Receives Guardian of Small Business Award

Hanford Sentinel

Today, Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) received the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business award for the 2018 legislative session.

California City city manager placed on paid administrative leave following performance evaluation

Bakersfield Californian

California City City Manager Robert Stockwell has been placed on paid administrative leave following undisclosed issues that were brought up during a performance evaluation during a closed session of the city council Monday evening.

State:

The kingmakers in California’s 2020 elections could be independent millennial Latinos

Fresno Bee

Hispanic voters now make up well over a quarter of all registered voters in California, after a surge of interest in the 2018 election, new data released Tuesday by Univision and political data company L2 shows.

For ‘Hard-To-Count’ California, 2020 Census Poses Huge Challenges And Carries Big Stakes

Capital Public Radio

California and other states with high immigrant populations stand to lose big. Migrants, particularly Latinos and Asian Americans, have grown to fear the federal government after years of hearing anti-immigrant rhetoric from President Trump and like-minded Republicans.

For aging California, is the future Florida?

PublicCEO

According to state projections, by 2030 more than 9 million Californians will be over the age of 65, 3 million more than there are today. Within a decade, more than 20% of the state’s residents will be seniors — a higher proportion than currently resides in Florida, a state famous for its large population of snowbird retirees.

Newsom picks cannabis legalization coauthor to head campaign watchdog agency

Los Angeles Times

Tapping a political ally, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday appointed Richard Miadich as chairman of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, which enforces campaign finance and lobbying laws in California.

Major California utilities spent $1.3 million on lobbying

AP
California’s three major utilities spent at least $1.3 million to lobby state government in the first three months of 2019, during which one filed for bankruptcy and Gov. Gavin Newsom called for rethinking the state’s energy future.

Federal:

Democrats and Trump agree to spend $2 trillion on ‘big and bold’ infrastructure plan

abc30

Democrats will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss a bipartisan infrastructure package on Tuesday.

· Can the administration and Congress move forward on $2 trillion infrastructure plan? Brookings

Gas Tax for Infrastructure Sparks Fears of Political Backlash Bloomberg
$2 Trillion From Whom? Wall Street Journal

Mueller Complained That Barr Summary Of Trump-Russia Probe Lacked ‘Context’

Capital Public Radio

A letter from the special counsel to the attorney general may show a split over how the investigation’s conclusions have been characterized.

● Read Atty. Gen. William Barr’s prepared remarks ahead of Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Los Angeles Times

● Mueller twice asked Barr to release report’s key findings The Hill

● Barr testifies about the Mueller investigation Washington Post

● Mueller complained that Barr’s letter did not capture ‘context’ of Trump probe Washington Post

● Mueller Objected to Barr’s Summary of Report Wall Street Journal

● In Context: Comparing Bill Barr’s summary of Mueller’s findings to the publicly released report PolitiFact

● Mueller complained to Barr about Russia report memo Politico

Stephen Moore nomination to Federal Reserve looking doubtful as Republicans balk

Los Angeles Times

President Trump’s expected pick to fill a seat on the Federal Reserve is running into significant trouble in the Senate, where Republicans have expressed skepticism over Stephen Moore’s past writings and statements about women.

Emotional testimony at first congressional hearing on Medicare-for-all proposal

abc30

The House Rules Committee is set to hold the first congressional hearing on Medicare-for-all legislation which builds on ideas promoted Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Elections 2020:

This presidential candidate will be the first to visit Fresno during 2020 campaign

Fresno Bee

Julián Castro will be the first 2020 presidential candidate to visit Fresno, where he will give the keynote speech at a Fresno County Democratic Party fundraiser on Friday evening.

3 days, 10 Democrats: San Francisco convention lures half of 2020 presidential field

Fresno Bee

When California’s Democratic Party selects a new leader at this year’s annual convention, a barrage of presidential candidates will be on hand to make their case to voters.

Beto O’Rourke is losing donors to Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg

Fresno Bee

Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg are now among the top fundraisers in the Democratic presidential field — thanks in part to their success in stealing supporters from Beto O’Rourke.

Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg releases 10 years of tax returns

Los Angeles Times

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has released 10 years of tax returns. Buttigieg’s campaign posted the returns online Tuesday, saying candidates for president “should play by the rules, pay their fair share and be held accountable by the voters.

How to settle on a favorite Democratic presidential candidate? Good question

Los Angeles Times

Choosing among Democrats feels like a nightmare right now. Do Democrats want an experienced hand, or a shiny new face? A man? A woman? A person of color? And for many voters, the most important question: Who can beat Trump?

Eric Swalwell hits 1% in Democratic presidential polls, and he’s thrilled

San Francisco Chronicle

Presidential candidates wouldn’t normally boast about 1% showings in opinion polls, but for lesser-known Democrats in the 20-member field for 2020 — including East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell — they’re a big deal.

Huge spike in young voters in 2018 could be bad news for Trump in 2020

San Francisco Chronicle

A new federal report shows that 36% of 18- to 29-year-olds turned in ballots in the November elections, a 79% jump from the 2014 midterms. A similar spike appeared in California among the youngest eligible voters.

Other:

Facebook overhauls design as it pivots to private messaging

Reuters

Facebook Inc debuted an overhaul of its core social network on Tuesday, taking its first concrete steps to refashion itself into a private messaging and e-commerce company as it tries to move past scandals while tapping new revenue sources.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Still Searching for Solutions: Adapting to Farm Worker Scarcity: 2019 Survey

California Farm Bureau Federation and UC Davis

California farmers continue to find themselves short of employees, despite raising wages, increasing benefits and taking other steps to try to alleviate the problem, according to a survey conducted by the California Farm Bureau Federation in collaboration with the University of California, Davis.

· California Farmers Once Again Facing Labor Shortages Capital Public Radio

Test program would let food stamp recipients buy food online

abc30

Walmart and Amazon will participate in the two-year program, which could prove lucrative for both companies.

Explaining Proposition 64: How California Would Legalize Marijuana

Capital Public Radio

Starting immediately, it would no longer be a crime in California to buy, possess or transport limited amounts of marijuana for personal use. You could cultivate up to six plants in the privacy of your own home – either indoors or outdoors, as long as it’s not visible to the public.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Inmate Deaths A Growing Problem At Fresno County Jail

Capital Public Radio

The Sacramento Bee’s parent company, McClatchy, has partnered with ProPublica to report on the state of county jails in 2019. Reporter Jason Pohl discusses the series’ first story, which focuses on inmate deaths in Fresno County Jail.

Third California prison inmate this year walks away from firefighter training camp

Sacramento Bee

A minimum-security inmate walked away from a state prison fire camp early Monday morning in a Los Angeles County neighborhood, making him the third inmate to walk away from one of the camps this year, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Police remind drivers to lock up cars after overnight thefts

abc30

Fresno police are reminding you to lock up your car and keep valuables out of plain sight, even in your driveway. Officials released a montage of thieves approaching cars in driveways overnight checking car doors and looking through windows with flashlights.

Public Safety:

California prisons improperly barred thousands from early parole, court says

San Francisco Chronicle

California prison officials violated a voter-approved initiative when they made more than 4,400 inmates serving time for nonviolent crimes ineligible for early parole, a state appeals court has ruled.

The NRA’s troubles stem from its total war mentality

Los Angeles Times

The National Rifle Association has big troubles. It’s wildly in debt. The NRA’s longtime chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, is in a bitter feud with its outgoing president Oliver North. Accusations are flying, including of attempted extortion and misuse of perhaps millions of dollars.

EDITORIAL: Newsom’s pledge to secure ‘soft targets’ of hate is a start, but it can’t be the only answer

San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Gavin Newsom promised on Monday to spend an additional $15 million on increasing security for synagogues, mosques, women’s health organizations, LGBTQ service organizations and other institutions vulnerable to violent attacks from disgruntled bigots and other attackers.

Fire:

Permits Required For Burning In Mariposa County

abc30

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) has announced that effective at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, all hazard reduction burning will require a permit in Mariposa County.

PG&E’s wildfire prevention plan faces scrutiny

San Francisco Chronicle

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. should use more metrics to analyze the effectiveness of its new wildfire-prevention efforts and consider partnering with local governments to maintain power lines, regulatory officials recommended on Monday.

See also:

● Bankrupt PG&E owns domain names like ‘pgecrooks.com’ San Francisco Chronicle

Billions in California wildfire relief await breakthrough in Congress

San Francisco Chronicle

Members of Congress are back in Washington after a two-week holiday recess, but there’s no sign of a breakthrough on disaster relief funding that California and other states have been waiting on for months.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Tariffs threaten California’s economy

Visalia Times Delta

For over a year, the United States has unilaterally imposed a series of escalating tariffs on Chinese imports to pressure China to reform its unfair trade practices and slow China’s rise as a global tech power.

Trump scrambles to salvage NAFTA rewrite, courting Democrats and trying to tamp down GOP fury

Washington Post

Several Democrats said Trump put on a charm offensive Tuesday during a White House meeting, soliciting their feedback on what he would need to do in order to win their support for an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Poll: Most Americans rate financial status as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’

UPI
Gallup reported the results of the research Tuesday. It said 56 percent of Americans classify their fiscal status as good (44 percent) or excellent (12 percent), a 10 percent increase over the last three years and the most since 2002. Twenty-nine percent said it’s “fair” and 15 percent answered “poor.”

US consumer confidence improves in April

Fresno Bee

American consumers are feeling more confident this month, though optimism hasn’t fully recovered from a period of roiling markets and slowed hiring early this year.

Stocks edge up, and S&P 500 index hits new high

Los Angeles Times

Wall Street capped a day of mostly wobbly trading with meager gains Tuesday, enough to nudge the Standard & Poor’s 500 index to an all-time high for the third day in a row.

Trump steps up pressure on Fed to cut interest rates, but economists say it’s a bad idea

Los Angeles Times

President Trump is heaping nonstop pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates and provide further support to speed up growth, even though the economy is expanding at a healthy pace and economists widely agree that this is not the time to be taking such actions.

Onetime deficit hawk Mulvaney says soaring U.S. debt isn’t ‘holding us back’

Los Angeles Times

Mick Mulvaney came to the Milken Institute Global Conference Tuesday with a straightforward message: President Trump’s economic strategy is working.

Gig economy, e-scooters, straws and tax breaks

CALmatters

Business lobbyists are trying hard to delay a far-reaching California Supreme Court decision that would require gig economy firms to treat independent contractors as employees, CALmatters’ Antoinette Siu writes.

Like it or not, debt collectors may be texting and emailing you under new rules

Los Angeles Times

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, under President Trump, already has moved to make life easier for payday lenders. It’s expected any day now to do the same for debt collectors.

Jobs:

U.S. firms hire 275,000 workers in April, most nine months: ADP

Reuters

U.S. private employers added 275,000 jobs in April, well above economists’ expectations and the most since last July, supporting the view of a solid domestic labor market, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

Capitalism is failing. People want a job with a decent wage – why is that so hard?

Brookings

Industrial capitalism sliced and diced human time into clearly demarcated chunks, of “work” and “leisure”.

What Should Employers do About the CCPA?

Littler

Despite its name, the California Consumer Privacy Act, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, potentially could impose substantial compliance burdens on and create significant class-action exposure for every employer that employs California residents and has more than $25 million in annual gross revenues.

Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Job Creators List

CalChamber

The California Chamber of Commerce has released its list of Job Creator bills, calling attention to 9 bills that will stimulate the economy and improve the state’s jobs climate.

EDUCATION

K-12:

VUSD will focus on struggling students

Visalia Times Delta

Visalia students with the biggest needs for social and behavioral help will be the focus of Tuesday night’s Visalia Unified School District board meeting.

Autism awareness and what you can do

Porterville Recorder

TCOE has been accredited by the state department of education because of the critical shortage of special education teachers, and she said there different credentials for teachers now. Some teach mild to moderate disabled students, or moderate to severely disabled students.

Manteca Unified names nine as employees, educators of the year

Stockton Record

When it comes to supporting our children’s education, it is normally the teachers who get the most recognition. It’s important to highlight those working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs as smooth as possible.

Kern High School District Knew Staff Member Was Sex Abuser, Lawsuits Allege

VPR

Two recent lawsuits allege the Kern High School District (KHSD) knew one of its employees had a history of inappropriate sexual behavior with students but continued to employ him anyway.

Teacher turnover and the disruption of teacher staffing

Brookings

While such shortages may sometimes result from, or lead to, high rates of teacher turnover at the school level, turnover—defined as the yearly rate of departure of teachers from a school—is of policy interest in its own right. It imposes financial costs on schools and districts because of the need to find replacement teachers, and it has been shown to reduce student achievement.

Higher Ed:

Don’t say ‘back in my day’ to a California millennial in debt. Tuition costs a lot more

Sacramento Bee

When it comes to preaching financial savvy to college students forking over considerable cash for school, the “back in my day” argument doesn’t apply.

See also:

· The Cost of College, Then and Now California Budget & Policy Center

· OPINION: Canceling Student-Loan Debt Is a Bad Idea Wall Street Journal

Wage gap between teachers and other college graduates exacerbates teacher shortages

EdSource

Teachers are continuing to fall behind other college graduates in the wages they earn, contributing to the difficulties many school districts in California and the nation face in filling positions in key subject areas, according to a new analysis.

Looking to transfer to another college? New list ranks your best bets

Fresno Bee

Fresno Pacific University was named one of the best schools for transfer students by Money magazine Tuesday in a new ranking that looked at transfer students’ enrollment and graduation rates.

Field of candidates for Porterville College presidency narrowed to 3

Porterville Recorder

Kern Community College District (KCCD) Chancellor Thomas Burke is pleased to announce that after a nationwide search, three finalists will move forward in the Porterville College President search process.

English as a Second Language in California’s Community Colleges

PPIC
California’s community colleges (CCCs) play a central role in educating students who are not fully proficient in English.

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Predicting Heat Waves? Look Half a World Away

UC Davis Science & Climate

When heavy rain falls over the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia and the eastern Pacific Ocean, it is a good indicator that temperatures in central California will reach 100 F in four to 16 days, according to a collaborative research team from the University of California, Davis, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Climate Center in Busan, South Korea (includes discussion of impact on the Valley).

‘Check please!’ Californians can fight global warming with restaurant surcharge

Merced Sun-Star

A new state program gives Californians a way to fight climate change, one restaurant meal at a time. Participating restaurants will add a 1 percent surcharge to their bills, with that money going into a fund aimed at helping farmers remove carbon from the atmosphere and adopt climate-friendly practices.

To address climate threat, California must lead the way on green bonds

Sacramento Bee

We celebrated Earth Day last week, but climate change threatens our quality of life and poses material risk to our communities every day.

Hydropower bill would sabotage California’s clean energy mandate, critics say

Los Angeles Times

The Don Pedro hydropower project, just west of Yosemite National Park, has been churning out carbon-free electricity for nearly a century. As the Tuolumne River flows from the Sierra Nevada to the Central Valley, it passes through Don Pedro Dam, spinning four turbine generators.

Efforts to combat mosquitoes in Fresno have begun

abc30

Crews from the Mosquito Abatement team are placing insecticide pellets in pots with standing water in the cemetery. Elsewhere mosquito fish are placed in old swimming pools or unused fountains where the water is still.

California Fish and Game panel will look at increased limits for river salmon

Stockton Record

The California Fish and Game Commission will consider increased limits and fishing opportunities for the Sacramento and Klamath River systems in a meeting via teleconference on May 16.

Energy:

Hydropower bill would sabotage California’s clean energy mandate, critics say

Los Angeles Times

California’s push for 100% climate-friendly electricity has revived an old fight over dams and hydropower.

Clean energy ideas must work for all Californians

CALmatters

Assembly Bill 40, sponsored by Sierra Club California, is a complex piece of legislation involving the eventual transition to zero-emission vehicles in California. It’s an important issue and should not be rushed.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Kern County schools staying proactive to prevent measles

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County schools are taking proactive steps to ensure their students are safe from measles as neighboring communities’ outbreak numbers continue to rise.

● How Did We Get Here? 7 Things To Know About Measles Capital Public Radio

● Officials: New California measles cases involve travelers Sacramento Bee

● How Measles Made a Comeback After Elimination in U.S. Bloomberg

● OPINION: As a medical student, I was told we had conquered measles. I wish Los Angeles Times

Tulare Regional Medical Center is no more

Visalia Times Delta

The hospital is now officially known as Adventist Health Tulare, as Adventist began operating the facility this week under its own license.

What To Know About The Hospital Deaths Tied To Drug Resistant Infections

Capital Public Radio

The news has been filled with stories of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial infections. How widespread are these infections and how can people protect themselves from getting them, if they have to go to the hospital?

Using Cannabis and Tobacco/Nicotine Together Is Linked to Heavier Use and Poorer Functioning Among Young Adults

Rand

More than a third of young adults report using both cannabis and tobacco or nicotine products, providing a unique challenge to public health officials as cannabis is legalized in more jurisdictions, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Human Services:

Kindred Surrogacy will soon offer hope to local families who want to have a baby

abc30

Kindred Surrogacy in Clovis will soon offer hope to local families who want to have a baby. The new agency is the only one in the Central Valley that will help intended parents meet possible surrogates at various stages of the process.

Healthcare access for the Beachwood community will soon be as easy as going to school

Merced Sun-Star

Students, their families and the community around Joe Stefani Elementary will be able to get medical care right at the school starting next year, according to school officials. Golden Valley Health Centers is opening a health center right next to the school.

Tulare Regional Medical Center is no more

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare Regional Medical Center is no more. The hospital is now officially known as Adventist Health Tulare, as Adventist began operating the facility this week under its own license.

As Artificial Intelligence Moves Into Medicine, The Human Touch Could Be A Casualty

Capital Public Radio

Will AI in health care create a two-tiered system in which poorer people will be seen by a computer instead of a doctor? That’s one concern about the burgeoning technology.

Breakdown: California’s mental health system, explained

CALmatters

Mental health advocates have long described California’s fragmented mental health system with words like “struggling” and “broken.”

Medicaid Work Requirements Hit Roadblocks

PEW
Toward the end of 2018, the Trump administration seemed to be marching briskly toward its goal of requiring able-bodied adults in Medicaid to prove they had jobs to participate in the public health plan for the poor.

Is most home care paid by government programs?

PolitiFact

For the aging and those with long-term care needs, receiving care at home is more affordable than institutionalized facilities like hospitals or nursing homes. But presidential candidate John Delaney argued on Twitter that even with jobs growing in the home care industry, workers are struggling with low wages because “most of home care is paid by government programs, which don’t pay enough.”

For aging California, is the future Florida?

PublicCEO

IMMIGRATION

Trump Calls For Asylum-Seekers To Pay Fees, Proposing New Restrictions

Capital Public Radio

The president called for measures to close what he calls the asylum “loophole” amid a spike in border crossings. Critics say the proposal is an attack on vulnerable migrants.

· Trump admin to request more border funding as agency grapples with migrant influx abc30

· EDITORIAL: Trump’s newest asylum policy has the seed of a good idea buried amid bad ones Los Angeles

· 64% oppose Trump’s move to build a wall; On asylum, just 30% support stricter rules abc30

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

What might an influx of millennials mean to Bakersfield?

Bakersfield Californian

Here’s a new attention-getting list with potential significance: Top 10 Most Popular Markets for Millennials, based on research by the National Association of Realtors. Surprise: Bakersfield is number one.

Dave & Buster’s, HomeGoods coming to Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall; Sears site filled

Modesto Bee

The vacant Sears space at Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall is finding new life as Dave & Buster’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods plan to split the two-story site. The deal is also expected to bring a HomeGoods to the city for the first time to fill the former Dick’s space.

Housing:

More help for low-income residents: Modesto doesn’t have to repay HUD $1.2M, after all

Modesto Bee

Community and Economic Development Director Jaylen French said in a Tuesday interview that Modesto received an email about two weeks ago from HUD stating it would not have to repay $1.2 million as part of resolving 10 of the audit’s 16 findings.

EDITORIAL: Keep tenant protections front and center of California’s housing debate

Los Angeles Times

If California officials are serious about easing the pain of the state’s housing crisis, they also have to enact strong tenant protections.

PUBLIC FINANCES

A gas tax hike? Raise taxes on the rich too, Senate Democratic leader tells Trump

Fresno Bee

Senate Democrats emerged from the White House on Tuesday with one message: If President Donald Trump wants $2 trillion in infrastructure improvements, he’ll need to raise taxes on the rich and corporations before relying on a higher gas tax.

More turnover at California pension board: Gavin Newsom appoints transgender woman to CalPERS

Sacramento Bee

A transgender California city councilwoman is joining the CalPERS Board of Administration, becoming the fifth new member leading the nation’s largest pension fund this year.

TRANSPORTATION

Gas prices rise above $4 per gallon in Fresno. Who, what is to blame?

Fresno Bee

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in California is about $1.20 more than the national average. How much does it cost where you live?

Get a speeding ticket? California traffic schools are gaming the DMV to get your business

Sacramento Bee

A few owners of online traffic schools in California have taken advantage of loose oversight by the Department of Motor Vehicles to stifle competition and boost their share of customers among the roughly 670,000 ticketed drivers who enroll in the schools every year.

In L.A.’s future, you may not need a car, insurance or a parking space

Los Angeles Times

All you do is tap an app and an electric, driverless vehicle pulls up and carts you away to the grocery store, to the beach, or to the bus or train stop. Instead of pounding the wheel and cursing traffic, you read a book, get a jump on work or take a nap, and the air is cleaner than it’s been in decades.

Costs for California’s high-speed rail project may increase by $1.8 billion

Los Angeles Times