Get rid of the new gas tax? New poll shows initiatives backers have statewide support
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "If they get a chance, a majority of California voters would repeal the new statewide gas tax that went into effect last month."
"A new poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies found 52 percent of likely voters would support an initiative repealing California’s recent increases in gas taxes and vehicle license fees, while 46 percent said they “strongly” support repealing the charges."
"Republicans overwhelmingly favor repeal, with 80 percent of them indicating that they’d support rescinding the gas tax."
READ MORE related to Death & Taxes: Why Tom McClintock changed his tax vote -- Sacramento Bee's; Davis eyes new tax on homeowners to fund services for growing homeless population -- Sacramento Bee's ELLEN GARRISON
California's 'green rush' is cranking up as new rules take effect Jan. 1
From Capitol Weekly's FELICIA ALVAREZ: "The flood gates are about to open for California’s new commercial cannabis industry, as the state rushes to issue temporary licenses for businesses looking to open on Jan. 1."
"California delivered its first batch of commercial cannabis licenses last week with the approval of 30 temporary licenses for cannabis businesses across the state."
"During the first weeks, 286 businesses applied for temporary licenses and nearly 2,200 entities have registered online as prospective businesses, according to the Bureau of Cannabis Control."
Marijuana and Hmong farmers: Siskiyou County sheriff fights to control cannabis trade
Sacramento Bee's STEPHEN MAGAGNINI: "Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey spent decades as a soldier. He enlisted in the Marines at age 18 and retired as a much-decorated colonel in the National Guard."
"Today he’s waging war again, not against Al Qaeda or the Taliban, but an army of rogue pot growers who have spread throughout his sprawling county."
"As California prepares to make the sale of recreational marijuana legal Jan. 1, Lopey is immersed in an ongoing battle to shut down illegal pot farms and black-market trade in this isolated county abutting Oregon. When he patrols marijuana country or leads a raid, he wears camouflage fatigues and a black University of Nevada, Reno Wolfpack baseball cap."
READ MORE related to Cannabis: Joy to the weed! Marijuana legalization comes bearing gifts -- AP's PATRICK WHITTLE
California's population: 20 million in 1970, nearly 40 million now
The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ: "If it seems more crowded in California, that’s because it is."
"California’s population is nearly 40 million, a number that has steadily grown despite birth rates declining to the fourth-lowest level in more than a century, according to state estimates released Thursday."
"State Department of Finance data showed that between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, California’s population grew by 301,000 people to 39.6 million, a growth rate of nearly 1 percent. That’s an increase of 2.4 million people since 2010 and double the number of residents who lived in California in 1970."
Feinstein against spending bill with no immigrant protection
AP's KATHLEEN RONAYNE: "Both of California's Democratic U.S. senators voted Thursday against a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government open because it didn't include protections for young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children."
"It was a long-held stance for Sen. Kamala Harris, but one that Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced just hours before the vote, after weeks of pressure from immigrant groups and her 2018 U.S. Senate rival."
"State Senate leader Kevin de Leon, who is running against her, had held a news conference calling her "AWOL" on the matter."
FDA Chief says he's open to rethinking incentives on orphan drugs
California Healthline's SARAH JANE TRIBBLE: "The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration questions whether the right financial incentives are in place for drugmakers who develop orphan drugs for rare diseases."
"In an interview this week, the FDA’s Scott Gottlieb said the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 has provided “an enormous amount of public health value” over the years, but the “market has changed."
"Gottlieb said it’s time to ask the question: “Do we have the right incentives in place?"
READ MORE related to Health Care: Infection lapses rampant in nursing homes but punishment is rare -- California Healthline's JORDAN RAU; Arthritis drugs show how US drug prices defy economics -- California Healthline's JULIE APPLEBY; Bonus tucked into GOP tax bill for those aiming to deduct medical expenses -- California Healthline's MICHELLE ANDREWS; Biosimilars, biologics and new legal challenges for RA treatments -- California Healthline's JULIE APPLEBY;
OP-ED: Train wreck lessons already learned
The Chronicle's EDITORIAL BOARD: "When a top Amtrak official described this week’s deadly derailment of a speeding train near Olympia, Wash., as a “wake-up call,” he was being generous to himself and his fellow rail officials. They and Congress had already decided to sleep through plenty of alarms."
"While federal investigators are still sorting out the facts of the Washington disaster, it appears likely to be the kind that could have been prevented by positive train control, an automated safety system that can brake trains traveling at excessive speeds if their operators don’t respond to warnings. After a 2008 Southern California train wreck killed 25, Congress required the nation’s rail lines to install positive train control systems by 2015, but the deadline was extended at least into next year when railroads resisted. Monday’s derailment took place during the first regular service on new tracks where the system was expected to be implemented but was not yet functioning."
"Bound from Seattle to Portland, the train was going 80 mph on a curve with a 30 mph speed limit when it left the tracks and careened onto Interstate 5, killing three passengers and injuring scores more. It was in those respects remarkably similar to a 2015 Amtrak derailment that killed eight in Philadelphia. That train was also exceeding the speed limit on a sharp curve by about 50 mph on tracks where positive train control had yet to be put in place."
READ MORE related to Transportation: Bay Area commuter rail lines on track to employ high-tech lifesaver in 2018 -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN; LAPD holiday checkpoints and patrols set for San Fernando Valley -- Daily News' WES WOODS II
Sacramento Amazon facility under government scrutiny after worker's death
Sacramento Bee's BENJY EGEL: "The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating Amazon’s recently opened Sacramento fulfillment center after an employee’s death last week."
"The employee was hospitalized after vomiting blood on Dec. 14, Cal-OSHA spokesman Frank Polizzi said, and died the next day. He had yet to be identified as of 1 p.m. Thursday."
"Under state law, Cal-OSHA can investigate and issue citations for safety regulation violations if enforcers suspect the incident was work-related. The agency has six months to complete its investigation, which began last Friday after the man’s death."
READ MORE related to Economy: Papa John's founder out as CEO weeks after NFL comments -- AP; Sacramento team needs more money to join MLS. Owner says it's a 'tall task' -- Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS; Schmidt resigning as exec chair at Google parent Alphabet -- AP's RYAN NAKASHIMA; Hilton wants to expand, thanks to Harry Potter and soaring tourism. But NBCUniversal isn't entertained -- Daily News' OLGA GRIGORYANTS
California schools get an 'F' in financial literacy instruction
EdSource's CAROLYN JONES: "California’s efforts to teach high school students about balancing checkbooks, saving money and other staples of personal finance were graded an ‘F’ in a national survey released last week."
"The report, by the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College in Vermont, looked at how many hours of financial literacy instruction are required of high school students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. ‘A’ grades went to Virginia, Utah, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama, where all students are required to take at least one semester of financial literacy before they graduate."
"The California Department of Education offers guidelines for K-12 teachers to incorporate financial literacy in their lesson plans and the state’s History-Social Science Framework includes financial literacy, but the topic is not required."
READ MORE related to Education: Male teachers provide important role models -- EdSource's JOSH BROWN; Novel program allowing California community colleges to award bachelor's degrees not yet ready to expand -- EdSource's MIKHAIL ZINSHTEYN
Meanwhile, Robert Mueller has higher approval ratings than Trump in handling of Russia investigation, poll says
Newsweek's SUMMER MEZA: "Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, has higher approval ratings in his handling of the matter than the president; meanwhile, most Americans doubt Trump's statements around the inquiry, according to a CNN poll released Thursday."
"The poll found that Mueller’s handling of the investigation garnered a 47 percent approval rating, while only 32 percent of those polled approved of the way that Trump has handled the situation."
"Respondents didn't have much faith that Trump is telling the truth—about 56 percent of people said that they think things he's said publicly about the investigation into potential Russian interference in the election have been false, and 24 percent said they believe his statements have been “completely false.” On the other hand, 35 percent felt they were true, and 8 percent thought his statements were “completely true."
READ MORE related to KremlinGate: Trump quietly reassigns FBI's top lawyer -- WaPo's DEVLIN BARRETT/ELLEN NAKASHIMA/CAROL LEONNIG; Schiff: Nunes 'doing the work of the White House' -- The Hill's JOHN BOWDEN; Tom Brokaw says Fox News is 'on a jihad' to destroy FBI's credibility -- HuffPo's HAYLEY MILLER; Russian spies in San Francisco? According to Foreign Policy article, yes! -- The Chronicle's SOPHIE HAIGNEY
AP Poll: Sexual misconduct allegations voted top news story
AP's DAVID CRARY: "The wave of sexual misconduct allegations that toppled Hollywood power brokers, politicians, media icons and many others was the top news story of 2017, according to The Associated Press' annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors."
"The No. 2 story was Donald Trump's tumultuous first year as president. A year ago, Trump's unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton in the presidential election was a near-unanimous pick for the top news story of 2016."
"The first AP top-stories poll was conducted in 1936, when editors chose the abdication of Britain's King Edward VIII as the top story."
Russian hackers targeted more than 200 journalists globally
Sacramento Bee's RAPHAEL SATTER/JEFF DONN/NATALIYA VASILYEVA: "Russian television anchor Pavel Lobkov was in the studio getting ready for his show when jarring news flashed across his phone: Some of his most intimate messages had just been published to the web."
"Days earlier, the veteran journalist had come out live on air as HIV-positive, a taboo-breaking revelation that drew responses from hundreds of Russians fighting their own lonely struggles with the virus. Now he'd been hacked."
"These were very personal messages," Lobkov said in a recent interview, describing a frantic call to his lawyer in an abortive effort to stop the spread of nearly 300 pages of Facebook correspondence, including sexually explicit messages. Even two years later, he said, "it's a very traumatic story."
FCC fines Sinclair Broadcast group $13.4 million for running sponsored content as news
Variety's TED JOHNSON: "The FCC is slapping Sinclair Broadcast Group with a $13.4 million fine for running news stories on a cancer foundation but failing to disclose that the foundation was paying for them to air."
"The FCC said that the programming was broadcast more than 1,700 times, “either as stories resembling independently generated news coverage that aired during the local news, or as longer-form stories aired as 30-minute television programs.” The agency said that it was the largest fine ever imposed for a violation of its sponsorship identification rules."
"The fine is also expected to give critics of Sinclair’s proposed merger with Tribune Media fodder for the argument that the transaction is not in the public interest. The FCC is currently reviewing the transaction."
Right-wing activist Kyle Chapman back in jail with increased bail
The Chronicle's NANETTE ASIMOV: "An Alameda County judge ordered right-wing activist Kyle Chapman, known as “Based Stickman,” back to jail Thursday and tripled his bail after finding that he had carried a deadly weapon in violation of his bail terms."
"Chapman, 42, of Daly City, has a long criminal history with at least two felony convictions dating back to 1993."
"His latest legal troubles began during a March 4 demonstration in Berkeley when Chapman — wearing a gas mask and helmet, and carrying a shield, pepper spray and a pair of knives — was arrestedfor hitting protesters with a lead-filled stick, police said."
'Squinty eyes' remark about Ed Lee draws rebukes
The Chronicle's JASON FAGONE: "Two retired San Francisco judges told a Chinatown audience mourning former Mayor Ed Lee that they were dismayed that a speaker at Sunday’s City Hall memorial service referred to his “squinty eyes” when he laughed."
"Lillian Sing and Julie Tang, both of whom are Chinese American, described the phrase as a racially insensitive stereotype of Asians."
"We felt uncomfortable when one person spoke about squinty eyes,” Sing, who retired from the Superior Court bench in 2015 after 30 years and is the co-founder of Chinese for Affirmative Action, told the audience of mourners Thursday in a flower-bedecked auditorium on Stockton Street."
Daily News' OLGA GRIGORYANTS: "Charles Manson’s body is at the center of controversy after his demise spurred claims by two men who say they have the right to inherit the mass-murderer’s belongings and bury his remains."
"Santa Clarita resident Michael Channels, 52, met Manson in the Corcoran State Prison in the Central Valley in 2002 after sending him about 50 letters. A few months after their meeting, an envelope landed in the mail with a will that Channels says bequeathed the notorious serial killer’s possessions to his pen-pal."
"But Manson’s grandson, Jason Freeman, 41, isn’t so sure. He hasn’t given up trying to claim the remains of Manson, 83, who died Nov. 19 of heart failure at a Bakersfield hospital. A hearing is set for Jan. 8 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court to hear his case, according to his attorney Alan Davis."
Sacramento's Sutter Health fined $18,000 for failure to report lobbying
Sacramento Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON: "The Fair Political Practices Commission voted 3-0 Thursday to impose an $18,000 fine against Sacramento-based Sutter Health because it failed to report paying $270,000 for lobbying services between April 2015 and June 2017."
"The commission could have imposed a penalty up to $45,000, but investigators found no evidence that the health care giant intended to conceal its violations. Rather, Sutter’s nine violations of the Political Reform Act were likely a result of negligence, said the case order filed by David Bainbridge, the FPPC’s assistant chief of enforcement."
"But the violations are part of a pattern where Sutter continually failed to file reports timely over two plus years despite being aware of its obligation to do so,” Bainbridge wrote in the case file."
Golden Gate Park meadow renamed for Robin Williams
The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA: "The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously Thursday to name what’s long been known as Sharon Meadow — a wide, grassy lawn on the east end of Golden Gate Park — after the late comedian and actor Robin Williams."
"The widely popular effort to rechristen the space had been led by Debi Durst and her husband, Will. They have put on Comedy Day, an annual showcase for local comedians, at Golden Gate Park for the past 37 years. For the past 25 years, the event has been held at Sharon Meadow."
"Williams, who had a home in Marin County, performed at the first Comedy Day and returned to perform whenever he could, Debi Durst told the commission. He also served as the event’s chief — and anonymous — patron in years when money was tight. “If it weren’t for Robin giving us some money, there would be no Comedy Day for a few years,” she said."
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The Roundup is compiled by Associate Editor Geoff Howard. Questions? Comments? Feedback? Email him at geoff@capitolweekly.net