‘Much quieter than they used to be’: PG&E lobbying spending falls
From the Chronicle's J.D. Morris: "While the political campaign spending of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was recently questioned by a federal judge, public records show the company paid far more trying to shape the debate in Sacramento behind the scenes than it did giving directly to candidates or causes in the past few years."
"Since the start of 2017, PG&E has spent $12.7 million on lobbying, more than double the amount it contributed to people running for elected office, political parties or committees, according to figures from the California secretary of state’s office. The total includes money PG&E spent to influence both state lawmakers and utility regulators."
"U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who is overseeing PG&E’s probation stemming from the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, last month ordered the company to account for its political payments following media coverage of its contributions and its maintenance of its high-voltage power lines."
FBI: Motive for Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting may never be known
BANG's ROBERT SALONGA/JASON GREEN: "The motive behind Sunday’s mass shooting at the Garlic Festival may never be known, authorities said at a news conference Thursday, as their investigation into what drove Santino Legan to open fire on a crowd of families in his hometown dragged into a sixth day."
"Law enforcement agencies are examining Legan’s digital footprint, including his social media presence, electronic devices, and computer hardware seized in searches Monday at the shooter’s family home in Gilroy, and a remote Nevada apartment where he had been living since May. Federal investigators and FBI profilers from around the country have been brought into assist in the investigation, special agent-in-charge John Bennett said — but they have still yet to figure out a motive."
"We have not yet determined the ideology” of the shooter, Bennett said."
READ MORE related to Gilroy Shooting: Gilroy shooter did not appear to target people based on race, authorities say -- LA Times's MATTHEW ORMSETH; Hundreds stand tall at vigil in wake of mass shooting -- The Chronicle's TATIANA SANCHEZ
Bankrupt PG&E makes deal to cut solar power prices. Won't abandon CA's clean energy goals
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER: "PG&E Corp., scrambling to save money, has been hinting for months it might scrap some of its expensive contracts to buy solar and wind energy — a move that would seriously undermine California’s efforts to turn its electricity grid green."
"On Thursday, the bankrupt utility signaled it will stick with clean energy — if the price is right."
"Facing pressure from state officials to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, PG&E announced it has made a deal with three solar farms and two energy-storage providers that will give the utility a 10 percent discount."
Trump gave billions to farmers for Chinese tariffs. how much did the Valley, California get?
Sacramento Bee's TIM SHEEHAN: "Farmers in California received about $76.3 million in federal subsidy payments for economic harm they may have suffered as a result of President Donald Trump’s trade war with China."
"According to data acquired by The Associated Press, 4,442 payments between October and May were made to California farmers growing commodities affected by China’s imposition of tariffs on American agricultural goods imported into that country."
"China’s action was retaliation for tariffs the Trump administration levied on Chinese goods coming into the United States. On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced more tariffs on Chinese imports, likely adding fuel to the ongoing trade dispute."
Largest teachers union in California spent $1M a month to restrict charter schools
Sacramento Bee's HANNAH WILEY/SOPHIA BOLLAG: "The state’s biggest teachers union spent more than $1 million a month since April to influence lawmakers as it pushed bills aimed at cracking down on charter schools, financial disclosure forms filed ahead of a Wednesday deadline show."
"The California Teachers Association has spent a total $4.3 million on lobbying this year, the most of all groups employing lobbyists at the state Capitol. That’s about as much as the union spent during the entire two-year legislative session from 2017-2018, when it was the 10th biggest spender."
"The bulk of this year’s total comes from April through June, when CTA spent $3.6 million lobbying on bills including a legislative package that would dismantle charter school power in California."
Sean Hannity endorses in a California swing district
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Conservative talk show host Sean Hannity is taking sides in a California congressional race, giving his support to Republican Robert “Buzz” Patterson, a retired Air Force officer challenging Democratic Rep. Ami Bera in a suburban Sacramento district."
"We give you the warmest endorsement we possibly can because you are an amazing human being,” Hannity said during a recent interview with Patterson."
"Patterson, who has appeared on Hannity’s Fox News show numerous times, said he was grateful for Hannity’s support in his race against Bera, a four-term House member from Elk Grove (Sacramento County)."
Swalwell dodges fight for his East Bay congressional seat
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "The Hayward City Council will be home for now for Aisha Wahab, who has suspended her campaign for Dublin Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s seat after he dropped out of the presidential race and fired up his re-election effort."
"In an email to her backers, the councilwoman thanked them for their support and promised to “continue to be a vigilant voice for every member of my community.”"
"She never mentioned Swalwell in her missive but made it clear that she’s not necessarily a fan."
Water systems must notify Californians about these cancer-linked chemicals under new law
Sacramento Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG/TARA COPP: "Starting next year, California water systems must notify residents if their water sources contain potentially toxic levels of cancer-linked chemicals called PFAS under a law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Wednesday."
"The new law, AB 756, will also expand state regulators’ ability to test for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. The compounds can be found in everyday plastics and products like floss and are concentrated in firefighting foam that the military and commercial aviation industry has used for decades."
"That foam has seeped into groundwater and wells surrounding military installations and commercial airports, and has been found in drinking water sources at more than 712 locations in 49 states, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization."
Money flows into SF's D5 supervisor, DA and mayoral races
The Chronicle's TRISHA THADANI/DOMINIC FRACASSA: "Hundreds of thousands of dollars are pouring into San Francisco’s local races for District Five supervisor and district attorney, and even for Mayor London Breed — who faces little in the way of re-election competition — as the Nov. 5 election nears."
"When it comes to money, the top candidates for the District Five seat on the Board of Supervisors are neck and neck. While campaign contributions are only one measure of momentum, they provide a window into how much support a candidate has."
"The outcomes of the District Five and district attorney races are critical for Breed, who sees her two preferred candidates — Supervisor Vallie Brown for District Five and Suzy Loftus for district attorney — as political allies broadly aligned with her own agenda."
Judge in SF says Trump can't reinstate ban on Central American asylum-seekers
The Chroniclce's BOB EGELKO: "A federal judge in San Francisco refused Thursday to let the Trump administration reinstate its ban on U.S. asylum for virtually everyone heading north from Central America, reaffirming his decision that the policy violates immigration laws."
"The policy, in effect from July 16 until the judge halted it with an injunction eight days later, denied asylum to anyone who had passed through another country on the way to the Mexico border. The only exceptions were for victims of human trafficking and for migrants who had unsuccessfully sought asylum in the country they had entered."
"President Trump’s Justice Department urged U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar to suspend his injunction and restore the policy during appeals to higher courts. Government lawyers insisted the restrictions were legal and said Tigar’s ruling “undermines” the government’s established authority “to enact new regulations to address the ongoing border crisis."
In Needles, a sanctuary for gun owners -- and 'a little jab in the eyes' for California
The Chronicle's JOHN M GLIONNA: "The whole business began with a backyard barbecue."
"Tim Terral, a 50-year-old cable company worker recently elected city councilman in Needles, on the rural eastern edge of California, planned a cookout for some buddies who live just over the state line in Arizona."
"Nobody wanted to come. Under California law, they couldn’t bring their loaded firearms across the state line, so they all decided to stay home."
OPD under-reported uses of force, especially on people of color, audit finds
The Chronicle's MEGAN CASSIDY: "An internal Oakland police audit found that officers failed to report using force against a suspect in more than one-third of instances studied in 2018, and all of those unreported incidents involved a non-white suspect."
"The audit, completed by the department’s Office of Inspector General and released this week, expands on previous internal and external reports that found that the departments’ celebrated decline in use-of-force incidents was likely exaggerated."
"Auditors reviewed 47 incidents where officers had a high probability of using force, including firearm-related crimes and an assault on an officer. After reviewing body camera footage, auditors found 17 instances in which use of force went unreported, the audit states."
READ MORE related to Prisons & Public Safety: Adachi leak: SFPD chief's spokesman ID'd journalist before notorious raid -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY
Bay Area's new homeless epicenter?
The Chroniclke's SARAH RAVANI/JOAQUIN PALOMINO: "San Francisco is known for its swelling homeless population, but Oakland has surpassed its neighbor across the bay, and other large cities in California, in a key measure: the concentration of homelessness compared with the number of people living there."
"A Chronicle analysis of city numbers on homelessness collected earlier this year found that there were an estimated 742 unsheltered homeless people in Oakland for every 100,000 residents — the highest among the state’s largest cities. The rate is four times higher than San Diego’s and 27% higher than San Francisco’s."
"The story is much the same for total homeless, including those in shelters. Los Angeles has the largest homeless population in the state by a wide margin, but on a per-capita basis, Oakland, where the number of people living on the streets or in temporary shelters grew 47% from 2017 to 2019, now has more."