Winners and losers: How California’s budget deal might affect you
SacBee's SOPHIA BOLLAG: "More than a decade of economic growth has crashed to a halt, leaving the state of California short by tens of billions of dollars.
In response, Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom are scaling back programs and finding new ways to bring in money.
A spending deal announced Monday relies on more optimistic projections of revenue and expenses than Newsom assumed when he proposed a budget plan in May. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be pain."
Newsom, legislators reach California budget deal that counts on federal bailout
The Chronicle's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders said they have reached a budget deal that will allow California to close the multibillion-dollar deficit that has opened up during the coronavirus pandemic.
The deal avoids for at least a year the steep cuts to education and safety net programs that Newsom proposed last month, but makes reductions to other public services and state worker pay unless a federal bailout materializes.
“We’re not solving for everything in one calendar month,” Newsom said at a news conference. “We have a lot of work to do over the next few years, and we cannot impress upon the federal government more the important work they have to do to help support municipalities large and small, states large and small, to help support us through this unprecedented period of time."
Newsom gets power to withhold funds for counties that don't follow COVID-19 rules
Sac Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG: "California counties must comply with state and federal COVID-19 rules if they want part of up to $1 billion in funding through the state budget, according to details of a budget deal expected to win approval in the Legislature.
The agreement Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders reached Sunday night would allocate $750 million to counties for social safety net programs. That amount could be increased to $1 billion if the federal government sends California additional aid money that it has requested, according to bill language posted Monday at 8:45 p.m.
The funding is contingent on counties following federal guidance, the state’s stay-at-home order and other directives laid out by the California Department of Public Health to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. That includes the statewide mask order Newsom issued last week that requires people to wear masks in public. The Department of Public Health has also issued guidance for businesses requiring them to implement social distancing and sanitation measures for staff and customers."
Fort Bragg will not put city name change measure on November ballot
LA Times's HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS: "The City Council of Fort Bragg, a small Northern California city named after Braxton Bragg, a Confederate army general and slave owner, decided that it will not place a town name change on the November ballot.
The decision came Monday night in the coastal Mendocino County town of 7,400 after more than three hours of public comment at the first in-person City Council meeting amid the coronavirus outbreak. Instead of a ballot measure, Fort Bragg Mayor Will Lee will appoint an ad hoc committee with two City Council members and residents to discuss options for the city’s name.
“We cannot ignore the hundreds of comments that were given to us in two weeks’ time, and especially so much [from] the young people that have come to us ... They’re teaching us old folks a lot, and it’s impressive,” Lee said."
LA City Councilman Jose Huizar charged in federal corruption probe
LA Times's DAVID ZAHNISER/EMILY ALPERT REYES/JOEL RUBIN: "Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, an ambitious player in city politics for nearly two decades, was arrested Tuesday, becoming the most prominent figure to face charges in the federal investigation into corruption at City Hall.
Huizar faces a racketeering charge arising from allegations he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for cash bribes and campaign donations in exchange for Huizar’s help getting high-rise development projects through the city’s arduous approval process.
Along the way, the councilman and his associates allegedly enjoyed free plane travel, lavish meals, casino chips and other perks offered up by developers, prosecutors said. In all, Huizar improperly received approximately $1.5 million in financial benefits, according to federal filings."
Cash, casino chips, hotel rooms and an affair: Inside the Jose Huizar indictment
From the LAT 's EMILY ALPERT REYES and DAVID ZAHNISER: "The arrest of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar marks the biggest domino to fall in a multiyear federal investigation of corruption and alleged pay-to-play practices at City Hall. If convicted, Huizar could face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Many of the allegations laid out by federal prosecutors on Tuesday have been described in previous court filings.
But there are some new and noteworthy allegations, including: 1. Massages, hotel stays and an affair. Prosecutors have already alleged that Councilman Huizar took cash, casino chips and other bribes from developers with business in his district. But the newest filing says that one businessman also provided Huizar with hotel stays that allowed the councilman to conduct “discreet encounters with a woman with whom he was having an affair.” The same businessman also paid for Huizar to receive “massage services” on a number of occasions, which ran $300 per visit, prosecutors said in their filing."
Sen. Harris' anti-lynching bill caught in police reform fight
The Chronicle's TAL KOPAN: "Sen. Kamala Harris’ bill to make lynching a federal crime almost became law. Now, it’s caught in a political tug-of-war over police reform.
The California Democrat’s legislation, cosponsored by the Senate’s other two Black members, Democrat Cory Booker of New Jersey and Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina, previously passed the Senate twice by unanimous agreement. A nearly identical bill later easily passed the House. But minor changes in that version — including a different name — required re-passage in the Senate, where it was blocked by GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Now, the legislation is part of efforts to reform law enforcement in the wake of protests over police brutality. Senate Republicans have incorporated it in their version of a policing package, which Democrats say doesn’t go far enough. They are pledging to block it by filibustering, holding out for more negotiations at the risk of nothing passing into law."
Sitting CalPERS board member sues California pension fund president, claiming retaliation
Sac Bee's WES VENTEICHER: "CalPERS board member Margaret Brown is suing board president Henry Jones, saying he improperly disciplined her over allegations that she misused the CalPERS name and logo for campaign purposes.
Brown filed a civil suit Thursday in Sacramento County Superior Court, naming Jones and the board as respondents. In a Tuesday news release, she said Jones disciplined her in retaliation for her criticism of CalPERS’ investment decisions and its executive pay.
“CalPERS’ executives are furious with my Twitter posts that criticize investment strategies and decry pay increases with lofty incentive bonuses for executives requiring only that they meet standards, especially since our investments continue to underperform. I owe a fiduciary duty to 2 million beneficiaries,” Brown said in the release."
State lawmakers expedite hearing on California prisons amid coronavirus outbreaks
The Chronicle's MEGAN CASSIDY/JASON FAGONE: "State lawmakers have expedited an oversight hearing on California’s prison system to find out why the coronavirus has surged at various lockups across the state.
More than 3,800 inmates have been infected, including more than 400 at San Quentin, where an outbreak has grown after officials transferred sick inmates into the prison from the virus-plagued California Institution for Men in Chino.
California’s Senate Committee on Public Safety has scheduled the hearing for July 1, saidcommittee Chair Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, who said the transfer of inmates from the Chino prison “raises serious questions” about the system’s management of the virus."
California sees spike in number of cases -- for second straight day
The Chronicle's ERIN ALLDAY/MATT KAWAHARA: "California on Tuesday saw some of its highest numbers of new coronavirus cases — surpassing 6,000 new cases in a 24-hour reporting period for the second day straight as the state barreled forward with reopening plans.
Dramatic surges in new cases were seen in various parts of the state: Santa Clara County on Tuesday recorded its highest daily total in new coronavirus cases in more than two months, with 121 cases, a “worrisome” spike, health officials said.
Sacramento County saw its highest count of new cases in a day, at 131."
GOP pouring money into a California Democratic House seat to try to flip it
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "GOP leaders plan to put nearly $3 million into the effort to unseat Fresno Democratic Rep. TJ Cox in what promises to be one of the most visible political battles in the state, if not the country.
The National Republican Campaign Committee has reserved $1.16 million of ad buys in Bakersfield for the fall campaign and another $1.78 million in Fresno. This is on top of a $1.6 million buy announced in April by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC with close ties to the GOP House leadership.
The ad money will go to boost Republican David Valadao’s effort to take back the congressional seat he lost to Cox two years ago, when the Democrat squeaked out an 862-vote victory."
California's behind-the-wheel driver's tests to resume Friday: What you need to know
The Chronicle's ANNA BUCHMANN: "Starting Friday, you can again get behind the wheel for an in-person driving test in California - with new pandemic health procedures in place.
The Department of Motor Vehicles said Tuesday that it will resume the tests, which it suspended in mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak. All first-time driver’s license holders and commercial license applicants are required to complete the test with an examiner.
The DMV said that it will automatically reschedule all canceled appointments over the next several weeks. When they are completed, the agency will schedule new testing appointments."
LAUSD votes against proposal to defund school police and can't agree on reform plans
LA Times's HOWARD BLUME/SONALI KOHLI: "A deeply divided Los Angeles school board on Tuesday failed to agree on proposed reforms to the school police, effectively leaving the matter to a task force created by Supt. Austin Beutner and disappointing activists who had called for eliminating the department.
The lack of consensus capped a day of intense passions as students and activist groups called for terminating the department and using its $70 million annual budget for other student needs, especially those that would benefit Black students.
The school police had a smaller number of equally passionate defenders, including officers, social workers, school administrators and even a few students."
Could summer sunlight inactivate coronavirus? Here's what a new study says
Sac Bee's MITCHELL WILLETTS: "A 34-minute dose of midday summertime sunlight can inactivate 90% or more of coronavirus, a recent study found.
Due to more intense ultraviolet light and radiation, the authors wrote COVID-19 “should be inactivated relatively fast during summer in many populous cities of the world,” and that sunlight will likely have a notable effect on the virus’ ability to spread.
The study, titled “Estimated Inactivation of Coronaviruses by Solar Radiation,” looked at how effective UVB rays had been at inactivating coronavirus at various locations around the world."
National Park Service removes Robert E. Lee's name from giant sequoia
The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER: "It’s not just statues coming down but now the name of one of the world’s largest trees, which honors Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Officials at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks last week removed their only known reference to the 255-foot Robert E. Lee Tree by yanking the name from an online list of the planet’s 30 biggest sequoias. The tree at Grant Grove, 50 miles east of Fresno, is the world’s 11th largest.
Park spokeswoman Sintia Kawasaki-Yee said the move was meant to “promote inclusiveness.” It comes amid the wave of nationwide protests calling for an end to racism and the dismantling of monuments that appear to condone slavery."
LA County leaders call for independent investigation into Andres Guardado's death
LA Times's JACLYN COSGROVE/ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN: "The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is calling for an independent investigation into the death of an 18-year-old security guard who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy last week.
A motion that passed unanimously at Tuesday’s board meeting aims to ensure that “the truth is uncovered and justice is served” for Andres Guardado, said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, referring to the security guard who, according to the motion, was shot six or seven times by a deputy.
Ridley-Thomas, who authored the motion, said the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has a record of failing to fully comply with requests from the county’s Office of the Inspector General and its Civilian Oversight Commission when they attempt to investigate the agency."
California not tracking jail inmates and staff infected with coronavirus
Sac Bee's JASON POHL: "More than three months into the coronavirus pandemic, California officials say they still have no plans to collect and publish basic data about COVID-19 testing and outbreaks in local jails, frustrating advocates, families and even some members of the state’s own jail oversight board.
The state board that regulates California’s county jails and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office both maintain local sheriffs should work with public health departments to test for and contain the disease.
It’s on them, the state says, to publish county-specific information about testing and infections inside local lockups."
SF's 555 California, partly owned by Trump, could be sold
The Chronicle's ROLAND LI: "San Francisco’s fourth-tallest building, 555 California St., could be sold in potentially one of the largest transactions in city history.
Vornado Realty Trust, which owns 70% of the property, said it is exploring the “recapitalization” of the tower. In the real estate industry, that term typically suggests a partial ownership sale. The former headquarters of Bank of America has been a fixture in the city skyline for over five decades. The Trump Organization, the family business of President Trump, owns 30% of the tower.
Vornado is also considering the sale of 1290 Avenue of the Americas in New York, an office tower in which Trump also has a 30% stake."
Adult film star Ron Jeremey charged with four counts of sexual assault
LA Times's JAMES QUEALLY/RICHARD WINTON: "Ron Jeremy, one of the most iconic figures in the adult entertainment industry, was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting four women in West Hollywood, where investigators say he prowled the Sunset Strip looking for vulnerable victims.
Jeremy, whose legal name is Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, was charged with forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual battery, according to a criminal complaint.
Prosecutors allege Jeremy, 67, attacked a 25-year-old woman at a West Hollywood home in 2014. Prosecutors also accuse Jeremy of sexually assaulting two women at a West Hollywood bar in 2017 and raping a woman at the same bar in July 2019."
FBI says apparent noose in Bubba Wallace's garage wasn't a hate crime after all
LA Times's JENNY JARVIE: "Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., the only full-time NASCAR driver who is Black, was not the victim of a hate crime, federal officials said Tuesday, concluding their investigation into the discovery of what appeared to be a noose in his garage stall at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
NASCAR officials said in a statement that the noose was actually a “garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose” and that photographic evidence showed it had been in the garage since as early as last fall. Wallace was assigned the garage last week.
The racing officials expressed relief that “Wallace was not the target of a hate crime."