The Legislature could override nearly every Newsom veto. Why don’t they?
CALMatters's SAMEEA KAMAL: "Nearly all of the 189 bills vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this year passed the Legislature with support from more than two-thirds of lawmakers — meaning the same votes from those legislators would be enough to override the governor’s veto.
But that almost never happens. In fact, the last time the Legislature overrode a governor’s veto was 1979."
Melania Trump offers staunch defense of abortion rights in new memoir weeks before election
LAT's SEEMA MEHTA, JENNY JARVIE: "Former First Lady Melania Trump offered a passionate defense of a woman’s right to abortion, including in the late stages of pregnancy — a direct contradiction of the views of her husband, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, according to excerpts of her memoir that is scheduled to be released next week.
“It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government,” the former president’s wife writesr irn “rMrrelania,” according to a report published by the Guardian on Wednesday."
Prop. 36 transcends partisanship
MATT MAHAN in Capitol Weekly: "I am a Democrat because our party has championed the causes of working families, of racial justice, of immigrants aspiring to realize the American dream, of protecting the vulnerable and – when we are at our best – doing all of the above by embracing common-sense solutions.
It is for all of these reasons that I supported Proposition 47 back in 2014, which sought to end the era of mass incarceration for drug crimes."
Unlikely allies form the first alliance of the S.F. mayor’s race
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: Former San Francisco Supervisor Mark Farrell and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí jolted the tightly contested San Francisco mayoral race Wednesday by forming the campaign’s first ranked-choice alliance.
Both Farrell and Safaí will spend the remainder of the campaign asking their supporters to rank them first and second in the city’s ranked choice — or instant runoff — system, which enables voters to rank up to 10 candidates in order of preference on their ballots. If no one receives a majority in the first count, the lowest-ranking candidate is dropped from the ballot, with his or her votes automatically going to that voter’s second choice. That process continues until someone has 50% plus one vote.
Exclusive: Mark Farrell failed to disclose that he owes a wealthy S.F. family $675,000
The Chronicle's GREG PORTER: "The heat wave gripping the Bay Area refuses to back down, setting the stage for another day of record-breaking temperatures on Thursday.
The strong ridge of high pressure responsible for the scorching temperatures is not behaving as forecast and has not weakened as quickly as predicted."
College is one of life’s ‘biggest investments.’ A new report asks — is it worth it?
EdSource's AMY DIPIERRO: "A new report released by the College Futures Foundation finds that while a large majority of California college programs allow graduates to recoup the costs of their postsecondary education in five years or less, a handful leave recent graduates earning less than the typical Californian with only a high school education.
The report by researcher Michael Itzkowitz of the HEA Group finds programs that did not result in recent graduates earning more than people with a high school diploma were concentrated at private, for-profit colleges. The paper flags such programs as having no economic return on investment."xxx
Sudden change in Bay Area forecast: Heat wave is set to double down
The Chronicle's GREG PORTER: "The heat wave gripping the Bay Area refuses to back down, setting the stage for another day of record-breaking temperatures on Thursday.
The strong ridge of high pressure responsible for the scorching temperatures is not behaving as forecast and has not weakened as quickly as predicted."
A mystery surge in California tax revenue points to tech companies like Nvidia. Here’s why
CALMatters's LEVI SUMAGAYSAY: "No sooner had Gov. Gavin Newsom cut billions of dollars in spending to close a budget deficit in June than California received an unexpected tax windfall, one that has people in the Capitol speculating about where the avalanche of money came from.
More corporate taxes than expected poured into state coffers this summer, with cash receipts exceeding forecasts by nearly $2 billion since April. An especially big surge came in July, and state officials and accounting experts think the extra receipts came from a small number of companies — most likely one or more Silicon Valley tech firms, with artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia a leading candidate."
How many cars and people use S.F.’s Great Highway? The numbers surprised us
The Chronicle's NAMI SUIMIDA: "One of the more contentious items on the November ballot is the decision of whether to permanently close San Francisco’s Upper Great Highway to cars and transform the split-lane road along the city’s western edge into an oceanfront park.
The proposition has created competing factions of people advocating for their vision of the highway’s future."
Exclusive: DMV site near S.F.’s Panhandle will become affordable housing complex
The Chronicle's MALIYA ELLIS: "An outdated Department of Motor Vehicles office in San Francisco will soon become one of the city’s largest affordable housing complexes, after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a plan to transform the site Thursday.
A mixed-use complex containing 372 affordable housing units, a new DMV office, and parking spaces will be built on the state-owned 1377 Fell Street site. The tallest building planned for the complex will stand eight stories high. The current DMV building, which was built in 1960 and does not comply with health and safety codes, will be demolished, said Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for the governor’s office."
As RV camps fill neighborhoods, new law is aimed at reducing them in L.A.
LAT's RACHEL URANGA: "Mayor Karen Bass promises Angelenos will see more RV encampments cleared and people housed after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that opens up more than two dozen properties near L.A. freeways to store towed RVs, feed homeless individuals and provide emergency shelter.
The legislation carried by Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, who represents Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills and other Westside communities, gives Los Angeles access to 25 Caltrans parcels under or near freeways for $1 a month."
State attorney general wants L.A. to redraw council districts, confidential document says
LAT's DAVID ZAHNISER, DAKOTA SMITH: "California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has begun pressing Los Angeles political leaders to sign a legal agreement that would force them to draw new boundaries for the city’s 15 council districts — a dramatic step that could set off shock waves at City Hall.
The draft legal document prepared by Bonta’s office, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, would require the city to finalize new council district maps in time for the 2026 primary election. Council members would be barred from considering their own political fortunes when approving those maps, the confidential document said."
Gascón gave teen killer second chance — now she’s charged again
LAT's RICHARD WINTON, JAMES QUEALLY: "The crime Shanice Amanda Dyer committed as a 17-year-old was as horrific as it was seemingly random.
She was a documented member of a Crips street gang faction in South L.A., according to appellate records from the case, and she wanted to help retaliate for killings by a rival group in August 2019."