'Come aboard' high-speed rail project, Jerry Brown tells Donald Trump
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Ahead of President Donald Trump's first visit to California this week, Gov. Jerry Brown solicited his support for the state's troubled high-speed rail project."
"You have lamented that 'we don't have one fast train' in our country. Well, Mr. President, in California we are trying to fix that," Brown wrote in a letter Monday. "We have a world-class train system under construction. We invite you to come aboard and truly 'Make America Great Again.'"
"The San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bullet train, approved by voters in 2008, has become a legacy project for California's four-term governor, even as major financing and logistical problems have beset it. Construction for the train began in Fresno in 2015, but that first segment through the Central Valley is not yet fully funded. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the entire route soared again to $77 billion in a new business plan released last Friday, and the completion date was pushed back another four years to 2033."
LAT: Click here for Trump's California schedule.
ICE spokesman in California resigns over falsehoods he said were spread by Trump administration after raids
LA Times's ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN: "A spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Francisco resigned his post, disillusioned by what he called false claims spread by Trump administration officials after a four-day raid in Northern California last month, according to reports."
"I just couldn't bear the burden, continuing on as a representative of the agency and charged with upholding integrity, knowing that information was false," James Schwab told CNN."
READ MORE related to Immigration: East Bay eighth-grader is face of suit filed Monday against Trump deportation plans -- The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO; If Trump really wants to fix our border problems, he should visit the sewage pools, not his silly walls -- LA Times's ROBIN ABCARIAN; SF jail let ICE interview inmate in breach of sanctuary policy, state law -- The Chronicle's HAMED ALEAZIZ; Trump administration accuses California of "bankrolling" human smuggling operations -- McClatchy DC's FRANCO ORDONEZ
Democrats have 2 problems: no coherent message and too many candidates
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "Now that the filing deadline has passed for most congressional races in California, the field is taking shape for the June 5 primary. But for Democrats, who are targeting seven Republican-held districts they say are key to retaking the House, the deadline failed to answer two big questions:"
"What’s the party’s message beyond, “I’m more anti-President Trump than you”?"
"And, perhaps more important: How many of the candidates are going to drop out? Because if some don’t withdraw soon, their sheer number means Democratic candidates will be competing against one another instead of against Republicans."
Breed wants to know how SF Mayor Farrell feels about her budget priorities
The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA/RACHEL SWAN: "San Francisco Board of Supervisors President London Breed wants to know whether Mayor Mark Farrell will commit to funding a pair of her legislative priorities in the city’s upcoming budget."
"Breed submitted two formal inquiries to the mayor’s office last week, which Farrell will respond to Tuesday as part of “Question Time,” the mayor’s monthly appearance before the board."
READ MORE related to Local Politics: Jane Kim surging in SF mayor's race while Mark Leno fades, new poll shows -- The Chronicle's MATIER & ROSS
OP-ED: Legislature: Solve your harassment problem
JANINE YANCEY in Capitol Weekly: "California has long sponsored the most progressive, socially responsible policies and regulations in the country – including regulations about harassment prevention education for managers."
"In fact, California regulations have detailed requirements of which topics to include in AB1825 training, how to prevent harassment and retaliation, how to report and respond to harassment complaints if they do occur and how to publish a complaint and investigation procedure. Employers throughout the country have followed the California regulations as a model."
"And yet it seems the cobbler’s children go without shoes. Our own employees at the Capitol have been exposed to a harassing and abusive workplace culture … stories that have come out recently as the #metoo movement has inspired victims to share their stories."
Wine Country fires: PG&E often diverts money from "undergrounding" power lines
The Chronicle's DAVID R. BAKER: "As the North Bay rebuilds from October’s deadly wildfires, many residents would like to see more power lines buried underground, where raging windstorms can’t touch them."
"But Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has a history of doing less of this work, year by year, than city officials and state regulators want. Instead, money earmarked for “undergrounding” power lines often gets diverted to other uses."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: To manage groundwater, California could learn from its neighbors -- Water Deeply's MATT WEISER; Sacramento County dumped 290 tons of recyclables in landfill due to contractor problem -- Sacramento Bee's ED FLETCHER; Last California drought one of the worst since Columbus landed in the New World -- Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER; This week's storms could drop 100 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada -- Sacramento Bee's BENJY EGEL; Can coral microbes protect reefs from climate change? -- Oceans Deeply's AMELIA URRY
Trump's CFPB looks at credit cards and, absurdly, sees 'a positive picture for consumers'
LA Times's DAVID LAZARUS: "Unlike most people, Seal Beach resident Tom Hazelleaf took the time to read the contract when he recently received a new MasterCard."
"The card, issued by Capital One, includes the benefit of being compensated "for losses you incur as a result of identity fraud," which the agreement declares clearly and seemingly definitively."
READ MORE related to Development & Economy: Previously withheld UCLA video shows Steven Mnuchin being heckled -- AP; No tax breaks for building Trump's wall, lawmaker says -- Sacramento Bee's BILLY KOBIN
Weedmaps to Bureau of Cannabis Control: You don't have the authority to police us
Sacramento Bee's BRAD BRANAN: "A popular marijuana website has told the state's cannabis czar that she lacks the authority to make the company stop running advertisements for unlicensed pot retailers."
"In a letter sent Monday to Lori Ajax of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, Doug Francis and Chris Beals of Weedmaps.com said the company is not licensed by the bureau and therefore not subject to its enforcement."
"They also said Weedmaps is protected from such action because the company is an "interactive computer service" covered under the federal Communications Decency Act. The law states that such a service shall not be treated as the publisher of information provided by a third party."
READ MORE related to Cannabis: Cannabis-shop dispute ends with city councilman facing lawsuit, possible criminal charges -- Union-Tribune's KAREN PEARLMAN; CBD debuts at world's largest natural products trade show, heralded as "next big thing"" -- The Cannabist's ALICIA WALLACE
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr an authority on gun violence
The Chronicle's ANN KILLION: "Steve Kerr had a ready answer Monday for anyone who wondered what gave him the authority to appear at a town hall on gun violence."
"I’m here because I’m a citizen of this country,” the Warriors’ head coach said, “and we live in a democracy."
Amidst controversy, Pasadena police Chief Phillip Sanchez announces retirement
SGV Tribune's HAYLEY MUNGUIA: "In the midst of both community and federal scrutiny, Pasadena police Chief Phillip Sanchez announced his retirement Monday, effective April 18."
"Sanchez has held the job since 2010."
“The decision to step away from serving my community is a difficult one which took much deliberation and careful thought,” he said in a statement. “Putting on the Pasadena police uniform everyday has truly been a humbling experience."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: Bracamontes 'aggressively trying to undermine his own trial,' judge says after outburst -- Sacramento Bee's SAM STANTON
Trump ousts Tillerson, will replace him as secretary of state with CIA chief Pompeo
WaPo's ASHLEY PARKER/PHILIP RUCKER: "President Trump has ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and plans to nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace him as the nation’s top diplomat, orchestrating a major change to his national security team amid delicate negotiations with North Korea, White House officials said Tuesday."
"Trump last Friday asked Tillerson to step aside, and the embattled diplomat cut short his trip to Africa on Monday to return to Washington."
"Pompeo will replace him at the State Department, and Gina Haspel — the deputy director at the CIA — will succeed him at the CIA, becoming the first woman to run the spy agency, if confirmed."
READ MORE related to POTUS45/KremlinGate: Tillerson says ex-spy poisoning has Russia link -- AP; LAPD 'prepared for anything' as Trump comes to SoCal on first trip as president -- LA Times's RICHARD WINTON; Russia warns it will respond if US hits Damascus -- AP; Republicans in House find 'no evidence of collusion' -- WaPo's KAROUN DEMIRJIAN
Long-lost Sutro Baths photos pulled from depths of Chronicle archive
The Chronicle's BILL VAN NIEKERKEN: "Few topics elicit more curiosity and waves of nostalgia than San Francisco’s lost landmarks, and few of these landmarks remain as engrained in locals’ memories as Sutro Baths, the huge saltwater swimming pool complex that once stood at Lands End."
"Now, after a recent archive archaeological mission, we’re publishing glimpses of Sutro Baths from the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’80s, many of which haven’t been seen in decades."
"First, a bit of history."
