Democratic megadonor Ed Buck arrested and charged with operating drug house
LA Times's ALENE TCHEKMEDYIAN/HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS/JAWEED KALEEM: "Prominent Democratic donor and LGBTQ political activist Ed Buck was arrested Tuesday and charged with operating a drug house, with prosecutors calling him a violent sexual predator who preys on men struggling with addiction and homelessness."
"Buck was charged with one count each of battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Buck is accused of injecting a 37-year-old man, who overdosed but survived, with methamphetamine on Sept. 11."
"That latest incident comes after two men were found dead in his Laurel Avenue apartment in West Hollywood. In both cases, African American men — Gemmel Moore, 26, and Timothy Dean, 55 — had overdosed on methamphetamine inside. After the first death in 2017, authorities said there was insufficient evidence to file charges."
Trump administration to revoke California’s power to set clean auto rules
From the Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER and BOB EGELKO: "The Trump administration on Wednesday is expected to revoke California’s authority to maintain the strictest automobile emissions standards in the country, creating yet another rift between the state and White House over environmental policy."
"The move would upend California’s status as a national leader on air pollution, having long set fuel-efficiency rules that are tighter than the federal government’s and embraced by other states and the auto industry as a whole."
"Famously plagued by smoggy skies, California has been allowed to set its own pollution rules because of a waiver originally granted by the federal government in 1970 under the Clean Air Act. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce on Wednesday at a private event in Washington, D.C., that it is withdrawing California’s waiver. The announcement was first reported by the New York Times."
READ MORE on auto emissions: Trump Administration to Reveal Final Plan for Revoking California Waiver on Emissions -- BEN FOLDY, Wall Street Journal; Trump administration to revoke California’s power to set stricter auto emissions standards -- JULIET EILPERIN and BRADY DENIS; Trump to revoke California auto emissions rules -- Mercury News' PAUL ROGERS
80,000 Kaiser workers plan 7-day strike that will affect California, 5 other states
Sacramento Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON: "The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions announced late Monday their roughly 80,000 workers will walk off their jobs as part of a seven-day strike beginning Oct. 14 in California, five other states and the District of Columbia."
"We believe the only way to ensure our patients get the best care is to take this step,” said Eric Jines, a radiologic technologist at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles. “Our goal is to get Kaiser to stop committing unfair labor practices and get back on track as the best place to work and get care. There is no reason for Kaiser to let a strike happen when it has the resources to invest in patients, communities and workers."
"Patients will see picket lines at Kaiser Permanente hospital, medical office buildings and other facilities in California as well as in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, Virginia and D.C."
Amid sexual harassment investigation, GOP leaders ask Assemblyman Bill Brough to retire
Sacramento Bee's BRYAN ANDERSON: "If Assemblyman Bill Brough wants to win his 2020 re-election bid, he’ll have to do so without the support of his own party."
"With open investigations into the Dana Point Republican’s potential campaign misspending and accusations of sexual harassment, the Orange County GOP on Monday called for Brough to retire rather than seek re-election “based on the totality of the circumstances and controversies” surrounding him."
"The Fair Political Practices Commission is reviewing campaign finance concerns, and The Sacramento Bee reported last week that the California Legislature’s Workplace Conduct Unit is investigating alleged harassment."
Bullet train board votes on proposed Valley to San Jose route, amid backlash
Sacramento Bee's TIM SHEEHAN: "The California High-Speed Rail Authority board voted unanimously Tuesday on a route that may ultimately connect the San Joaquin Valley with San Jose — though it didn’t come without some backlash from community groups."
"The board’s preferred alternative crosses a grassland area of western Merced County and continues with a tunnel through Pacheco Pass."
"Additionally, on the route, high-speed trains would ultimately share upgraded and electrified tracks with the Caltrain commuter rail system between San Jose and Gilroy."
A bobble on vaccines tarnished Newsom's first legislative year, experts say
Sacramento Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG: "A measure to regulate vaccine exemptions had just passed the state Assembly when Gov. Gavin Newsom threw lawmakers a curveball."
"The bill needed more changes, his office said in a tweet, “so medical providers, parents and public health officials can be certain of the rules of the road once the bill becomes law.”"
"The problem? Newsom had previously said he would sign the bill, and it was too late to amend it without a separate piece of legislation."
'President Swalwell': Ex-Trump campaign manager needles Bay Area Democrat
The Chronicle's TAL KOPAN: "Former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski poked fun at East Bay Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s failed presidential bid and repeatedly clashed with him during congressional testimony Tuesday."
"Swalwell asked Lewandowski if he was lashing out because he was “ashamed” or feeling guilty about his actions described in the report by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaign’s involvement in it."
"The fireworks were part of a House Judiciary Committee hearing in which Democrats accused Lewandowski of obstructing their investigations into Trump at the president’s behest. Lewandowski refused during hours of testimony to discuss conversations he had with Trump on the advice of White House counsel, despite never having worked for the president at the White House."
Trump tells donors in Beverly Hills: 'We'll never be a socialist country'
LA Times's SEEMA MEHTA/DAKOTA SMITH: "President Trump headlined a Beverly Hills fundraiser Tuesday night at the mansion of Los Angeles developer Geoffrey Palmer, according to sources familiar with the event. The dinner was the second stop of a two-day swing through California that is expected to raise more than $15 million for the president’s reelection campaign."
"It was absolutely awesome. People are ready and committed to working very hard for his reelection,” said Celeste Greig, a veteran GOP activist who attended the dinner, where filet mignon and sea bass were served."
"Greig,the former president of the California Republican Assembly, said Trump spoke about his efforts to end child trafficking, stop illegal immigration, create stronger trade relations and take on the crop of Democratic candidates competing to replace him. “We will never be a socialist country,” Trump said, according to Greig."
This Valley district got a rare pitch to build homeless housing. Can it survive opposition?
LA Times's EMILY ALPERT REYES: "No new apartments for homeless people have been built in the northwestern San Fernando Valley, even with more than a billion dollars approved by taxpayers for new housing flowing to the city of Los Angeles."
"Former Councilman Mitchell Englander, who previously represented the district, said the reason was simple: No one was trying to build such housing here, in neighborhoods such as Chatsworth, Granada Hills and Porter Ranch."
"Now newly elected councilman John Lee is faced with a rare proposal to build homeless housing using Proposition HHH dollars — the first in this district to head to members of the City Council for approval. And he has come out against it, saying he opposes the plan as now proposed."
Abortion rate in the US falls to a 46-year low, data show
LA Times's JENNIFER HABERKORN: "The abortion rate in the United States hit a 46-year low in 2017, a drop experienced in both conservative-led states that have restricted the procedure and liberal-led states that have expanded access, according to a report released Wednesday by a research group that supports abortion rights."
"The nationwide rate dropped to 13.5 abortions per 1,000 girls and women ages 15 through 44 in 2017, from 16.9 abortions per 1,000 women in 2011, a decline of 20%, according to data analyzed by the Guttmacher Institute, which conducts a survey of abortion providers that is widely used by both sides of the debate. It continues a decades-long trend in declining abortion rates."
"The number of abortions fell by 19% to 862,000 between 2011 and 2017."
Fact check: Trump says SF can cut homeless population in half. Can it?
Sacramento Bee's BRYAN ANDERSON: "In a 41-page White House report, the Trump administration took direct aim this week at California’s homelessness problem, saying the state’s “heavy regulation” of local housing markets is major factor."
"The president’s Council of Economic Advisers writes in the report that cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles could cut homelessness by 54 percent and 40 percent, respectively, simply by easing a number of regulations that the White House contends raise the cost of construction."
"It’s unclear how the Trump administration arrived at those numbers. The report is short on specifics about how the two big cities could reduce the homeless population by that much."
FCC approves $6.4B acquisition of Tribune Media
Sacramento Bee's MITCHEL BOBO: "The Federal Communications Commission has approved Nexstar Media Group Inc.’s $6.4 billion purchase of Tribune Media Company, which includes Sacramento-area station Fox 40."
"The acquisition includes Tribune Broadcasting’s 42 local television stations, making Nexstar the largest television station owner in the United States as well as “the largest independent operator of FOX-affiliated stations,” according to a Nexstar news release."
"Nexstar’s holdings also include affiliates of ABC, NBC, CBS and The CW."
7th death in the US related to vaping is reported in Tulare County
The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI: "A person died in Tulare County from severe lung disease linked to vaping — making it the second vaping related death in California and the seventh such death in the nation, officials said."
"The death was caused by “complications related to the use of e-cigarettes,” according to the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency."
"Officials did not release information on the person’s identity or what product they used. So far, Tulare County officials said they have seen three cases of pulmonary illness associated with vaping."
Airbnb announces $25M program for housing in Bay Area, LA County
The Chronicle's SARAH RAVANI: "Airbnb announced Tuesday that it will invest $25 million to support affordable housing in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County."
"The new program will help low- to moderate-income families buy or rent affordable housing, the global operator of short-term rentals said. The San Francisco company’s initiative will also help small businesses that support communities and create jobs."
"Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced the plan at the 2019 Philanthropy Innovation Summit at Stanford University during a panel discussion with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, a philanthropist and lecturer at Stanford University. Arrillaga-Andreesen is married to Marc Andreessen, whose firm Andreessen Horowitz funded Airbnb and holds a seat on its board of directors."
