Newsom has an organized labor problem
From Politico's ANGELA HART, MACKENZIE MAYS and JEREMY B. WHITE: "Some of California's most powerful unions are openly denouncing Gov. Gavin Newsom less than a year into his tenure, exposing early fractures in the Democratic governor's base after he spurned proposals they considered a bellwether of his support for labor."
"Simmering tensions erupted last month when Newsom vetoed three bills backed by the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. The governor has also come under fire from the California Nurses Association for backtracking on single-payer health care."
"Unions suggest that losing their support will have long-term consequences if Newsom, widely known to have national ambitions, does run for president. For now, Newsom insists he's focused on his governorship."
As Newsom Meets With PG&E, Nearly A Dozen Mayors Propose To Make The Utility A Customer-Owned Co-Op
From AP's ADAM BEAM and MICHAEL LIEDTKE: "California's governor called the chief executive of a troubled utility to his office on Tuesday for a closed-door meeting as the company struggles to emerge from a high-profile bankruptcy while facing criticism for its practice of shutting off power for millions of people to prevent wildfires."
"A spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom says the first-term governor "spelled out in vivid detail" how the blackouts have prevented people from "refilling lifesaving prescriptions and power breathing machines" and how small businesses and schools were closed for days."
"Newsom also reiterated the state would consider a potential takeover of the utility if the bankruptcy is not resolved by June 30."
READ MORE on PG&E: How should PG&E be overhauled? -- DAN WALTERS, CalMatters; San Jose’s plan to turn PG&E into co-op gains widespread backing -- J.D. MORRIS, Chronicle
PG&E gets all the blame for deadly wildfires. But do California regulators go easy on them?
From DALE KASLER, SacBee: "The tone was flat and bureaucratic, but the investigator’s outrage was unmistakable: Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s equipment had sparked a fire, even after the utility pocketed millions of dollars earmarked for trimming trees."
"Mark Clairmont, a special agent with the California Public Utilities Commission, wrote to his superiors: PG&E had underspent $80 million from its vegetation-clearing budget and diverted those funds to “to other purposes, such as profits.”
"That was in 1998."
California DMV data breach exposes thousands of drivers’ Social Security information
From the LAT's PATRICK McGREEVY: "Already besieged by problems including long wait times, the California Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday said it suffered a data breach in which federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, had improper access to the Social Security information of 3,200 people issued driver’s licenses."
"Notices of the data breach went out to those whose Social Security information — including whether or not a license holder had a Social Security number — was accessed during the last four years by seven agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and district attorneys in San Diego and Santa Clara counties."
"Some of the data were accessed as part of investigations into criminal activity or compliance with tax laws, officials said."
Divided, car makers clash over California rules
From Capitol Weekly's BRYNDON MADISON: "An unusual battle involving the world’s major automakers has California smack in the middle."
"Toyota, Chrysler, GM, Nissan, Subaru and Hyundai sided with the Trump administration in its efforts to ease mileage efficiency on rules imposed by the Obama administration."
"But earlier, California signed an agreement with Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen that assures more stringent rules – a move that the Trump administration denounced as illegal."
Top California Dem rips Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren for ‘disrespect’ to state
JOE GAROFOLI, Chronicle: "The leader of the California Democratic Party slammed former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday for skipping an upcoming presidential candidates forum in Long Beach, calling it “a misguided decision to publicly snub California’s Democrats and Latino voters across the nation.”
"In a four-part tweet Tuesday, state party chair Rusty Hicks ripped the two candidates who are leading the California polls for bypassing a Nov. 16 televised forum before 5,000 party activists and community members that is co-sponsored by Univision."
“Your decision is a blatant disregard and disrespect to California’s grassroots leaders who make the phone calls, knock the doors, and give the money ... in swing districts and swing states alike ... year after year after year,” Hicks wrote."
Measure to overhaul police oversight continues to advance toward 2020 ballot
From U-T's LYNDSAY WINKLEY: "The City Council on Tuesday advanced a potential ballot measure that would overhaul San Diego’s police oversight board, giving the group the ability to conduct independent investigations into alleged officer misconduct, among other powers."
"The unanimous decision green-lights talks with the city’s unions in preparation for placement on the November ballot in 2020 — one of the final steps in a months-long vetting process. Last year, a similar measure that proposed changes to the city’s oversight board was scuttled before unions could review the proposal."
"San Diego police Detective Jack Schaeffer, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association, said he couldn’t estimate how long the process would take but added the group is ready to come to the table to discuss the proposal."
San Francisco Voters Uphold Ban on E-Cigarette Sales, Rejecting Juul-Funded Proposition C
From KQED's LAURA KLIVANS: "San Franciscans on Tuesday voted down Proposition C, a ballot measure backed by e-cigarette maker Juul Labs that would have overturned a ban on the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes in the city."
"Voters overwhelmingly rejected the referendum, with the "no" side pulling into a strong position just after polls closed Tuesday night and only strengthening its margin of victory as the evening progressed."
"Supervisor Shamann Walton, who co-authored San Francisco's ban on the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes, celebrated Tuesday night."
Bel-Air mega-mansion should be torn down, city officials say
From the LAT's EMILY ALPERT REYES: "Los Angeles city prosecutors are calling for an unfinished megamansion in Bel-Air to be torn down to its foundation, the latest twist in the saga over a colossal building at the center of criminal charges, court battles and an FBI investigation."
"Until recently, city officials had been working with real estate developer Mohamed Hadid to bring the building in line with city codes, requiring only parts of the building to be removed."
"But last week, City Atty. Mike Feuer and his prosecutors stepped up their demands, saying that a structural engineer had found that key structures supporting the building were deficient."
Yes, it’s true, a horse rode BART today — it’s a service animal
PETER FIMRITE, Chronicle: "A small horse clomped aboard a BART train Tuesday during the evening commute in San Francisco, creating a bit of a scene as station agents tried to figure out what to do."
"Turns out the equine was a service horse, so BART officials allowed it to ride the train with its owner."
“This mini horse is a service animal, and the owner provided paperwork to a station agent stating so,” BART tweeted. “After consultation (station agents usually don’t see horses), the horse was allowed in.”
