California lawmakers lambaste PG&E during hearing on mass blackouts
The Chronicle's DUSTIN GARDINER: "Public anger at Pacific Gas and Electric Co. swept over the state Capitol Monday as lawmakers held their first oversight hearing on the mass blackouts the utility undertook in October."
"The hearing started as the threat of more outages loomed: PG&E warned a new round of shut-offs affecting around 800,000 people was likely for Wednesday and Thursday as windy weather returns."
"State senators on the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee lashed out at PG&E executives over the company’s missteps during multiple rounds of power shut-offs last month, which hit millions of people as the utility sought to prevent damaged equipment from throwing sparks and starting fires."
PG&E gives 48-hour notice to 264,000 customers of possible Wednesday blackout
Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL MCGOUGH: "PG&E says it has given a 48-hour notice to 264,000 customers who could potentially lose power across 22 Northern California counties during a possible planned power shutoff that would start Wednesday."
"The notice follows a weekend announcement by the company that it may shut off power due to dry, windy weather conditions expected to bring wildfire weather conditions Wednesday through Thursday morning."
"The utility on Sunday had estimated a total of 250,000 customers in 19 counties would be affected, as the wind event is expected to have the biggest impact on the North Coast, northern Sierra Nevada and northern Sacramento Valley."
READ MORE related to Blackouts: PG&E outages: Two more Bay Area counties added to planned black-outs Wednesday, Thursday -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN SAID/JD MORRIS; PG&E power outage was 'a big screw you' to California, lawmaker says -- LA Times's TARYN LUNA
Tracking poll: Warren leads, but California field still in flux
Capitol Weekly's JOHN HOWARD: "Our November tracking poll for California’s 2020 presidential primary election shows some significant changes in the field, with the national field gelling around four major candidates and the potential havoc of new candidates entering the race."
"The poll, in the field since April, has now surveyed over 7,500 likely voters, utilizing data supplied by Political Data, Inc. It uses an online survey emailed directly to voters deemed likely to vote in the March Democratic primary. These voters are also screened for their own interest in voting in order to ensure a sample that is most representative of the kinds of voters likely to cast a ballot between Feb. 3, when voting in California begins via mail, to March 3, Super Tuesday."
"Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was at 27%, down eight points from October; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at 21%, former Vice President Joe Biden at 18% and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 14%."
Survey shows Asian 'two Californias,' with one in four low-income workers struggling
Sacramento Bee's THEODORA YU: "A new study reveals that, contrary to the ethnic stereotype, almost one in four low-income Asian and Pacific Islanders is struggling with poverty even though they have jobs."
"The results of the survey were released Monday and were conducted jointly by AAPI Data, an organization researching and collecting data concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander population in the U.S.,and the Public Religion Research Institute, a nonpartisan research and education organization."
"The results, released Monday, from a survey of 2,684 low-income residents in California found that 23 percent of Asian and Pacific Islanders are working but struggling with poverty. Federal data show that the overall poverty rate among Asians was just 12 percent, marking a “narrowing of the white-Asian gap”, according to a 2016 report by the Pew Research Center."
Contra Costa DA's office declines to file criminal charges against five suspects
The Chronicle's ANNA BAUMAN: "In a surprising twist to a high-profile case, the Contra Costa County district attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges Monday against the five men police said were responsible for the shooting of 10 people — five fatally — at a Halloween party in an Airbnb rental house in Orinda."
"Scott Alonso, spokesman for the district attorney’s office, said the office will “need more information” in order to file charges, and on Monday night jail records showed that four of the five men were no longer in custody."
"Jimmy Lee, spokesman for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, which led the investigation into the shooting and announced the arrests last week, said, “We stand by our investigation."
Bankrupt PG&E increases offer to California wildfire victims. Here's the utility's new plan
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/SOPHIA BOLLAG: "PG&E Corp., struggling to regain control of its destiny as its bankruptcy case enters a pivotal phase, sweetened its offer to Northern California wildfire victims Monday, putting billions of additional dollars on the table to settle claims."
"Under increasing pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, the utility’s own bondholders and a consortium of municipalities trying to take over the company, PG&E said it would spend an additional $6.6 billion on wildfire claims, a move that could give the troubled utility a greater likelihood of surviving bankruptcy with its business intact."
"The new offer puts the total amount earmarked for fire claims at $25.5 billion, according to a filing the company made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. That includes previously announced payouts of $11 billion to insurance companies and $1 billion to local governments, leaving $13.5 billion for other claims from the devastating 2017 and 2018 fires."
New Trump vehicle emission rules prompt fear in Sacramento of federal road-fund loss
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK: "Fearing loss of millions of dollars in federal funds for key road projects, Sacramento leaders on Monday sped passage of a new regional 20-year transportation spending plan in hopes of getting federal approval ahead of an unfavorable federal regulation change set for next week."
"The Sacramento Area Council of Governments, made up of leaders in six local counties, had been scheduled to approve its new transportation spending priorities early next year. The plan lays out how the regional expects to spend federal funds over the next two decades. Much of the funding would be put toward projects aimed at improving non-car transportation modes, such as buses and rail, but it also includes substantial road-project plans."
"The Trump Administration intends to lower national emissions standards on Nov. 26 for new cars and trucks, pre-empting California’s tougher state emission restrictions. California has sued."
Majority of LA County voters say taxpayer money on homelessness isn't spent effectively, Times poll finds
LA Times's DOUG SMITH/BENJAMIN ORESKES: "But a new poll shows that a broad majority of voters think the city and county have been ineffective in spending that money and that new policies are needed to address a crisis that they now equate with a natural disaster."
"The poll, conducted for the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Business Council Institute of 901 voters registered countywide, found that Angelenos are generally frustrated and impatient with the government’s response to homelessness."
"When asked what should be done — without consideration to cost — respondents strongly supported a grab bag of strategies, most of which are already being considered or implemented to some extent."
California sues vaping powerhouse JUUL, alleging it caused a 'public health epidemic'
Sacramento Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "California is taking JUUL Labs to court, alleging that the e-cigarette company unlawfully targeted minors through advertising and flavors that appeal to young people."
"Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that the lawsuit was filed Monday in Alameda County Superior Court; the state is joined in the lawsuit by Los Angeles County."
"We will go after anyone who uses deceptive business practices to harm our people,” Becerra said at the press conference announcing the suit."
Critics question last-minute recommendation for overseer of Sacramento Sheriff's Office
Sacramento Bee's ALEXANDRA YOON-HENDRICKS: "The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors could vote Tuesday on the new inspector general to oversee the Sheriff’s Office. But objections are being raised that the name of the recommended candidate, Mark Evensen, was only revealed Monday, less than 24 hours before the meeting."
"The disclosure of the recommended candidate came from Board Chair Patrick Kennedy only after an inquiry from The Sacramento Bee."
"The reason for the late notice? Kennedy and Sheriff Scott Jones only completed interviews of the three finalists for the job Monday morning. As a result, the recommendation came too late to include it in the agenda packet for Tuesday’s meeting."
Hundreds of SFPD officers sue Hunters Point contractor over health problems
The Chronicle's JASON FAGONE/CYNTHIA DIZIKES: "The engineering and consulting firm Tetra Tech Inc. and a pair of subsidiaries exposed hundreds of police employees to unsafe levels of hazardous materials at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, leading to chronic health problems and at least two deaths, according to a federal lawsuit brought by nearly 400 current and former officers and staff of the San Francisco Police Department, as well as 150 of their spouses and partners."
"The shipyard, which is owned by the Navy, was named a Superfund waste site in 1989 because it was heavily contaminated by radioactive substances and industrial chemicals. The new legal complaint, was filed Thursday against Tetra Tech Inc., Tetra Tech EC and Tetra Tech EM. It alleges that a Tetra Tech predecessor corporation, PRC Environmental Management, misled the city in the late 1990s about the extent of possible contamination at a shipyard building that ended up becoming a busy police office and training center for officers across the city."
"The lawsuit also alleges that between 1997 and 2014, the three Tetra Tech entities acted fraudulently in the cleanup, mishandling contaminated soil around the shipyard, falsifying records and further exposing police employees to danger."
Chick-fil-A says it won't donate to anti-LGBTQ groups--at least for now
LA Times's SAMANTHA MASUNAGA: "Chick-fil-A Inc. said its philanthropic arm will not donate next year to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or the Salvation Army — which espouse or have been linked to anti-LGBTQ stances — as the chain of chicken restaurants continues to face public pressure about its charitable giving."
"The Atlanta company said Monday that it will focus its philanthropic efforts on organizations that work on education, homelessness and hunger issues. As part of this new plan, the Chick-fil-A Foundation said it will donate a total of $9 million next year to local food banks, youth financial literacy group Junior Achievement USA and Covenant House International, which helps provide housing and services to young people without homes."
"The chain has been working to shed its image as an opponent of LGBTQ rights, and this year the debut of a rival chicken sandwich from Popeyes offered Chick-fil-A’s customers a wildly popular alternative."
