Mental health care: From the snake pit to the streets
From SIGRID BATHEN in Capitol Weekly: "The modern history of mental-health care in California begins more than half a century ago with passage of the landmark 1967 Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, an ambitious — but ultimately disastrous — overhaul of a draconian “system” of hoary old mental hospitals throughout California."
"Most of the hospitals were closed, but the “community care” that was to take their place never materialized. Laws were changed to prevent forced institutionalization, and increasing numbers of mentally ill Californians wandered the streets, or languished in jails and prisons. Skyrocketing housing costs forced more people out of their homes, and California now leads the nation in the number of homeless people on its streets."
"As Gov. Gavin Newsom, with great fanfare and reams of statistics, launches his ambitious $1.4 billion budget plan targeting mental illness and homelessness, there is both hope and a question: Will it really mean lasting change?"
The last flight of Kobe Bryant
From the LAT's JOE MOZINGO, MATTHEW ORMSETH, KIM CHRISTENSEN and RALPH VARTABEDIAN: "A light fog had settled on the runway of John Wayne Airport Sunday morning when Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and six other passengers boarded a chartered helicopter to fly to a basketball tournament in Thousand Oaks."
"Half an hour later, they were flying over thickening clouds in the San Fernando Valley. The pilot was worried enough to ask flight controllers to keep track of them. As he approached the hills of Calabasas at 150 miles per hour, they radioed him, telling him he was too low for them to see on radar."
"The pilot commenced a climb, rising 765 feet in 36 seconds, enough to clear adjacent hills."
READ MORE related to Kobe Bryant Tragedy: Kobe Bryant’s helicopter was not equipped with terrain warning system that could have alerted pilot to hillside -- RICHARD WINTON, HANNAH FRY, ANDREW J. CAMPA and JACLYN COSGROVE in the LAT
UC ends long-running labor dispute, reaches tentative deal with 19K health care workers
Sac Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON: "The bargaining team for roughly 17,000 patient care technical workers reached a tentative contract agreement with the University of California, ending one of the institution’s longest-running contract disputes, according to a news release issued Tuesday by Local 3299 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees."
"After nearly three years without a contract, AFSCME represented UC Service and Patient Care workers have now each succeeded in reaching agreements that strengthen middle class career pathways at UC and create enforceable reforms to staffing practices that have been entirely incompatible with UC’s core public mission,” said AFSCME 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “This victory is a testament to our members’ commitment to their families, to each other, and to the students and patients we are proud to serve each day."
"Local 3299 announced a week ago that it had reached a tentative contract deal for 8,000 service workers it represents at the university’s 10 campuses, five medical centers and three affiliated national laboratories."
Flight leaving center of coronavirus outbreak in China bound for Ontario International Airport
From STEVE SCAUZILLO and SANDRA EMERSON in the Press Enterprise: "A jet leaving the Wuhan region of China, ferrying about 230 U.S. passengers from the center of the coronavirus outbreak, soon will be headed to Ontario International Airport, the U.S. State Department said on Monday, Jan. 27."
"The State Department has chartered a flight that will depart from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport for Ontario on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 29, China Standard Time. It will arrive at ONT sometime on Wednesday, after first making a stop in Anchorage, Alaska, the State Department confirmed by email."
"All passengers — reportedly State Department officials and other Americans living in Wuhan, including nine children — will be screened for symptoms of the disease in China prior to departure. The airlift is part of the shutdown of the U.S. consulate in Wuhan, a city on lockdown and at the epicenter of the outbreak."
Is California putting Bernie Sanders at the bottom of its 2020 primary ballot?
Sac Bee's BRYAN ANDERSON: "An enthusiastic Bernie Sanders supporter not employed by the campaign posted a video on Twitter Monday afternoon suggesting the state of California had intentionally placed the Vermont senator at the bottom of the ballot – and billionaires Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg at the top."
"Within four hours, the post received more than 1,000 retweets and 2,300 likes. It also got dozens of replies from concerned Sanders supporters worried that party leaders are rigging the election by discouraging people from voting for him."
"The establishment is going to do everything it can to stop Bernie Sanders from becoming (President of the United States). More reason Bernie 2020 supporters MUST get the word out and educate voters,” wrote Stephanie Quilao under the username @bern_identity."
California’s 18- and 19-year-olds would be minors in court under proposed legislation
From JILL TUCKER, Chronicle: "The state’s oldest teenagers would still be considered juveniles under proposed legislation announced Tuesday that would raise the age to 20 for adult prosecution."
"Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, said the measure would amend state law by designating 18- and 19-year-olds as juveniles in criminal proceedings, ensuring they get support services for youth rather than punishment for adults."
"“We have 21 as the age for alcohol. We have 21 as the age for tobacco,” Skinner said. “The research definitely shows that there’s an age difference in things like impulse control.”
Every California cannabis shop might have to display this code to prove it's legal
Sac Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "California could soon require cannabis retailers to display proof of their license in their storefront window."
"What began as a campaign to get marijuana retailers to voluntarily display a Quick Response code, or QR code, last month has turned into a proposal for an emergency regulation requiring that display."
"Customers could scan the QR code with their cell phones to check whether the store has a license from the state."
READ MORE related to Cannabis: Florida pot firm that helped Parnas and Fruman's political rise cuts its ties -- Sac Bee's BEN WEIDER/SAMANTHA J GROSS
Feds charge SF Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru with fraud
From EVAN SERNOFFSKY and DOMINIC FRACASSA, Chronicle: "Federal authorities charged San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru and high-profile restaurateur Nick Bovis with fraud Tuesday following a public corruption probe. The schemes involved an envelope of cash, fraudulent city contracts, improper gifts from a Chinese developer and a $2,000 bottle of wine, according to authorities."
"FBI agents on Monday arrested Nuru, 57, and Bovis, 56, at their Bay Area homes before unsealing a federal complaint Tuesday for one charge of wire fraud. Nuru is separately charged with lying to the FBI after initially being arrested on Jan. 21 and being told to keep quiet about the investigation."
“The complaint alleges corruption pouring into San Francisco from around the world,” said David Anderson, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, at a news conference Tuesday."
Court rules in favor of CHP officer who says homophobic discrimination drove him out
Sac Bee's SAM STANTON: "A state appellate court ruled Tuesday in favor of a veteran California Highway Patrol officer who claimed he was forced out of his dream job after his co-workers and supervisors discovered he was gay, and subjected him to merciless ridicule and endangered him by refusing to provide backup on calls."
"The unanimous decision by a panel of California’s 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco means the lawsuit originally filed by former CHP Officer Jay Brome must now return to Solano Superior Court for trial after originally being dismissed on grounds that it had been filed past the statute of limitations."
"This means that our client is going to have his chance to tell a jury his story and tell what really happened and whether he should be entitled to damages,” Brome attorney Lisa Ells said. “I just spoke with him. He is over the moon."
With cars banned on SF's Market Street, top official eyes next target: Valencia
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "As the dream of banning cars becomes a reality Wednesday on San Francisco’s Market Street — an idea dating to when horse-drawn buggies jockeyed for space among puttering Ford Model Ts — one top transportation official is already pitching ideas for the next car-free thoroughfare."
"During a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board meeting Tuesday, Chair Malcolm Heinicke called for automobiles to be purged from Valencia Street, a bustling strip in the Mission District."
"I’m not very patient here. I want the next one,” Heinicke told The Chronicle outside the meeting where he and the other six directors discussed themes for the coming year."
Teen homicides fall to zero as Sacramento sees overall decline in murders in 2019
Sac Bee's MOLLY SULLIVAN: "In 2017, Sacramento’s teens were twice as likely to be killed by homicide than the general population, a Sacramento Bee analysis at the time found. By the end of 2019, not a single juvenile was the victim of murder within the city limits, according to new crime data from the Sacramento Police Department."
"Obviously, I’m very happy about that number, but I also recognize that we never take that for granted,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “Never push away a little good luck, but at the same time I think part of the reason why we are seeing these kind of numbers is because we’re making an unprecedented set of investments in our young people."
"Steinberg said he credits progress on this issue in part to increased programming and opportunities for youth funded through city initiatives with organizations such as the Black Child Legacy campaign, Sierra Health Foundation and other community leaders."
Feinstein on impeachment: 'I was going to vote against it.' Now she's unsure
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday she still hasn’t decided if she will vote to convict President Trump, but she’s closer than she was before the Senate’s impeachment trial began."
"I was going to vote against it,” the California Democrat told reporters after attorneys for the president finished three days of arguments against impeachment. She said her feeling was that with less than 10 months to go before November’s presidential election, “the people should judge. That’s my view and it still is my view."
"But her feelings on impeachment have changed, Feinstein said in response to a question by Alayna Treene of Axios, who tweeted a transcript of her interview."
READ MORE related to Impeachment: GOP lacks votes to block Bolton, other impeachment witnesses -- AP's ERIC TUCKER/ZEKE MILLER/LISA MASCARO
