End of an era: Farewell John Howard – Hello Rich Ehisen
Capitol Weekly, STAFF: "CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: This week marks a huge change at Capitol Weekly, and the end of an era in Sacramento: editor John Howard is retiring.
John arrived in the AP’s Sacramento Bureau in 1980 and became their California state politics reporter in 1982 – Jerry Brown was governor, and Willie Brown was about to become Speaker. He has covered the capitol every day since, first for AP, then for a variety of publications including the Orange County Register and California Journal. In 2005 he became Managing Editor for the newly-revamped Capitol Weekly. Under then-Editor Anthony York, Capitol Weekly had been reimagined as the Golden State’s answer to Roll Call – covering politics in the state capitol with a staff that included Shane Goldmacher and Malcolm MacLachlan. Soon, York went to the Los Angeles Times, and John took over the Editor’s chair, where he’s been ever since.
Rich Ehisen, who took over as Editor at the beginning of the year, also worked for the late, great California Journal, and has been Editor of the State Net Capitol Journal for just over two decades. Where we have had to follow the ups and downs of one state capitol, Rich has had to follow legislation and politics at 50 capitols simultaneously."
President Biden will visit storm battered California as the state contends with mudslides, floods
The Chronicle, TRISHA THADANI/TARA DUGGAN: "The drenched Bay Area experienced clearer skies Monday after days of rain, but the latest round of showers contributed to havoc around the region with flooding, mudslides and highway closures.
Sunday night’s heavy rainfall was the latest system to sweep through Northern California, which has seen near-constant rainfall since the beginning of the year. On Monday, the White House announced that President Biden will travel to coastal areas battered by the storm to meet with “first responders, state and local officials, and communities” and assess where additional federal aid is needed.
The National Weather Service warned that excessive runoff could cause rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying areas to flood, and a flood watch remained in effect for portions of Northern California — including San Francisco’s bay shoreline and Point Reyes National Seashore. A flood warning was in effect for the Salinas River in Monterey County."
California reservoir levels: Charts show water supply across the state
The Chronicle, YOOHYUN JUNG/NAMI SUMIDA/YING ZHAO: "California has a vast network of local, state and federal reservoirs that store and supply water to cities and farms across the state. Water stored in the reservoirs typically make up about 60% of the state’s total water supply.
Rain and snowfall during the rainier months of the year between November and March are critical for the reservoirs and their ability to supply water during drier months. Following consecutive years of drought, many of the reservoirs remain thirsty.
The Chronicle is tracking daily water storage levels at 15 of the state’s major water supply reservoirs compared with their historical averages (1991 to 2020). The storage level is shown as percentages of total storage capacity for each reservoir. The charts are updated daily at 8:00 a.m. to reflect the most recent data."
California storms: The damage and the amazing deluge, by the numbers
BANG*Mercury News, PAUL ROGERS/JOHN WOOLFOLK: "The relentless winter storms that have hammered California over the past three weeks are the biggest in five years. They have caused widespread damage across the state, but also significantly improved California’s water situation after three years of severe drought.
With dry weather forecast for most of the next week, here’s a tally of the storms’ stunning impact, so far, by the numbers:
9: Number of atmospheric river storms to hit California in the past three weeks."
Southern California storms cause landslides, close highways. But end of rain in sight
LA Times, STAFF: "The last of a series of storms to hit Southern California is expected to finally begin moving out Monday.
The region saw several bursts of rain over the last few days. The most severe came from a storm Saturday, which caused minor flooding and set several rainfall records for the date, including in downtown L.A. (1.82 inches) and at LAX (1.53 inches) and the Long Beach airport (1.72 inches).
One of the most battered areas was the small Ventura County community of Matilija Canyon, where some residents had to be airlifted out. Officials said damage there was extensive."
Warm clothing, proper heating advised as freezing temperatures hit parts of L.A. County
The Chronicle, ANDREW J. CAMPA: "A cold weather alert has been issued for parts of Los Angeles County that are expected to dip into freezing conditions this week.
Lancaster, Mt. Wilson, Pomona, the Santa Clarity Valley and Woodland Hills are expected to dip under 32 degrees this week, continuing in most areas until Friday, officials said.
“Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or special medical needs are especially vulnerable during cold weather,” Dr. Muntu Davis, L.A. County’s health officer, said in a statement Sunday. “Extra precaution should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside.”"
MLK Day will be wet, but dry and sunny days are on the horizon. Here’s when we’ll get some sun
The Chronicle, MICHELLE APON: "After turbulent, back-to-back weekend storms brought heavy rain, gusty winds and isolated thunderstorms to the Bay Area over the weekend, the region will deal with blustery winds, lingering showers and cloudy skies for the remainder of Monday.
The weekend’s first storm arrived on Saturday, bringing periods of heavy rain throughout the region. By Sunday, showers were scattered during the day. Moderate to heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms moved in overnight, continuing into early Monday morning. The storm that eyed the Bay Area overnight was the result of a low pressure system that was off the Bay Area coast.
A flood advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. Monday for areas across the coast, bay shorelines and North Bay valley, including the region from Cloverdale to the Marin Headlands and the Napa Valley. A flood watch will continue until midnight. Creeks and streams could quickly rise, mudslide and debris flow are possible, and areas that are prone to flooding are likely."
A once-in-a-generation political fight is heating up for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat in California
BANG*Mercury News, MARISA KENDALL: "A once-in-a-generation political battle is heating up in California as candidates begin to spar over Dianne Feinstein’s coveted Senate seat, promising reverberations that will shake up everything from our representation in the U.S. House to our local Bay Area elections.
It’s exceedingly rare — like snow in San Jose rare — for one of California’s two U.S. Senate seats to hit the ballot without an incumbent running. But that’s exactly what may happen in 2024 when many expect Feinstein, who is almost 90 and reportedly facing cognitive decline, to retire.
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, an Orange County Democrat, made waves this past week when she became the first to officially declare her candidacy for Feinstein’s seat. And several of the Golden State’s representatives in the U.S. House, including locals Barbara Lee from the East Bay and Ro Khanna from Silicon Valley, and Adam Schiff from Southern California, have shown interest in the seat Feinstein has held since 1992."
San Jose: Here’s the shortlist for who will fill the District 8 and 10 seats
BANG*Mercury News, GABRIEL GRESCHLER: "San Jose councilmembers have narrowed down their selections on who will fill the District 8 and 10 seats that were left vacant after the November elections.
An initial list of 37 applicants has been whittled down to 11 individuals between the two districts. In East San Jose’s District 8, once held by current Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas, a finalist will be chosen on Jan. 24. In Almaden Valley’s District 10, formerly held by Mayor Matt Mahan, a selection will be made on Jan. 26.
Combined, the finalists will represent roughly 200,000 San Jose residents."
‘I’m afraid for her life’: Riverside CC women’s coach harassed after Title IX suit
LA Times, STEVE HENSON: "Cheryl Miller is livid, her voice rising, her words coated with frustration, alarm and incredulity. The ire of one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time is locked on the plight of a junior college coach in Miller’s hometown of Riverside.
“Right now, I’m afraid for her life,” Miller said. “She has way too much fight and she’ll fight and fight and fight, not for herself, but for her players. My greatest concern is for her safety. Absolutely. Someone will end up hurting her.”
Miller pauses to breathe. “If that happens, if somebody doesn’t step up and protect her, I will hold all of Riverside City College accountable.”"
What you need to become a substitute teacher in California | Quick Guide
EdSource, DIANA LAMBERT: "Becoming a substitute teacher in California has become easier and more financially lucrative in the last few years.
California school districts have struggled to find enough substitute teachers to take over classrooms for absent teachers since the Covid-19 pandemic closed school campuses.
Since then many substitute teachers, who are only paid for the days they work, quit or found jobs elsewhere. Some did not want to return to a classroom during the pandemic because of health concerns.
A day-to-day substitute is a contracted worker with no guarantee of daily work. Conversely, substitutes are not required to accept every assignment for which they are called."
Is student noise an environmental issue? A court weighing UC Berkeley’s People’s Park fight appears to think so
The Chronicle, BOB EGELKO: "State appeals court justices considering UC Berkeley’s plan to convert People’s Park into housing for more than 1,100 students and 125 homeless people seemed skeptical Thursday of the university’s decision not to consider alternative sites for new housing or the impact on surrounding neighborhoods of noise from late-night parties and other student activities.
UC Berkeley — which now provides housing for only 23% of its students, the lowest rate in the UC system — has committed $312 million to construction of a 17-story residence for students on the park south of campus, and a separate building for homeless people, along with temporary shelter for about four dozen unhoused people who now sleep at the park. It would keep more than half of the 2.8 acres as open space, with a new grove of trees."
$5 million for each longtime Black resident? S.F. has a bold reparations plan to consider
The Chronicle, JUSTIN PHILLIPS: "A century after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and lamented how “the Negro still is not free.”
“One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity,” he said during his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech from the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
King could have been describing today’s San Francisco, a 47-square-mile city that’s home to more than 60 billionaires and at least 7,000 homeless people, around 40% of whom are Black, despite Black people representing only 5% of the population."
A fountain of youth for dogs? This S.F. startup says it’s on the way
The Chronicle, CAROLYN SAID: "Every pet owner knows the heartbreaking reality: Companion animals’ lives are shorter than ours.
Now, a San Francisco biotech startup is working on drugs to help dogs live longer, healthier lives.
“We want to give people more time with the pets they love,” said Celine Halioua, 28, a scientist who founded Loyal in 2019 with no more than an idea. She’s now CEO of a 58-person company backed by $60 million in venture capital. “Everyone has stories about beloved pets gone too soon.”"
She failed to save her daughter from fentanyl’s grip. A year later, her daughter and S.F. remain stuck
The Chronicle, HEATHER KNIGHT: "Dealers clustered at Seventh and Mission streets, openly selling drugs. At their feet, people smoked fentanyl off tinfoil while others nodded off. Tents dotted the sidewalks. Piles of food scraps, trash and feces filled the gutter. Pedestrians, including a woman pushing a baby in a stroller, nearly swerved into traffic on Seventh Street to get past.
Laurie Steves, 57, stood amid the commerce and the chaos, waiting.
Her daughter, 35-year-old Jessica Didia, whose addiction to opioids has shattered her life, lives at the corner in a large gray Coleman tent placed under the awning of the shuttered Good Hotel. The hotel’s website still brags that its location “brings the best of the city to your doorstep,” but if that was ever the case, it sure isn’t now."
On Orange County beaches, proliferation of e-bikes brings battle to the boardwalk
LA Times, HANNAH FRY: "When Fred Levine steps off the patio of his beachfront home onto the crowded boardwalk, a roughly three-mile pathway that stretches parallel to the sand along the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, he has to remember to look both ways.
“It’s like stepping onto the 405 Freeway,” he said.
Three decades ago, Levine moved to what some refer to as the city’s “war zone,” a nickname given not because of crime but for the reputation of summertime rowdiness along the boardwalk, which now includes an abundance of electric bicycles. The strip’s 8 mph speed limit means nothing to some of these people, he said."
Follow these Twitter accounts for updates on Tahoe travel
The Chronicle, JESSICA FLORES: "If you plan to drive to or from Lake Tahoe in the next few days, there are several Twitter accounts you can follow to stay up-to-date on roadway conditions.
The weekend storms brought whiteout conditions to the Sierra Nevada, impacting and forcing the closure of several highways, including Interstate 80, which reopened early Sunday after back-to-back weekend closures.
Government agencies and trustworthy Twitter accounts managed by residents have been updating their feeds with the latest information on road and weather conditions."
Fort Funston visitors beware: A World War II era structure fell off a cliff and landed on the beach
The Chronicle, ERIN ALLDAY: "A century-old military structure slid down a rain-drenched bluff at Fort Funston Monday morning and dropped onto the beach below, according to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
In a photo posted by park officials to Twitter, a block structure appears to have landed upside-down in the sand below the cliffs, deposited there by a slide of dirt and rock."
Is the Bay Area on the verge of a housing construction slowdown?
BANG*Mercury News, ETHAN VARIAN: "The Bay Area, already one of the most difficult and expensive places in the nation to build new homes, is being buffeted by a turbulent economy that’s creating even more challenges for a region reeling from a housing affordability crisis.
The headwinds are plenty: Higher interest rates for construction loans. Rising labor and material costs. Slowing demand from homebuyers squeezed by more expensive mortgages. And fears of a looming recession as cities continue to recover from the pandemic.
That’s all raising the specter of a widespread housing construction downturn."
Mountain View addressing renter displacement as housing development boom continues
BANG*Mercury News, ALDO TOLEDO: "As cities across the Bay Area plan on building thousands of new homes in the next decade to deal with the ongoing housing crisis, cities like Mountain View are devising new strategies to keep low-income renters in their homes or help them find a new place to live when forced out by new developments.
During housing booms, market rents rise fastest in low-income neighborhoods that are in proximity to richer neighborhoods, according to the Bay Area Equity Atlas. Many low-income communities of color, which have historically suffered economic neglect and disinvestment, are now at risk for rapidly rising rents due to gentrification.
While Richmond and Mountain View have both recently passed rent control measures, and San Jose approved a list of 10 anti-displacement strategies it wants to implement in the coming years, a large part of Bay Area renters remain unprotected, and existing controls do not limit rent increases between tenancies or cover newer homes."
Hundreds in S.F. honor MLK’s legacy with march, music and celebration
The Chronicle, TRISHA THADANI: "The sun poked out over San Francisco for what felt like the first time in weeks, and a sea of people marched through downtown Monday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Hundreds of people honored the civil rights hero at the march, which began at Fourth and King streets and snaked its way to Yerba Buena Gardens, where there were drums, music and children running around. Amid all the festivity, Troy Brunet stood in front of a roaring fountain and held a universal pride flag that flapped in the gusty wind.
The 57-year-old said he was there to be seen."
Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected
The Chronicle, HARRIET RYAN/JESSICA GARRISON/PAIGE ST. JOHN/RUBEN VIVES: "Six people, including a 6-month old baby, her teenage mother and an elderly woman, were killed Monday in a Central Valley farming community in what the local sheriff said was likely a targeted attack by a drug cartel.
The massacre occurred around 3:30 a.m. in and around a residence in the Tulare County town of Goshen, near Visalia. Authorities said they were searching for two suspects and that the killings may have been related to a search warrant carried out last week at the property that resulted in one arrest and the seizure of guns, marijuana and methamphetamine.
“I think it’s specifically connected to the cartel,” Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux told The Times without specifying a particular criminal organization. “The level of violence … this was not your run-of-the-mill, low-end gang member.”"
