CA120: California is the gorilla in the 2020 primary closet
PAUL MITCHELL in Capitol Weekly: "In 2016 California had a late primary, and it looked like the Golden State would deliver deciding votes in both the Republican and Democratic nominations."
"If it weren’t for Trump’s victory in Indiana just weeks before, California would have been the last stand for Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and others who were mounting a late push to block a Trump nomination."
"At the same time, Hillary Clinton seemingly was the chosen one, but needed to win the California delegates to seal her nomination and stave off a late surge from Bernie Sanders."
California prison guards make nice with Gov. Newsom
The Chronicle's PHIL MATIER: "In its ongoing effort to make nice with Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California prison guards union is taking back a $2 million contribution to a criminal justice voter initiative he opposes."
"The $2 million check, in support of the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020, was cut by then-President Chuck Alexander of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association just as he headed out the door on Dec. 31. It was just as quickly pulled back by new union President Kurt Stoetzl."
“The CCPOA’s leaders would rather work collaboratively with the governor than pick a fight at the ballot box.” said former Newsom media aide Nathan Ballard, who is now advising the union, which represents 30,000 correctional and parole officers."
No, Newsom didn't kill high-speed rail. But what's his Plan B?
Sacramento Bee's TONY BIZJAK/TIM SHEEHAN/RORY APPLETON: "It’s been a dream for years in California’s sprawling Central Valley. Sleek bullet trains would race workers to and from booming Silicon Valley in the Bay Area, bridging the economic and cultural gap between urban and rural California."
"Last week, with the words “let’s get real,” Gov. Gavin Newsom canceled that dream for now - and perhaps forever."
"In his first State of the State speech, Newsom said what many have long thought: The state’s high-speed rail project, which has ballooned in price from $45 billion to $77 billion, is out of control and needs trimming. The governor later added the project otherwise would run out of money with nothing to show for it except “angst, frustration and finger-pointing."
READ MORE related to High-Speed Rail: Brown was obsessed with twin-tunnel vision. Newsom has a more realistic view -- LA Time's GEORGE SKELTON
California struggles to sieze guns from people who shouldn't have them
The Chronicle's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "California has struggled to enforce a unique state law that allows officials to seize guns from people with criminal convictions or mental health problems, leaving firearms in the hands of thousands of people legally barred from owning them."
"Legislators first took notice of the problem in 2013, after the gun massacre of 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school, and set aside $24 million to reinvigorate the firearms-seizure program. A representative for then-Attorney General Kamala Harris said eliminating a backlog that had grown to nearly 20,000 people was her “top priority” and estimated it could be done in three years."
"Six years later, the state has been able to cut the list only in half. As of July,the backlog of people whose guns should be confiscated totaled about 9,000"
This new California law is supposed to protect immigrant home cooks. It may help tech giants instead
LA Times's FRANK SHYONG: "How many dumplings equal a “meal”?"
"I’ve personally pondered this question because the number of dumplings I want to eat rarely corresponds with the recommended serving size."
"But this question also happens to come up when you read the text of California Assembly Bill 626, a new law decriminalizing the sale of home-cooked food."
Sunday traffic was clogged in Sierra Nevada amid latest snowstorm
From SacBee's CLAIRE MORGAN: "Traffic in the Sierra Nevada has been at a near-standstill for most of Sunday as weekend travelers attempted to head home amid snow and slush."
"Although both Highway 50 and Interstate 80 are open, chain controls are required on Interstate 80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line, according to the California Highway Patrol..."
"Most of the snowfall was predicted to fall over the last week, but showers in the foothills Saturday and Sunday brought more snow to the region than the National Weather Service previously predicted."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Two new ferry terminals address the practical -- sea level rise -- with style -- The Chronicle's JOHN KING; LA has great weather, yet more homeless die of the cold here than in New York -- LA Times's GALE HOLLAND
SF's affordable housing projects hit hard by rising costs, softening market
The Chronicle's JK DINEEN: "The slowdown in new market-rate, residential development is starting to take its toll on San Francisco’s affordable housing pipeline, as rising construction costs and a softening market are resulting in less money flowing to the city programs that support affordable projects."
"The amount of fees that market-rate housing and office developers pay into the city’s affordable housing fund has plummeted 70 percent from the high in fiscal year 2015-16, declining from $111 million to $35 million in the current fiscal year."
"Kate Hartley, director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, said the decline isn’t surprising, because market-rate developers have become more cautious about breaking ground on new buildings."
Teacher activism in California takes on an increasingly 'red' hue
EdSource's LOUIS FREEDBERG/THERESA HARRINGTON: "The Red for Ed teachers movement, which originated to advance teachers’ demands in states with Republican legislatures, is now spreading through California at a quickening pace."
"On Friday, teachers in dozens of districts put on red T-shirts and turned out to participate in a statewide #RedForEd Day of Action organized by the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union with over 325,000 members."
"The focus of the actions was to declare support for Oakland teachers, who appear to be on the verge of striking as they seek higher pay and to head off a series of school closures in that district. It is unclear whether the statewide activities will strengthen the bargaining position of Oakland teachers."
SF chips away at auto break-in epidemic, but don't tell that to these newlyweds
The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY: "A wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest times, creating memories that many couples cherish forever. But for one bride and groom on a recent visit to San Francisco, their special day will be recalled not only for what was gained, but what was lost."
"After the tourists from Asia parked near 16th Avenue and Moraga Street in the Sunset District and as they posed for photos on the dazzling mosaic steps there — a low-key but popular spot for professional photo shoots and Instagram selfies — their vehicle was ransacked."
"The late January theft was just one of roughly 60 auto break-ins that happen every day in San Francisco, a rolling epidemic that The Chronicle is now tracking in an interactive map that shows, in near real time, when and where each of the city’s car break-ins occurs. The map will be updated daily."
This LAX-adjacent ghost town is now 'priceless coastal real estate' for rare owls
LA Times's LOUIS SAHAGUN: "When the Los Angeles beachfront community of Surfridge disappeared decades ago to make way for the jet age, nature was slow to reclaim the sandy dunes and upscale lots that once dominated the path of planes taking off from Los Angeles International Airport."
"Today however, this 2-mile ghost town of vanished homes supports a growing list of protected and endangered species that have somehow adapted to the throttled-up roar of passenger jets. Surrounded by hurricane fencing and “no trespassing” signs, the LAX Dunes Preserve is now a haven for some of the rarest creatures in California."
"Scientists were elated by the recent discovery of 10 burrowing owls hunkered down in the 302-acre preserve — the most seen here in four decades. Among the raptors are a breeding pair that stand guard over a nest and hiss at occasional passersby."
WH indicates Trump to veto disapproval of emergency
AP's ZEKE MILLER: "President Donald Trump is prepared to issue the first veto of his term if Congress votes to disapprove his declaration of a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border, a top White House adviser said on Sunday."
"White House senior adviser Stephen Miller told "Fox News Sunday" that "the president is going to protect his national emergency declaration." Asked if that meant Trump was ready to veto a resolution of disapproval, Miller added, "He's going to protect his national emergency declaration, guaranteed."
"The West Wing is digging in for fights on multiple fronts as the president's effort to go around Congress to fund his long-promised border wall faces bipartisan criticism and multiple legal challenges. After lawmakers in both parties blocked his requests for billions of dollars to fulfill his signature campaign pledge, Trump's declared national emergency Friday shifts billions of federal dollars earmarked for military construction to the border."
READ MORE related to POTUS45/KremlinGate: Ex-FBI Official: 'Crime may have been committed' by Trump -- AP's ERIC TUCKER; Time is running out for Trump to make good on 2016 bluster -- The Chronicle's WILLIE BROWN; Graham vows to investigate 'administrative coup' against Trump -- LA Times's DAVID WILLMAN
It appears Colin Kaepernick brought the NFL to its knees
The Chronicle's SCOTT OSTLER: "Did Colin Kaepernick bring the NFL to its knees?"
"That’s at least a strong possibility, since the NFL agreed to settle with the former 49ers quarterback and ex-San Francisco safety Eric Reid in their collusion lawsuit."
"A confidentiality agreement is keeping details to a minimum. The NFL probably isn’t going to leak any info, and Kaepernick and his camp are notoriously un-leaky. But putting together some of the pieces"
