Maddy Institute – November 21, 2019

21Nov

FOR SUBJECT LINE:

Maddy Daily – November 21, 2019 - Chronicle of Policy and Politics in the San Joaquin Valley

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Stanislaus County sheriff turns over 84 jail inmates to ICE. Some want this to stop

Modesto Bee

More than 20 speakers, many of them immigration activists, urged the Stanislaus County sheriff’s office to stop cooperating with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

EDITORIAL: Colin Kaepernick — always generous with Turlock and Modesto — misplayed this one

Modesto Bee

Colin Kaepernick apparently likes being viewed as a picked-on former NFL quarterback more than the idea of being an NFL quarterback. Given a chance to figuratively shake hands with his former employer and move on, the Turlock-raised star chose to figuratively spit in the employer’s eye.

Central SJ Valley:

Fresno City Council candidates talk homelessness, housing issues at District 4 forum

Fresno Bee

Voters in central Fresno had their first chance Tuesday night to hear from candidates running for Fresno City Council on issues like homelessness, housing and economic development during a forum held at Fresno State.

Bankruptcy and conflict: One of California’s tightest races is packed with financial baggage

Fresno Bee

Voters in a contentious congressional district in California’s San Joaquin Valley will choose next November between two candidates with significant financial issues, one stemming from a complicated network of now-dissolved businesses and the other from a now-bankrupt family business.

Madera City Council temporarily blocks landlords from evicting residents without cause

abc30

The Madera City Council has unanimously passed an ordinance that will keep dozens of people from being evicted from their homes during the holidays. Several tenants at one Madera apartment complex received 60-day eviction notices last month.

It will soon be harder for you to access Fresno City Hall. Here's why.

abc30

Fresno city leaders are working to improve security at City Hall. Fresno City Hall has also been looking at increased safety measures, including adding metal detectors at the main entrance to the building.

Visalia to consider vaping ban in 2020

Visalia Times Delta

Mayor Bob Link, Vice Mayor Steve Nelsen, and Councilman Greg Collins supported looking into banning sales of menthol-flavored cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and flavored tobacco products.

Tulare councilman accused of reckless driving, faces misdemeanor charges

Visalia Times Delta

A Tulare councilman, accused of racing down a Visalia thoroughfare, will soon be in court to hear the charges against him. On Oct. 15, Tulare County District Attorney's Office filed a four-count misdemeanor complaint against Councilman Greg Nunley.

See also:

California Legislative Analyst Office Predicts $7 Billion State Budget Surplus Capital Public Radio
California’s budget could soon be flush with $26 billion in unspent cash, analysts say Los Angeles Times
California's Fiscal Outlook Legislative Analyst Office
California agency predicts $7 billion state budget surplus Associated Press

‘A matter of life or death’: California regulators assail cell, internet firms for outage failures

San Francisco Chronicle

As another PG&E shut-off got underway, the California Public Utilities Commission grilled executives from eight wireless and internet companies about why hundreds of thousands of people lost vital services during past outages.

See also:

State Regulators Push Cell Providers to Improve Coverage During Disasters KQED

California’s top court to decide whether state can force Trump to disclose tax returns

Los Angeles Times

California’s highest court will decide Thursday whether the state can require presidential candidates, including President Trump, to disclose their tax returns in order to appear on the state’s primary ballot.

See also:

Federal:

Impeachment witness confronts Devin Nunes’ Ukraine argument, calls it a ‘fictional narrative’

Fresno Bee

The former top Russia adviser at the White House at impeachment hearings Thursday criticized one of Rep. Devin Nunes’ defenses of President Donald Trump, calling the congressman’s repeated assertion that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election a “fictional narrative.”

See also:

Fiona Hill tells Devin Nunes to his face that his Ukraine conspiracy theory is ‘harmful’ Washington Post
Frum: Devin Nunes's Attack on the Press Is Misguided The Atlantic
Lev Parnas Helped Rep. Devin Nunes’ Investigations Daily Beast
Impeachment hearings takeaways: `Everyone was in the loop’ Fresno Bee
Protesters chanted ‘tell the truth’ at Sondland hotel. Now he says Trump wanted ‘quid pro quo’ Fresno Bee
Gordon Sondland chooses to save himself, not Trump Los Angeles Times

FDA nominee faces bipartisan grilling on Trump’s vaping plan

Fresno Bee

Medical executive Stephen Hahn faced a bipartisan grilling in his nomination hearing Wednesday about whether he would, if confirmed to lead the Food and Drug Administration, challenge the president to release a promised tobacco flavor ban.

See also:

FDA Nominee Ducks Questions on Trump E-Cigarette Flavor Ban Time

Trump admin moves ahead with plans to weaken efficiency standards for quick dishwashers

The Hill

The Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing forward with plans to allow faster-cleaning dishwashers to duck current energy efficiency standards, a move critics say defeats years of progress on making the appliances energy efficient.

Elections 2020:

At debate, Democrats agree that Trump should be impeached

Fresno Bee

The Democratic presidential debate opened Wednesday night with the candidates agreeing that President Donald Trump should be impeached. Such broad agreement was unlikely to last, though. Pete Buttigieg’s rise in the primary makes him a prime target.

See also:

Five takeaways from the Democratic presidential debate in Atlanta Los Angeles Times
The Democratic Debate: Can we talk about jobs? Please? Brookings
Fact-Checking the November Democratic Debate New York Times
Gabbard, Harris Clash Over Party Loyalty in Democratic Debate Wall Street Journal
Democrats Spar Over Medicare for All Wall Street Journal
Democratic Candidates Debate Paid Family Leave Plans Wall Street Journal
Democratic Candidates Unite Against Trump, Divide on Taxes, Health Care Wall Street Journal
Fox: Homeless Issue Tops in CA, Political Price for Inaction? Fox & Hounds

Fact check: Is Pete Buttigieg ‘willing to send our troops to Mexico?’

Fresno Bee

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard attacked Pete Buttigieg at the Democratic presidential debate on Wednesday over recent comments the South Bend, Indiana mayor made in California about his openness to send U.S. troops to Mexico to fight drug cartels.

See also:

Buttigieg, 2020 frontrunners avoid attacks: Takeaways from the fifth Democratic debate Sacramento Bee

California to new presidential candidates: We’re just not that into you

San Francisco Chronicle

The view from California is that the Democratic presidential candidates on the debate stage Wednesday night shouldn’t feel scorned because one new candidate just jumped into the race and another is on the way. It’s not about you. It’s about them. And, as is the case with everything political, it’s about Donald Trump.

See also:

Californians care less about the issues. They want a candidate who can beat Trump Los Angeles Times

Kamala Harris’ campaign sputtering

CalMatters

It would be interesting to know the precise moment that California Sen. Kamala Harris realized that she would not win the presidency, at least not in 2020.

See also:

Kamala 2020 crashed, but don’t blame racism, sexism or staff Sacramento Bee
Despite Harris deal, few surgeries granted to trans inmates in California Washington Blade

Warren’s Medicare for All “Transition” Plan Is Surrender in Disguise

The Bulwark

Elizabeth Warren is trying to have it both ways on Medicare for All. She wants to be seen as both a true champion of the cause while signaling to the skeptics in her party that she understands it’s a long shot (at best), and also dangerous politically. Her just-released Medicare for All transition plan is an attempt to appeal to both camps. It is probably too clever to work.

New York Times

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey on Wednesday unveiled a plan to tackle affordable housing that would provide a tax credit for renters to ensure they would not spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent — a sweeping new entitlement program that his campaign estimated would reach 57 million Americans, including 17 million children.

Biden Retakes Lead in Poll of New York Democratic Voters

Wall Street Journal

Former Vice President Joe Biden has retaken the title as New York Democrats’ preferred presidential candidate, a poll released Thursday shows. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was the choice of 14% of voters surveyed.

See also:

Can Biden Work With Republicans? Wall Street Journal

House calendar for 2020 includes presidential election year oddities

Roll Call

Since 2020 is a presidential election year, there are a number of predictable off weeks. The House will not be in session the week of July 13, when Democrats gather in Milwaukee for their national convention.

Opinion: The Campaign Data Arms Race

Wall Street Journal

An arms race is under way that will deeply affect America’s future. It’s not about next-generation nuclear weapons or hypersonic missiles. Instead, it’s a struggle between Republicans and Democrats over who has the best political data. In this emerging digital age, elections hang in the balance.

Other:

Google limits political ad targeting and bans misleading information

Los Angeles Times

Google is severely limiting how political advertisers can target people online, a decision made after weeks of furious debate over how online platforms handle campaign messages. It will no longer allow election ads to be targeted based on political affiliation on Google Search, YouTube and across the web.

50 years later, Native Americans return to Alcatraz to remember occupation

San Francisco Chronicle

Fifty years ago they were college students, carrying bullhorns. Now they are tribal elders, carrying canes. Steve Rubenstein in the

Donors Beware

City Journal

In this accusatory age, donors must approach their generosity with caution. In deference to manufactured mobs, major universities and museums now oversee extensive investigations of potential donors before accepting financial support.

Google to Restrict Political Ad Targeting on Its Platforms

Wall Street Journal

Alphabet Inc.’s Google said Wednesday it plans to stop allowing highly targeted political ads on its platform, further fragmenting the rules being set by Silicon Valley tech giants for guarding against misinformation.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

How much did Blue Diamond almond cooperative make this year?

Modesto Bee

Blue Diamond Growers, the world’s largest almond producer, reported $1.57 billion in sales at its 109th annual meeting Wednesday in Modesto.

California Liberals Talked a Big Game About Weed Justice. Then Big Cannabis Took Over

Vice

Until then, weed farmers in California had been making middle-class (or, in some cases, much better) livings growing under the vague and erratic protections afforded by the state's ambiguous medical-marijuana laws. Full-on legalization meant a shakeup—or a shakedown.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

He was the eldest son and provider of his family. Fresno mass shooting changed

Fresno Bee

Fresno City councilmembers announced Wednesday that they made a GoFundMe donation account to help all the families of Sunday’s shooting. Family of shooting victim Kou Xiong previously made another GoFundMe. Phia’s family hadn’t made one as of Tuesday.

Visalia Times Delta

A Tulare County grand jury may get the final say on whether two Visalia cops will go to trial for charges related to perjury and falsifying records. Already, prosecutors have dropped dozens of cases against defendants arrested by the two officers. Both officers are out on bail.

Blog: Michael Bloomberg and the stop-and-frisk about-face

AEI

Having defended the NYPD stop-and-frisk program throughout his three-term tenure as mayor of New York, and having repeated that position without reservation only some months ago — it reduced crime, did it not? — Michael Bloomberg, now attempting to appeal to the various constituencies that make up the Democratic Party, has apologized.

See also:

Opinion: Bloomberg Grovels Over Stop and Frisk Wall Street Journal

Public Safety:

Fresno first responders receive help to cope with shock, aftermath of mass shooting

abc30

It only took Fresno first responders minutes to arrive at Sunday night's mass shooting scene and jump into action to help the victims. But while the screams and sirens have ended, the images of that night will remain with many for a lifetime.

Household hazardous waste collection locations and hours for December

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County Public Works will be offering residents in outlying communities a one-day drop off collection event for household hazardous waste in December, according to a news release.

Fire:

PG&E says it may restore power Thursday

Fresno Bee

Pacific Gas & Electric says it expects to get the all-clear before dawn Thursday to begin the process of restoring power to more than 100,000 people hit by a planned blackout.

Latest fire-prevention power outage ending in California Associated Press

‘It’s very disruptive.’ Parents, schools frustrated by PG&E outage that didn’t happen

Sacramento Bee

Thousands of parents across Northern California rearranged their lives early Wednesday morning in anticipation of yet another round of canceled classes because of a massive intentional PG&E power outage. Yet the lights stayed on in most of the north state.

The Camp Fire ended one year ago today. Here’s a 3D look at the how the fire spread

Sacramento Bee

In the early hours of Nov. 8, 2018, emergency crews responding to reports of a wildfire growing out of control began evacuating Paradise residents living directly in its path. Evacuees had only a moment’s notice to leave their homes before the Camp Firedevastated the town and the surrounding area.

She Fireproofed Her Home But Still Lost Her Insurance

KQED

After more than three decades in the Sierra foothills town of Grass Valley, Emma Titus lost her homeowners insurance last week. Her insurer, The Hartford, said she hadn't done enough to fireproof her property, a 5-acre spread with old-growth pines and fruit trees.

Paradise couple claims Camp Fire destroyed their $280 million emerald. PG&E wants proof

Sacramento Bee

PG&E’s lawyers have requested proof — understandably, a whole lot of proof — after a married couple claimed the 2018 Camp Fire destroyed a massive $280 million emerald they’d been keeping in their Paradise home.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Stock market spurns governor's oil crackdown

Bakersfield Californian

Golden 1 Credit Union gives $20 million in ‘surprise deposits’ to its members

Sacramento Bee

Sacramento-based Golden 1 Credit Union gave its members an early holiday gift this week, totaling $20 million. Golden 1 in a news release Tuesday said it distributed that total across nearly 1.1 million accounts the same day, its first “surprise” giveback in five years.

PayPal buys Honey for $4 billion in biggest-ever L.A. tech deal

Los Angeles Times

Digital payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc. announced a deal to buy the downtown Los Angeles-based Honey Science Corp. for $4 billion Wednesday, marking the largest acquisition of a tech company in L.A. history.

New U.S.-China trade worries pull stocks down

Los Angeles Times

Stocks on Wall Street closed broadly lower Wednesday as investors turned anxious about the possibility that the United States and China may not reach a trade deal before next year.

California’s working landscape makes $333-billion impact on state economy

CA Economic Summit

California’s “working landscape” represents the sixth largest economic sector in the state, outpacing the healthcare, real estate and construction industries. That’s according to a recent report issued by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR).

Threat of Auto Import Tariffs Remains Despite Lapsed Deadline

Wall Street Journal

President Trump’s decision to let a deadline to impose tariffs on foreign auto imports lapse without taking action has left the auto industry puzzled over the White House’s next move—which could include restarting the clock with a new levy action.

Amazon Has Become America’s CEO Factory

Wall Street Journal

Latchel Inc. is a 3-year-old, 20-person startup in Seattle that sells home-maintenance services. It has something in common with its enormous neighbor Amazon.com Inc., specifically, 14 leadership principles, many of which are identical.

Jobs:

CalPERS retiree returned to work for twice the pay, flouting law. He wants to keep the money

Sacramento Bee

Dudley Lang was making $20,000 per month to manage finances for a Los Angeles suburb with about 200 residents before he retired in October 2010. Three months later, Lang was hired to do the same job as a retired annuitant, subject to CalPERS rules including that he couldn’t work more than 960 hours per year and couldn’t receive abnormally high pay for the work.

H-1B visa: Rule to ban H-1B spouses from working coming in March, Homeland Security says

San Jose Mercury

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will publish in March a proposed rule to strip work authorization from spouses of H-1B visa holders, the agency said Wednesday in the latest federal government rule-making agenda.

EDUCATION

‘Moderate’ funding increase predicted for California schools, community colleges in 2020-21

EdSource

K-12 schools and community colleges can anticipate a “moderate” 4.2 percent increase in funding in the 2020-21 state budget, instead of a long-anticipated recession, the Legislative Analyst’s Office predicted Wednesday in its annual fiscal forecast.

K-12:

US schools try to diversify mainly white teaching ranks

Fresno Bee

More than half of the students in American public schools are minorities, but the teaching force is still 80% white. As mounting research highlights the benefits minority teachers can bestow on students, the gap has received renewed attention.

Fresno Unified board votes to add $325 million bond measure to primary ballot

Fresno Bee

The Fresno Unified School District board voted unanimously Wednesday night to place a $325 million bond measure on the March 2020 ballot. The board chose the more conservative dollar amount after discussing two other amounts — $390 million and $500 million. The bond will require 55% voter approval to pass. Along with a bond comes the opportunity to receive matching state money for projects.

Higher Ed:

Top state officials criticize Cal State math proposal, citing access concerns

Los Angeles Times

A controversial Cal State University proposal to require a fourth year of math-related coursework for admission came under robust questioning and at times harsh criticism Wednesday from top state educators and others who said it would unfairly block black and Latino students from the system with no guarantee that it would improve graduation rates.

Hong Kong protests spur California and other U.S. universities to seek political help

Sacramento Bee

Students from the nine California universities joined with 49 other colleges across the nation to release a statement urging politicians to address escalating tensions at the Hong Kong protests.

Which College Graduates Make the Most?

Wall Street Journal

Applications to MBA programs across the U.S. are declining. WSJ’s Jason Bellini traveled to Boston University’s Questrom Business School to hear from students who explain why the investment is worth it.

Opinion: What’s Your Degree Worth?

Wall Street Journal

For many Americans a college degree will be among the most expensive investments they ever make, one reason they have compiled $1.5 trillion in student-loan debt. The Education Department hasn’t made the price go down.

Apprenticeships:

After decades of pushing bachelor’s degrees, U.S. needs more tradespeople

PBS Newshour

So much effort has been put into encouraging high school graduates to go to college for academic degrees rather than for training in industrial and other trades that many fields like his face worker shortages. Now California is spending $6 million on a campaign to revive the reputation of vocational education, and $200 million to improve the delivery of it.

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Fact check: Did environmentalist Tom Steyer produce more coal than all of Britain?

Sacramento Bee

During the fifth Democratic presidential debate on Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden went toe-to-toe with Tom Steyer, a California billionaire and environmental activist, on the issue of climate change. Biden said “My friend was producing more coal mines and produced more coal around the world, according to the press, than all of Great Britain produces.”

California boycotts Trump-aligned automakers in escalating emissions fight

Los Angeles Times

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state would stop buying vehicles from General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and other automakers who have joined with Trump in seeking to strip the state’s authority to set its own greenhouse gas emission standards.

The Cost of Battery Storage Plummets at the Right Moment for California

KQED

California has a decade to reach its self-mandated goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% of 1990 levels. One independent analysis found the state is falling behind — in part, because emissions from the transportation sector have soared to record highs.

Energy:

Clarification: California-Oil Well Moratorium story

Bakersfield Californian

The Cost of Battery Storage Plummets at the Right Moment for California

KQED
California has a decade to reach its self-mandated goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% of 1990 levels. One independent analysis found the state is falling behind — in part, because emissions from the transportation sector have soared to record highs.

Newsom explores faster shutdown of Aliso Canyon natural gas facility

Los Angeles Times

Four years after a massive leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility forced thousands of families in the northwest San Fernando Valley to evacuate, Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on California’s utilities regulator to look into accelerating the facility’s permanent shutdown.

As Oil Prices Drop And Money Dries Up, Is The U.S. Shale Boom Going Bust?

KVPR

The shale oil boom that catapulted the U.S. into being the world's largest oil producer may be going bust. Oil prices are dropping amid weakening demand, bankruptcies and layoffs are up, and drilling is down — signs of a crisis that's quietly roiling the industry.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

American Medical Association calls for total ban on all e-cigarette, vaping products

abc30

The American Medical Association on Tuesday called for an immediate ban on all electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. It aims to lobby for state and federal laws, regulations or legal action to achieve a ban, but the industry is sure to fight back.

With Cannabis Legal In California, Some Cities And Health Groups (And Neighbors) Are Asking Questions About Secondhand Smoke

Capital Public Radio

Julie Woodside enjoys living in the Arden Arcade area northeast of downtown Sacramento, but lately she’s been worried about the occasional whiff of marijuana coming from a nearby home.

U.S. shelves its plan to sharply cut nicotine in cigarettes

Los Angeles Times

U.S. regulators are hitting the brakes on plans to force tobacco companies to drastically reduce addictive nicotine in cigarettes, retreating on an ambitious public-health initiative that comes amid increasing worry about nicotine use among young people.

See also:

EDITORIAL: Trump cravenly backtracks on vaping. Surprise, surprise Los Angeles Times

Urban dwellers who live near green spaces are less likely to die early, a new study says

CNN
Nature does the body good. And a sprawling new analysis of more than 8 million people suggests that to boost residents' longevity, cities should get a lot less gray and a lot more green. Urban dwellers who live in close proximity to greenery are less likely to die before their life expectancy, per the findings of a new Lancet Planetary Health study. The authors call it the largest of its kind.

Op-Ed: This is what the Trump administration should do on vaping

AEI

When regulations are contemplated to address an epidemic of teenagers using e-cigarettes, vaping advocates complain loudly. The restrictions will obstruct adult access to these products, they say, foreclosing the opportunity for smokers to use the devices to quit cigarettes.

Human Services:

Bipartisan California lawmakers seek to avert cuts to hospitals’ Medicaid payments

Sacramento Bee

Concerned about the nation’s health care safety net, a bipartisan coalition of California’s congressional leaders urged the U.S. House leadership Tuesday not to cut off supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals because doing so could jeopardize care for millions.

Health care costs for California workers are growing far faster than incomes

San Francisco Chronicle

Californians who get health insurance through their jobs are having to spend a greater share of their paychecks on health care costs, according to a new analysis of employer-sponsored health plans to be released Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation that researches health industry trends.

IMMIGRATION

Stanislaus County sheriff turns over 84 jail inmates to ICE. Some want this to stop

Modesto Bee

More than 20 speakers, many of them immigration activists, urged the Stanislaus County sheriff’s office to stop cooperating with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

County supervisors again support Trump’s lawsuit against California’s sanctuary laws

San Diego Union-Tribune

A divided San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday voted 3-2 in a closed session to again support the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California over the state’s so-called sanctuary laws, which limit local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement.

The Trump Administration Will Deport People Seeking Asylum In The US To Guatemala Without Them Seeing A Lawyer First

BuzzFeed News

The Trump administration on Wednesday began carrying out its controversial plan to deport adults from El Salvador and Honduras who are at the southern border seeking asylum to the US — and send them to Guatemala.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Turlock’s iconic Latif’s restaurant changes hands; new owner has deep valley roots

Modesto Bee

It doesn’t get much more old-school Turlock than a slice of pie at Latif’s. But now, after more than 60 years of family ownership, the restaurant is changing hands as its previous owner is retiring.

Housing:

Roughly 100 residents avoid being displaced after Madera passes ban on no-fault evictions

Fresno Bee

The Madera City Council passed on Wednesday a temporary ban on no-fault evictions. After about 30 tenants received no-fault 60-day eviction notices last month at the 46-unit Laguna Knolls apartment complex in Madera, council member Santos Garcia asked the council to consider an emergency ordinance to ban no-fault evictions.

See also:

Madera City Council temporarily blocks landlords from evicting residents without cause abc30

'They could end up homeless:' Local leaders report wave of evictions skirt state law

The Californian

Eufemia Aguilar has lived in her two-bedroom apartment on North Sanborn Road in Salinas for about 10 years. A garlic peeler at Christopher Ranch, she rises at 2:30 a.m. every day, packs her lunch and heads to work, leaving her 20-year-old son and 5-year-old grandson to sleep.

Stockton, Rancho Cordova pass emergency bans on no-fault evictions

Sacramento Bee

Stockton and Rancho Cordova passed temporary bans on “no fault” evictions this week, as tenants across California report an uptick of sudden notices to leave their homes by the end of the year.

EDITORIAL: Of course homeless encampments don’t make great neighbors. So let’s get people housed

Los Angeles Times

You can’t read the columns without recognizing the obvious: that homelessness is bad for all of us. It’s clearly disastrous for those caught in its embrace, living on the streets or in shelters — troubled, destitute, fearful, vulnerable. But it’s also affecting the rest of the city, which is just another reason why efforts to solve it need to be redoubled.

PUBLIC FINANCES

No Need For New Taxes With Massive State Surplus

California Business Roundtable

California Business Roundtable President Rob Lapsley issued the following statement today in response to the Legislative Analyst's fiscal outlook: “The nonpartisan LAO estimates an additional $7 billion budget surplus for the next fiscal year. And yet, even with an estimated total General Fund budget surplus of $38 billion over three years, special interest groups are still pushing more than $22 billion in new and higher taxes for the 2020 ballot.

What Fewer Billionaires Could Mean for the Rest of Us

Wall Street Journal

Steep taxes on the ultra-wealthy are, for some, not a means to an end but an end itself. They see the very existence of extreme wealth as inimical to economic growth, middle-class prosperity and democracy. “Every billionaire is a policy failure,” goes one progressive meme.

Op-Ed: Will you be able to retire?

AEI

A growing trend in today’s opinion surveys and news headlines is the growing concern that most Americans won’t be able to retire when the time comes. AEI’s Andrew Biggs takes a deeper look into these surveys and identifies why this so-called “retirement crisis” is being blown way out of proportion.

TRANSPORTATION

California boycotts Trump-aligned automakers in escalating emissions fight

Los Angeles Times

California is using a new strategy — the boycott — to push back against automakers that have sided with the Trump administration in the battle over the state’s regulation of tailpipe emissions.

Uber shows a big rise in government requests for rider information

San Jose Mercury

Uber said on Wednesday the number of requests for data on its riders from government officials in the United States and Canada rose sharply last year due, in part, to a “rising interest” in information on the ride-hailing company’s users.

WATER

Rain in the valley and snow in the mountains bring clean to the air

Bakersfield Californian

After suffering through weeks of dusty particulate pollution, Bakersfield residents enjoyed near pristine air quality all day Wednesday as the rainfall tamped down dust and air displacement cleaned tiny, dangerous micro-particles from the city's breathable airspace.

See also:

Storm to hit Central Valley just before Thanksgiving abc30
First snow falling at ski resorts in Southern California and Mammoth Los Angeles Times

Newsom must stop the Westlands water grab and save the San Francisco Bay-Delta

CalMatters

The San Francisco Bay-Delta, the largest estuary on the West Coast, was once the home to fisheries that produced five million pounds of canned salmon a year. The Delta’s largest city, Stockton, is where children swam, rowed boats, and canoed after school in places made navigable through their parents and grandparents’ labor.

“Xtra”

City of Clovis to host Annual Canned Food Drive – Sculpturing Contest

Clovis Roundup

City staff members along with the Planning and Development Services Dept. is hosting their annual canned food drive. With the donated items, multiple teams are to assemble and build unique creations. After a light-hearted ‘judging’, the food will then be donated to the Salvation Army.

Want to make holidays bright for those in need? Emergency Food Bank has a few ideas

Stockton Record

This weekend the San Joaquin Regional Transit District is holding its annual Stuff the Bus food drive at two locations in Stockton, said Kathy Croci, officer manager for the food bank.

Tulare Astronomical Association invites you to see Venus and Jupiter 'collide' in celestial light show

Visalia Times Delta

Because Venus and Jupiter will sink below the horizon shortly after 6 p.m., this unique event will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. (please be on time) and officially end at 9 p.m. The cost is $5 for those 12 and older.

Think inside of the BakoBox with new local subscription service

Bakersfield Californian

These days you can find a subscription box service for just about any interest, but what about Bakersfield? Now you can with BakoBox, a new monthly subscription of goods and services highlighting local creatives and businesses. It was created by Bakersfield native Kami Paulsen, who was inspired by a fateful family road trip.

Kern Community Foundation celebrates 20 years with big surprise

Bakersfield Californian

It's been 20 years worth of giving and helping the community for the Kern Community Foundation, but the organization's work is far from over. Current and former board members and individuals who have set up funds with the organization came together Wednesday night to celebrate past successes and future endeavors.

CSUB, BC joint concerts kick off performance ‘mega weekends’

Bakersfield Californian

It’s concert time at Cal State Bakersfield, as the music department offers the first of two “mega weekends” of back-to-back concerts.