| | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Chris Ramirez, Juhi Doshi and Graph Massara | Presented by CVS Health | THE BUZZ — RUNNING ON FUMES: We're starting to get a clearer sense of what gas relief will look like. Like a car traversing town to find the lowest gas prices , ideas to allay Californians' pain at the pump are ricocheting around the Capitol. Sacramento will offer some form of relief as fuel costs soar to $6 a gallon and beyond and the state's budget surplus swells into the tens of billions. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for financial assistance in his State of the State. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have clamored for a solution. Enter leadership. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon repudiated Newsom's initial call for a gas tax "holiday" (also embraced by Newsom's strange CAGOP bedfellows), arguing it would undercut a hard-fought policy victory while providing a minimal financial upside. Rendon stopped short of fully embracing a $400-per-taxpayer idea unveiled by a sizable chunk of his caucus last week. Now we know Atkins and Rendon's preferred approach. A proposal from their respective budget chiefs would channel $200 per person to Californians — both taxpayers and their dependents. That means a single person would get $200, while a family of four would be able to claim $800 — enough to fill up the minivan several times. But it wouldn't be for everyone — which is to say, not for the affluent. As the LA Times' Mackenzie Mays aptly reported , there was some reluctance to send money to every Californian regardless of economic status. As California continues to suffer from yawning wealth disparities, lower-income Californians are feeling the pinch from high fuel costs far more acutely than the denizens of Atherton and Beverly Hills. So the Atkins-Rendon approach would cap eligibility at $250,000 in household income. A Rendon spox said in a statement that the proposal embodies the speaker's determination to target help "to Californians most in need," and Atkins said in a statement that the idea would "ensure that the money is actually getting into the hands of Californians who need it." That word "need" is operative. There is consensus in the Capitol that consumers generally need some relief and elected officials need to act. A cynic or a campaign manager might say candidates need to demonstrate ahead of midterms that they're responding to spiraling costs. But not all Californians need that help equally — and who gets what, as ever in politics, looks to be a hinge of this debate. TOOLS OF THE TRADES — It's not just constituents applying pressure. The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California has launched a campaign encouraging people to share images of high gas prices to "show the politicians in Sacramento how expensive" California living has become. The Trades backed a 2017 deal hiking gas taxes to fund transportation projects and battled a 2018 effort to repeal it; the labor group has also fought proposals to end fossil fuel facilities that generate union jobs. BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. UCLA is the sole California team still dancing in the NCAA Men's March Madness tournament, after the Bruins ousted fellow California squad St. Mary's and USC, San Diego State, CSU Fullerton and USF all faltered in the first round. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I have always worn my hair however I chose: I've worn it straight, I've worn it braided, I've worn it spiked, I've worn it curly, I've worn it in a big, natural you-name-it. Everyone should be able to make those choices without fear of repercussions." Oakland's Rep. Barbara Lee speaks for the federal CROWN Act outlawing hair discrimination — a state version of which is already California law. TWEET OF THE DAY: CalMatters reporter @akoseff on clinics waiting to be reimbursed by the state: "Can you pay my bills? Can you pay my vaccination bills? Do you pay my community clinic bills? If you did, then maybe we could chill" WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | A message from CVS Health: Throughout the pandemic, in California and communities across the country, CVS Health has been there. We've opened more than 4,800 COVID-19 test sites, administered 41 million tests and given 59 million vaccines. We've expanded access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine, increased remote access to mental health services and invested in affordable housing to help build healthier communities. We've been on the frontlines, making health care easier to access and afford. Learn more. | | | |  | Top Talkers | | MASK OFF — "L.A. Unified to lift indoor mask mandate next week in agreement with teachers union," by the LA Times' Howard Blume: "As part of the one-page deal, the district will consult with the union regarding the use of money saved by cutting back on testing prior to the end of the school year." IMAGINE IF … "How permanent daylight-saving time would change San Francisco sunrises and sunsets," by the SF Chronicle's Danielle Echeverria: "Under the proposed legislation, in San Francisco, the sun wouldn't rise until almost 8:30 a.m. in January — the latest sunrise of the year — when standard time would normally be in place." WELCOMING REFUGEES — "Ukrainian Consul General: 'California is a Refugee Friendly State' ," by NBC4LA's Conan Nolan: "The head of the Ukrainian Consulate in San Francisco says his office has a small, but growing, database of California residents offering to sponsor families fleeing Ukraine and that Governor Gavin Newsom has assured him California is a "refugee friendly state.""
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
RETURNING THE FAVOR — "USC was in a free fall. Then it turned to Rick Caruso," by the LA Times' Matt Hamilton and Harriet Ryan: "Caruso stepped into the volunteer post and quickly transformed it into a full-time position that made him at times over the last four years the de facto chief executive of USC, a multibillion-dollar healthcare and education enterprise that is the city's largest private employer."
HEY, BATTER BATTER — "Oakland council member considering ballot measure to decide A's ballpark fate, " by the SF Chronicle's Roland Li: "The A's are hoping for a City Council vote this year on whether to allow the stadium to be built, but a November ballot measure could delay any decision for months and potentially kill the project, one of the largest ever proposed in California." ANOTHER ONE — " Sacramento councilwoman Katie Valenzuela served with recall notice. What's behind campaign?" by the Sac Bee's Theresa Clift: "According to the notice, the group's main complaints are a rise in homelessness, crime, and a decrease in property values." — " Latino voters can't be ignored. L.A. mayoral candidates are working to earn their votes," by the LA Times' Alejandra Reyes-Velarde: "Latino voters are a huge asset that other candidates are also making a play for, hiring Latino staffers, expanding their bilingual marketing and, in some cases, attempting to connect with voters in Spanish as they gear up for the June 7 primary."
| | | | JOIN THURSDAY FOR A CONVERSATION ON CRYPTOCURRENCY AND REGULATION: Cryptocurrency has gone mainstream. With the market now valued at $1.8 trillion, Washington's oversight of the fast-growing industry remains in its infancy. How should Congress and federal agencies shape future regulation of digital asset markets? Join POLITICO in person or virtually for a deep-dive discussion on what's next for crypto, regulation and the future of finance. Programming will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT with a reception from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | | HISTORY LESSON — "A history lesson in the California Legislature," by CalMatters' Dan Walters: "The Legislature is now much more diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation — much more reflective of the state's complex social and cultural matrix — but conversely, it's also reverted to somewhat of a political monoculture thanks to Democrats' total control." COMING UP — " Oakland Unified School District Loosens Masking In Outdoor Spaces; Indoor Mandate Continues Into April," via KPIX: "Last week, Oakland Unified said it was retaining the mask requirements for now over worries about a surge in COVID-19 cases after students return from spring break, which is scheduled for the beginning of April." WATER WOES — Water officials reduce deliveries in California amid worsening drought, by POLITICO's Colby Bermel: The Department of Water Resources' announcement came just two weeks after the agency found the statewide snowpack is "well below average," prompting Friday's allocation cut from 15 percent of requested 2022 supplies to 5 percent. DATA WATCH — "Omicron deaths and cases hit Southern California harder than rest of state," by the LA Times Luke Money and Sean Greene: "The widely vaccinated and boosted San Francisco Bay Area, for instance, noted the lowest hospitalization and death rates in the state during the recent surge by the coronavirus variant, despite having the second-highest case rates." BAD BLOOD — "4 strike votes in 5 years: A look back at Sacramento City Unified labor disputes," by the Sac Bee's Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks: "It was only three years ago that crumbling labor negotiations led to hundreds of Sacramento City teachers leaving classrooms on strike. The one-day strike in 2019 was the first time in 30 years teachers in the district walked picket lines." CONFLICT OF INTEREST — "Former Supervisor Jane Kim Targeted in Ethics Complaint Over Stevenson Street Housing Project, " by the SF Standard's Matt Smith: "Kim has been paid as an organizer by TODCO, and served in roles such as spokesperson, consultant and senior advisor for Build Affordable Faster CA, a political campaign fund supported by TODCO contributions." UNDERSTAFFED — " California fire season is coming. And firefighter ranks have plunged 20%," by the SF Chronicle's Kurtis Alexander: "An entry-level firefighter last year made as little as $13.45 an hour, less than California's minimum wage, while the most veteran fire supervisory positions topped out around $50,000 to $60,000 annually." | | | | DON'T MISS POLITICO'S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | |
— "Almost every congressional earmark got funded. But not two for a San Jose Planned Parenthood," by the SF Chronicle's Tal Kopan: "San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren had asked for $2 million for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. … Congressional offices wouldn't give a reason for the specific Planned Parenthood denials."
| | | |   | | | | | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
PAY UP — "An Uber crash derailed this rider's life. How much should Uber pay?" by Protocol's Issie Lapowsky: "Uber's insurance coverage for passengers varies dramatically from country to country, which becomes tricky for users who are traveling internationally."
— "Google hired Black woman to boost Black recruitment, fired her for fighting 'systemic discrimination': lawsuit," by the Mercury News' Ethan Baron: "[April Curley], a Black woman who worked at Google from 2014 to 2020, alleges in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose that she and other Black workers at the Mountain View digital-advertising giant were paid lower wages, denied advancement opportunities, and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of race."
| | MIXTAPE | |
— "L.A. County sheriff's helicopter crashes in Azusa; passengers in stable condition," by the LA Times' Richard Winton and Melody Gutierrez.
— "Senior Anaheim Police Detective Says Sergeant Tampered With Sex Offender Database to Sabotage Her," by the Voice of OC's Brandon Pho. — " An Oakland lot vacant for 23 years will become a huge garden — and then affordable housing," by the SF Chronicle's Jessica Flores. — "Yosemite trailer park residents forced to leave because of aging power lines, a fire hazard, " by the LA Times' Nathan Solis. — "How to join the recreational gold mining community in the Sacramento area," by the Sac Bee's Hanh Truong. — "Man fatally shoots stepson during argument in Compton, sheriff's officials say," by the LA Times' Nathan Solis. — " LAPD offering reward for information on driver of Tesla in 'dangerous' airborne stunt," by the LATimes' Laura Newberry
| | IN MEMORIAM | |
— "Longtime Chronicle editor Mark Lundgren, meticulous wordsmith and devoted Rolling Stones fan, dies," by the SF Chronicle's Kevin Fagan.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | TODAY: Cole Zucker ... Sophie Theis SATURDAY: Eduardo Saverin FRIDAY: Jeffrey Zimerman
| | A message from CVS Health: At CVS Health, we're more than 300,000 caring employees ensuring Californians and millions of Americans can access health care services.
We have been offering COVID-19 vaccines at more than 9,600 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide.
Nothing should stand in the way of mental health and well-being, so we have been increasing remote access to mental health services.
We have been supporting safer pregnancies and expanding access to prenatal and postpartum care via telemedicine.
Recognizing the strong connection between housing and health, we have been investing in affordable housing to support underserved populations and build healthier communities.
Every day, CVS Health works to bring quality, affordable health care into neighborhoods, homes and hands—so it's never out of reach for anyone.
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