POLITICO California Playbook PM: A first step on reparations

Presented by Heat Pump Nation Inc.: Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Aug 22, 2023 View in browser   By Alexander Nieves Presented by Heat Pump Nation Inc. FIRST SLAVERY REPARATIONS BILL: It’s been nearly two months since California’s reparations task force finalized hundreds of policy recommendations, and state lawmakers have been largely silent on the issue. State Sen. Steven Bradford is ready to change that. The veteran lawmaker and reparations task force member announced today that he’s introducing the first bill based on the recommendations — a proposal that would launch a new state agency tasked with administering future programs to reverse the state’s legacy of slavery and discrimination against Black residents. From left, state Sen. Steven Bradford, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, task force member Lisa Holder and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer hold up a final report of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans during a hearing in Sacramento on June 29, 2023. | Haven Daley/AP Photo That measure, Senate Bill 490, would create the California American Freedman Affairs Agency, a government body with a mandate to bring the task force’s recommendations to life and monitor other state departments that already run programs focused on supporting marginalized residents. The bill would establish more than a dozen different offices within the new agency that would do everything from helping Black residents determine whether they're eligible for reparations to providing oversight of California’s educational system. Among the proposed offices are: A Genealogy Office, which would provide access to expert research to confirm reparations eligibility and expedited assistance with the claims process. A Business Affairs Office, which would help establish a new “freedman’s” savings and trust bank, provide business grants and give employment training to eligible homeless residents. An Office of Strategic Communications and Media Affairs to disseminate information to residents, the media and the general public. “This historic legislation lays the groundwork for the future,” Bradford said in a statement. The bill won’t be heard over the final month of the legislative session and will instead be taken up next year, giving lawmakers about nine months to hash out the details. Bradford likely will need all of that time to navigate a proposal across the finish line. Launching and staffing up a new agency will come with a hefty price tag that could be difficult for some lawmakers to swallow amid an unstable economy and concerns that reparations don’t poll well. A June survey from the Public Policy Institute of California found that fewer than 40 percent of likely voters held a favorable view of the reparations task force after reading a brief description of its work. Those numbers highlight the magnitude of the challenge Bradford and advocates face in building support for what would be the first statewide reparations programs. CAPTION THAT TRAIN — You might have spotted the POLITICO train rolling around Sacramento! It’s all part of our California expansion. CONTEST ALERT: We want your best photos of the POLITICO CA Express in the wild. Share them with your best creative caption using the hashtag #PoliticoCAExpress on X or Instagram so we don’t miss them. You can also send them to lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com. The winner will get a MAJOR prize — a VIP admission (including a special POLITICO swag bag) to our Sept. 12 launch event featuring a conversation with Gov. Gavin Newsom (think open bar featuring specialty Cali Cocktails, tasty nibbles & apps, and a chance to rub elbows with California power brokers and Playbookers). Happy hunting! HAPPY TUESDAY AFTERNOON! Welcome to California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to anieves@politico.com or send a shout on Twitter. DMs are open!   A message from Heat Pump Nation Inc.: We need a plan NOW to fight the climate crisis and protect our communities from extreme heat. AB 593 directs California to develop a comprehensive emissions reduction strategy for homes and buildings that safeguards low-income households, supports clean energy jobs, and creates resilient communities. Learn more at https://theheatpumpnation.org/california-ab593/.   WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS: Months of meetings, hundreds of pages of legislation and at least one round of amendments have not been enough to get everyone on board with Newsom’s massive project to overhaul mental health care. Advocates and service providers have for weeks criticized the proposal to change the 20-year-old Mental Health Services Act — soon to be rechristened the Behavioral Health Services Act. Now, elected officials are voicing that uneasiness, too. At an informational hearing on the bill, nearly every member of both the Health and Housing committees had questions about the effects on services in their districts. Assemblymember Akilah Weber said the changes amount to cuts in critical services. “Essentially, our mental health aspects are going to get less and we cannot afford to do that here,” she said. Her comments drew murmurs of approval from disability rights and mental health advocates wearing neon green shirts in the audience. Or, as Housing Committee Chair Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) put it, “We’re hearing from our counties that we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Newsom's ultimate goal is to update the state's decades-old mental health law and use the money to make a dent in the visible homelessness and mental health crisis on the streets. — Rachel Bluth   SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes.     ON THE BEATS NEW RULES FOR NEW SCHOOLS: Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is carrying his first bill since stepping down as leader: a proposed change to rules for construction of state-funded projects that he says could have prevented a school from collapsing in his district. Assembly Bill 1433 would require that all school construction projects adhere to the same requirements as projects funded by state bonds. The legislation aims to prevent contractors building schools with general-fund money from being held to lower standards. A 20-year-old Lynwood high school in Rendon’s district collapsed in 2020 as a result of what were later determined to be construction flaws. No students were injured, but it cost the state $250 million to replace the building. No groups have registered opposition to the bill, although it’s expected to raise up-front costs for schools as they follow the new regulations. “I expected sort of local-control arguments, cost arguments, but no,” Rendon told POLITICO. “I think everybody understands — or I'd like to think that everybody understands — the context and just wants to make sure that we have the best design standards possible.” — Blake Jones SPEAKER MAKES A HIRE: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has tapped Keith Cialino to serve as an environmental policy consultant in his office, three people with knowledge of the hire confirmed to POLITICO. The move comes after longtime environmental policy advisers Alf Brandt and Marie Liu departed the speaker’s office following Rivas’ ascension into leadership. Rivas became speaker in June, taking the reins from Rendon after a seven-year tenure. Cialino currently serves as a consultant for the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and has served in various roles on the committee over the last five years.   A message from Heat Pump Nation Inc.:   AROUND CALIFORNIA “Hilary was billed as a monster storm. Why it battered some areas but spared others,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Rong-Gong Lin II and Grace Toohey: Parts of coastal San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties saw high amounts of rain for a single day — especially considering that it’s August, in the middle of the dry season — but not unprecedented for what might have occurred during a strong winter storm. “A pride flag, an argument and gunfire: The senseless killing of Laura Ann Carleton,” by the Los Angeles Times’ Noah Goldberg: Days later, the violence of Carleton’s killing — and the outpouring of support from residents, friends and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community — still cling to the scene of the crime. “California gas prices soar to the highest point of the year,” from KTLA: According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded in California was $5.26 on Tuesday, up 10 cents over the past week and 37 cents over the past month. A year ago, drivers were paying $5.34 per gallon.   GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.     MIXTAPE “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Facebook for blocking Canada wildfire news,” by The Associated Press’ Rob Gillies. “Toxic trash: California’s aging hazardous waste sites have troubling safety records,” by CalMatters’ Robert Lewis.   A message from Heat Pump Nation Inc.: Extreme heat is here to stay. California needs a statewide plan to upgrade homes and buildings with clean cooling. AB 593 ensures that Californians can create safe and healthy climate-ready homes and communities. YES on AB 593 for: Relief from extreme heat Safeguards for low income households Community resilience Clean energy jobs Lower emissions Cleaner air Learn more at https://theheatpumpnation.org/california-ab593/.     Follow us on Twitter Katy Murphy @katymurphy POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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