Rivas' first big flex

Inside the Golden State political arena

Nov 22, 2023 View in browser   By Lara Korte, Dustin Gardiner and Jeremy B. White Robert Rivas speaks at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., June 30, 2023. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP THE BUZZ: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is shaking up the lower chamber – and removing one of his close allies from a key position. A holiday week leadership reorganization includes the ouster of Assemblymember Isaac Bryan as majority leader. The move was the biggest surprise in a broad overhaul that marks the first major display of power in the Rivas era — and unmistakably a downgrade of Bryan, an ambitious pol who had talked up his close ties to the speaker. Bryan will now head the Natural Resources committee. Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry ascends from speaker pro tempore to take over as majority leader. Assemblymember Jim Wood shifts into the speaker pro tempore spot. Shortly after the new assignments dropped, lobbyists in the Capitol pointed out that Bryan had been talking up his power as majority leader in Los Angeles circles, going so far as to brand himself as the “Speaker for LA” at a virtual meet-and-greet with the LA County Business Federation earlier this year, an episode that was recapped in a newsletter to members of the organization. “My brother Speaker Rivas is really one of my best friends. But he’s not from here,” Bryan is quoted as saying in the BizFed newsletter. After the announcement became public late Tuesday, Bryan appeared to take a veiled shot at the speaker by noting that his formal leadership ranks now were without a Black member. Bryan in a statement said “it’s up to those of us who were vital in uplifting” Rivas to enact his “vision,” adding “that “Black Californians who now see no representation” in Rivas’ leadership team are “certainly not absent leaders.” Bryan, an early and fervent Rivas supporter, hasn’t been coy about his own speakership ambitions. He told Playbook earlier this year that he had approached former Speaker Anthony Rendon about a shot at the top job shortly after his election to the Legislature, and that he had been considering his own bid before Rivas made his move. Rivas’ office insists that Bryan is not being punished. They contended his previous role had been part of a temporary transition team — meant to shepherd the body through the end of the year — and that he remains an important part of the speaker’s team. “Everyone always knew this was a transition team and there would be changes to leadership,” Rivas' Director of Communications Nick Miller said. “Isaac is a tremendous leader and continues to be part of the speaker’s leadership team.” Miller added that the speaker is proud that every Assembly Black Legislative Caucus member returning after the 2024 session is “in a powerful and tremendously impactful leadership position, chairing key committees, including budget subcommittees, Health, Transportation, Natural Resources and Public Safety.” Majority leader is a major role, and whoever holds the position is often seen as an extension of the speaker’s office, making Bryan’s transition to a committee chair a conspicuous change as Rivas heads into his first full term leading the lower chamber. News of the change came as much of Sacramento was shutting down for the Thanksgiving holiday. Rivas also gave prime positions to two other top allies: He appointed Jesse Gabriel as head of the powerful budget committee and Buffy Wicks as chair of the appropriations committee. Other notable changes included installing Mia Bonta as health chair, and Kevin McCarty as chair of the public safety committee. Here’s the breakdown of the new committee chairs: Appropriations: Buffy Wicks.  Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism: Mike Gipson Budget: Jesse Gabriel. Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials: Eduardo Garcia Governmental organization: Blanca Rubio Health: Mia Bonta Housing and Community Development: Chris Ward Human Services: Alex Lee Judiciary: Ash Kalra Labor and Employment: Liz Ortega Natural Resources: Isaac Bryan Privacy and Consumer Protection: Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Public Safety: Kevin McCarty Rules: Blanca Pacheco Transportation: Lori Wilson Utilities and Energy: Cottie Petrie-Norris Water, Parks and Wildlife: Diane Papan — with help from Melanie Mason GOOD MORNING. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but back to our normal schedule on Monday, Nov. 27. We hope you have a great Turkey Day.   GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — Got any hot takes or behind-the-scenes info on the leadership announcements? Give us a ring or drop us a line. Now you can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte  WHERE’S GAVIN? Out of state for the Thanksgiving holiday. TWEET OF THE DAY: FRESH INK Elon Musk attends an event with Britain's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in London on Nov. 2, 2023. | Pool photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth CONTENT WARNING — More than two dozen members of Congress, including several California representatives, sent a letter to Elon Musk on Tuesday castigating him and another X executive for allowing propaganda and misinformation to proliferate amid the war between Israel and Hamas. The letter, spearheaded by Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin and New York Rep. Dan Goldman, alleges that X is violating its own policies by allowing “Hamas terrorist propaganda videos glorifying barbaric acts of violence against Israeli” to remain on its website. The lawmakers allege X is also profiting off the content, which has been posted by premium X users, and that it follows a troubling trend of increasing antisemitism on the site since Musk took over last year. “...the platform has become a hotbed of misinformation and terrorist propaganda,” the letter said. Among the signatories were California Reps. Mark Takano, Brad Sherman, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.  Schiff called out Musk directly on social media — “Elon Musk has been amplifying antisemitic content, profiting from misinformation, and allowing pro-Hamas propaganda to spread on X,” he wrote. “This needs to stop.”   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here.     WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY NOT OUT OF THE WOODS: Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass cheered in front of television cameras when Interstate 10 reopened weeks earlier than expected. But the governor’s administration could still face scrutiny over the Nov. 11 fire that damaged the freeway. The fire broke out in a yard rented to a company that stored wood pallets; it’s unclear if more state oversight could have prevented it. (Los Angeles Times) LOSING CONTROL: San Francisco is inching closer toward losing control over local planning review and permitting for housing projects. The city is poised to miss its first state-assigned deadline to reform its approval process. If SF doesn’t shape up, builders could bypass local planning reviews. (San Francisco Chronicle) PLAYBOOKERS BIRTHDAYS — Rob Atkinson of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation … James Williams of Arnold Ventures …  (was Tuesday): Jonathan Wornick ... Judge Beth Freeman ... Thomas Rothman ... Goldie Hawn … CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner Lara Korte @lara_korte 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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