San Francisco gets its closeup — ready or not

Inside the Golden State political arena

Nov 13, 2023 View in browser   By Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte A welcome banner hangs on a walkway near the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Thousands of CEOs, press, world leaders, protesters and others will descend on San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit. | AP DRIVING THE DAY: Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is expected to take the stand in federal court today. He is scheduled to testify in the trial of David DePape, who broke into the couple’s San Francisco mansion last year and stuck him in the head with a hammer. THE BUZZ: TEMPORARY SHINE — The last time San Francisco hosted an event of such global magnitude, Harry S. Truman was president, the Golden Gate bridge was the tallest landmark in town and military men in uniform filled the streets. Back then, San Francisco was undoubtedly a world center when it was chosen as the sight for the 1945 United Nations charter signing. Today, its status is more of an open question. San Francisco and California officials are working to reclaim some of the city's luster this week. They’ve cleaned streets, cleared homeless camps from sidewalks and increased police patrols downtown as some 30,000 visitors arrive for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation — or APEC — summit. “It is a really important moment for San Francisco to be able to show the country, and the world, that we are still a world-class city,” said Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who pushed for APEC to come. “There’s great confidence here that we will bounce back.” Kounalakis, a longtime San Franciscan and former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, lobbied Secretary of State Antony Blinken last year to select California to host APEC’s annual summit, a convergence of CEOs and government leaders from 21 Pacific Rim countries. Kounalakis led fundraising efforts — the city raised more than $20 million from private donors, which will help pay for increased law enforcement and other event costs. The city has been hammered in recent years by negative headlines about urban decay and rampant theft following an exodus of tech professionals working remotely during the pandemic. For locals, the international media spotlight associated with APEC has brought a mixed bag of emotions. Many are frustrated by what they see as exaggerated reports of the city’s “doom loop” when it remains a global tech and economic engine. At the same time, many are looking at freshly washed sidewalks in the city’s core and asking a natural question: Why can’t San Francisco always be like this? That frustration was on the minds of Marissa Camacho and Alexander Sanchez, community college students who went downtown Saturday night to grab dinner and check out the scene. The couple said the area around the Moscone Convention Center has never seemed so quiet and, well, orderly. “They’re finding ways to sweep it under the rug,” Sanchez said. “By next month, it’s going to go back to normal.” Inside the convention hall, stagehand Robert Benson spent the weekend setting up video displays and giant posters for the summit. Until last year, Benson was homeless and lived in his van. He said he was happy to see the city put forward a fresh face for APEC and regain some of its pre-pandemic energy. Benson cautioned, though, that he hopes Mayor London Breed and other city officials will remember to treat San Francisco’s most vulnerable with empathy by continuing to invest in housing after the APEC glitter fades. “It’s a hard one. I don’t think the answer is a billy club,” Benson said of the homelessness problem. GOOD MORNING. Happy Monday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — Do you think San Francisco is well-prepared to host the APEC summit? 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? Nothing official announced.   JOIN US ON 11/15 FOR A TALK ON OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: As the sustainability movement heats up, so have calls for a national standard for clean fuel. Join POLITICO on Nov. 15 in Washington D.C. as we convene leading officials from the administration, key congressional committees, states and other stakeholders to explore the role of EVs, biofuels, hydrogen and other options in the clean fuel sector and how evolving consumer behaviors are influencing sustainable energy practices. REGISTER HERE.     TWEET OF THE DAY: FRESH INK Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg). | Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo WOOD EXITS — Assemblymember Jim Wood stunned Sacramento insiders with his announcement Friday that he won’t seek another term. He was widely seen as a top contender to be the next chair of the Appropriations Committee because of his close alliance with new Speaker Robert Rivas. Wood’s departure narrows the field of likely contenders for the appropriations gavel, one of the most powerful committee posts due to the chair’s ability to spike bills with financial asks. The veteran lawmaker said he’s stepping down to spend more time caring for his mother, who is in declining health. Had he chosen to run again, Wood likely wouldn’t face any major barriers to reelection given his North Coast district has routinely supported him with about 70 percent of the vote. “Many in public office say they are leaving for personal or family reasons, but that is very real for me,” he said. Rivas praised Wood, one of his most loyal lieutenants during last year’s bruising speakership fight with former Speaker Anthony Rendon. Rivas said Wood would “go down as one of our most distinguished legislators.” The new speaker hasn’t reshuffled committee chairs since taking the gavel from Rendon in June. But Assembly insiders expect he will remove Appropriations Chair Chris Holden. With Wood out of the mix, other contenders could include Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks, Jesse Gabriel and Matt Haney. But the reverberations won’t stop there — Wood’s decision to step down creates a wide-open race for the 2nd Assembly District. California Democratic Chair Rusty Hicks relocated recently to the district and is widely seen as a contender (he did not respond to requests for comment). If Hicks decides to jump in, that could lead to a highly competitive race for party chair during an already-busy presidential election year.   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.     MCCARTHY IN LIMBO — Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is mulling whether to seek another term. “I don’t know,” the Bakersfield Republican told CNN’s Manu Raju when asked Sunday if he would leave his now rank-and-file post or run for reelection. McCarthy has already made clear he would finish out his term and aid Speaker Mike Johnson in his transition. But he’s been ambiguous about whether he would run to keep his seat in CA20 — a safe Republican district. He already faces a challenge from David Giglio, a hardline Republican. McCarthy has until the Dec. 8 filing deadline to make a decision. The former speaker has been outspoken in recent weeks, and wasn’t shy about blasting the eight conservatives responsible for his expulsion. He said the Republican party would benefit “tremendously” if Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz was no longer a member of the House. — Sejal Govindarao The cover of Bradley Tusk's new novel, "Obvious in Hindsight." | Handout LIFE IS SATIRE — Venture capitalist and writer Bradley Tusk has a new novel that feels eerily inspired by recent turmoil in the tech space. Tusk’s satirical work, “Obvious in Hindsight,” describes a futuristic battle over the legalization of flying cars in Los Angeles and other cities — a humorous tale complete with slick corporate lobbyists, socialist activists and Russian mobsters. Tusk will discuss his book during an in-person conversation with Julia Marsh, POLITICO’s California editorial director, this Thursday evening at Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica. Tickets are available online. WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY SONG OF FIRE: Newsom declared a state of emergency over the weekend after a fire shut down Interstate 10 in downtown Los Angeles. The massive blaze started at a pallet yard and sent flames and severely damaged the freeway. Newsom toured the damage Sunday with L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who vowed the freeway will reopen as soon as it can be repaired. (KTLA) … AND WATER: Winter storms are coming. The first significant storm of the season is expected to hit the state starting Tuesday. It could bring major rain and snowfall. After a series of atmospheric rivers pummeled the state last winter, Newsom’s administration has invested in stormwater projects in recent months. (San Francisco Chronicle) MARKET-RATE MAYOR: Mayor Bass has signed an executive order that could lift a major barrier to building market-rate housing. Bass’ past housing efforts have focused on affordable projects, so the shift is a big win for YIMBY activists who want to make it easier to build at all price points. (Los Angeles Times) SECOND CHANCE: Jarad Nava is known to many in the California Capitol as an assistant for the Senate Public Safety Committee. But the 28-year-old staffer once faced a lifetime in prison for a crime he committed at age 17. Nava earned parole after Newsom commuted most of his 162-year sentence. (Los Angeles Times) PLAYBOOKERS BIRTHDAYS — Miranda Wilkins … (was Sunday): POLITICO’s Debra Kahn … Google’s Bennett Richardson … Meta’s Erica Sackin … Katie Harbath … former Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) (9-0) … Ayaan Hirsi Ali … Morley Winograd … Ross Baird … Olivia Lange (was Saturday): former Sen. Barbara Boxer … Tucker Bounds … Jon Hartley MEA CULPA — Friday’s Playbook incorrectly stated which party called Paul Pelosi as a witness in the federal trial of David DePape. Pelosi is a witness for the prosecution. 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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