| | | | |  | | By Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner | | Presented by |  | | | ‘KILL BILL’ CONTEST ALERT! PLAY OUR GAME, WIN PRIZES — Hundreds of bills are headed to the Appropriations committees on Thursday. Use your insider knowledge to guess which bills will be blocked. Make your prediction by Wednesday for a chance to win a shout-out in California Playbook, some extra special swag and maybe even an invite to a POLITICO coffee date. Happy guessing!
|  Pro-Israel supporters march outside the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) | AP | THE BUZZ: LOBBY DAY — Hundreds of members of California’s Jewish community are visiting the capital city today and Wednesday as California grapples with sensitive issues around combating antisemitism and support for Israel amid the war in Gaza. The gathering of the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California comes at a delicate time: The war continues to divide leading Democrats over the Israeli government’s approach, creating fractures as well within the Jewish community. At the same time, reports of antisemitism have been on the rise amid the conflict, including on college campuses, where anti-war protests roll on. Signaling how seriously California leaders are taking these different factors, Gov. Gavin Newsom will make his first-ever appearance — by video recording — at the summit, flanked by three current or likely gubernatorial hopefuls: Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Newsom will deliver pre-recorded remarks Wednesday as he jets off to the Vatican for a climate conference. His legal affairs secretary, David Sapp, will also be on hand to share more about the administration’s plan for antisemitism. Summit organizers are also expecting a record number of attendees. “The world has changed since Oct. 7, certainly for the Jewish community,” said David Bocarsly, executive director of JPAC. “Many of us are feeling a deep sense of urgency right now — a sense of needing to be active and to feel like we're making a difference.” While previous summits have focused their proposals around education, combating hate, and bolstering vulnerable communities, this year there’s a clear emphasis on cracking down on antisemitism. JPAC is backing a package of bills in the Legislature this year with eight proposals about antisemitism and hate. That includes a bill by state Sen. Steve Glazer that would require higher education institutions to strengthen code of conduct policies to better address incidents of harassment and intimidation. The governor has broadly vowed to work with the Legislature on fighting all hate, especially antisemitism. Newsom’s address is likely to be closely watched given how carefully he’s tread on the Israel-Hamas war in the last seven months, especially as anti-war protests across California college campuses gather national headlines. The governor voiced support for Israel early in the conflict — flying to Tel Aviv to visit top leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and echoing President Joe Biden’s support for a U.S. ally. The governor has since released plans for combating antisemitism, put pressure on campus leaders to boost safety and emphasized the importance of campus climate. But broadly, Jewish groups say, government leaders could give antisemitism more attention. "There isn't one right way to respond, but there needs to be more engagement,” Bocarsly said. How Newsom navigates the sensitivities here will be something to watch: His ally Biden has recently rallied against antisemitism while also voicing strong warnings to the Netanyahu government over its operations in Rafah. That threat prompted swift backlash from some Jewish groups and mixed responses from Democrats (JPAC declined to wade into federal policy). Newsom, a steadfast Biden acolyte who often plays surrogate for him on the campaign trail, has been careful not to contradict or overstep the president on this or any other issue. The summit will also feature: Jewish Caucus Co-Chairs Jesse Gabriel and Scott Wiener, as well as Newsom alum Keely Bosler, the former director of the California Department of Finance. GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Meanwhile, you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Holding an event on Proposition 1, his signature mental-health reform initiative.
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| BACKING OF THE BLUE — Democratic House candidate Will Rollins has won the endorsement of the Palm Springs Police Officers' Association. The nod is a major coup for Rollins, considering the police union previously endorsed his opponent, incumbent GOP Rep. Ken Calvert, in 2022 — the last time Rollins and Calvert faced off over a purple seat in CA-41 (Riverside County and the Coachella Valley). Tough-on-crime policies have emerged as a central issue in the race, one of the most-watched battleground districts in the country. Calvert has tried to frame Rollins as “soft on crime” and an extreme leftist. Meanwhile, Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, has emphasized his law enforcement record and evoked Calvert’s past run-in with police regarding a prostitute.
| | | | NEW! AN EXCLUSIVE CALIFORNIA BALLOT-MEASURES COVERAGE TEAM: The impact that ballot measures have on California residents, industries, and Legislature is enormous. From settling broad cultural questions to changing obscure governance rules, ballot measures in essence, have become the fourth branch of government in the most influential state capital in the U.S. As your go-to source for reporting on Golden State politics, policy, power, POLITICO has formed a new ballot measure team in California that will deliver in-depth insights into the strategies, policy ideas, personalities, money and influence driving ballot measures. LEARN MORE. | | | | | | | STATE CAPITOL | | | |  California Gov. Gavin Newsom. | Getty Images | HOUSING FIGHT BREWING — A Newsom-backed bill that would compel cities to build more housing for homeless people will get its first hearing today in the Assembly Housing Committee. Its odds of advancing are pretty sound considering the governor enlisted Housing Chair Chris Ward to carry the proposal. Local governments in California must already submit detailed plans to build housing affordable at various income levels, based on state-assigned targets. Assembly Bill 3093 would amend those goals — also known as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation — to include housing for people at the very bottom of the income ladder. There’s no registered formal opposition, at least so far, but cities are likely to resist the changes. The League of California Cities said its members are confused about the new formula — and many note Newsom is pushing the mandate just as he proposes cutting state subsidies for multi-family and infill housing. Jason Rhine, the league’s director of legislative affairs, told Playbook he’s troubled the bill comes as there’s “no money for the plan, no money for the programs and then no money to construct the homes.”
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | |  A program from the California Legislature's API Heritage Month event on Monday excluded four Republican lawmakers of Asian-American or Pacific Islander descent. | PARTY SNUB — The state Senate held an API Heritage Month event on the floor Monday to honor notable Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders across the state — Democrats, at least. State Sen. Janet Nguyen, a Republican from Orange County and one of four GOP lawmakers who were left out of the program, chided her Democratic colleagues during a floor speech. She told Playbook afterward that the omission seemed intentionally partisan, adding, “It’s offensive.” But another GOP lawmaker of API descent, Assemblymember Phillip Chen, said he wasn't bothered to be excluded from the printed program because the event was funded by the Democratic API Caucus.
| | | ON THE AGENDA | | | 
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. | Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP | TIMING IS EVERYTHING — Embattled Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price will have a clearer sense by day’s end of whether she’ll survive a recall election. That’s because the Alameda County supervisors will meet this afternoon to decide whether to hold a summer special election or put the question on the November ballot. It’s a critical distinction. A lower-turnout special election likely benefits the extra-motivated people hoping to recall Price. Conversely, a November electorate would look more like the set of voters that elected Price office two years ago. It would also cost the county less money and give Price’s allies more time to mobilize. Meanwhile, Price and a local House Democrat, Rep. Eric Swalwell, have been trading online blows in a reminder of how the situation is dividing Democrats in a proudly blue district. — Jeremy B. White
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF DEFENSE POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries, like defense, equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other. Our defense reporting team—including Lara Seligman, Joe Gould, Paul McCleary, Connor O’Brien and Lee Hudson—is embedded with the market-moving legislative committees and agencies in Washington and across states, delivering unparalleled coverage of defense policy and the defense industry. We bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | | | CLIMATE AND ENERGY | | TEMPERED EXPECTATIONS — Friday's budget bloodbath doesn't just cut state spending. It also cuts Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers' dealmaking potential. Find out more about what a less-buttery budget biscuit means for late-session legislative jams in last night's California Climate newsletter.
| | TOP TALKERS | | — California Highway Patrol officers tasked with dispersing pro-Palestinian protests at UCLA appeared to aim their less-lethal weapons at eye level in at least 25 instances, despite training protocols. (CalMatters) — San Francisco’s real estate “apocalypse” never took shape, but its commercial real estate sector is still hurting from its workers opting to stay home. (San Francisco Chronicle) — Everything you need to know about Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman, the candidate cruising toward Rep. Adam Schiff’s House seat. (Los Angeles Times)
| | AROUND THE STATE | | — Bay Area residents are clipping cords out of Tesla supercharging stations. A Home Depot investigator who made the issue go viral on TikTok says it’s a copper grab. (San Francisco Chronicle) — The prosecutors who convicted Rebecca Grossman of double murder were removed from the case after the attorney they reported to was charged with 11 felonies. (Los Angeles Times)
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Learn how Amazon breaks down barriers to growth. | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | SPOTTED: SWIFTIE ALERT — A video of State Librarian Greg Lucas reacting to a new Taylor Swift song has gone viral. The clip, posted on the library’s TikTok account, has received over 1.1 million views and shows Lucas soaking in the bitter nostalgia of “How Did it End?” from the extended version of “The Tortured Poets Department” album. PEOPLE MOVES — Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund is adding Nora Walsh-DeVries as senior political director. Walsh-DeVries previously was chief of staff for Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.). — Jeff Morton, a lawyer in the life sciences and patent fields, is now a partner at the firm Haynes and Boone, LLP, with its Orange County office and Intellectual Property Practice Group. He was previously with the firm Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP. — Pantea Faed, an Obama White House alum, is joining Brunswick Group's San Francisco office as an associate. — Kristina Bas Hamilton has been named the new director of state government affairs for UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, where she’ll oversee the union’s political and legislative initiatives in support of more than 171,000 home care and family child care providers. Bas Hamilton will continue to lobby through her firm KBH Advocacy. BIRTHDAYS — Mark Zuckerberg (4-0) … former Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) … Sam Newton ... Erwin Chemerinsky … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Monday): Ruth Wisse ... Justin Rosenstein ... Raquel Saxe WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO’s California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. Disclaimer: All information will be verified. 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 Rebecca Haase to find out how: rhaase@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | 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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