| | | | |  | | By Jeremy B. White, Chris Ramirez, Juhi Doshi and Graph Massara | Presented by the California Clean Cars Campaign | THE BUZZ — LOST IN THE NOISE: As contentious as coronavirus-era school politics can be, California voters are less divided on them than you might think. Requiring masks and vaccines for in-classroom learning is a broadly accepted idea among the electorate, according to a new Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. Roughly two-thirds approved of adding Covid-19 shots to the list of required inoculations and mandating that students, teachers and educators wear masks in school. Parents were more skeptical: just 55 percent of voters with kids supported mandatory shots, a double-digit drop from childless voters, and voters with school-age kids were a few points less likely to accept facial coverings in school. Both of those restrictions are the subject of fierce and ongoing political disputes . State lawmakers are pursuing legislation to make coronavirus vaccines a prerequisite for education, fueling what is likely to be one of the more intense policy fights of this session. California is also lagging some blue states in lifting its school masking rules, although Gov. Gavin Newsom has previewed that we'll get a timeline for the masks to come off on Monday. A major political storyline from the pandemic has been the unrivaled power of activated parents. We saw that recently in the San Francisco school board recall , spurred to success by parental fury over the board devoting time to other matters while classrooms sat empty (and yes, helped along by some big money). Educational issues continue to burn hot and will likely inform the upcoming midterm elections. As POLITICO's Susannah Luthi reports, school boards are pleading for an exit strategy, telling Newsom that "agitation has grown" as masking restrictions persist in schools while lifting elsewhere. But the IGS poll offers a helpful reminder that the loudest critics do not necessarily represent a majority. There are 22 million voters in California, which means (extrapolating IGS) that there are more than 9 million voting-eligible parents who oppose Covid vaccine dictates and more than 8 million who reject mask mandates. That is a significant bloc of frustrated voters. Some of them will show up at school board meetings or engage in other types of activism. But they are outnumbered by those who are willing to accept virus-fighting strictures in schools. We saw something similar when schools were still shuttered. Irate parents were among the most vociferous proponents of the effort to recall Newsom, and Republican recall contenders made schools a centerpiece of their case. But the Public Policy Institute of California found in April of 2021 , when many kids were yet to return to school, that most voters approved of how Newsom and their local school districts had handled school closures. The governor went on to crush the recall, buoyed by students' eventual return to their classrooms. None of that is to downplay the potency and pervasiveness of parents' disillusionment. Supporters and critics of school rules are not distributed evenly throughout California, which means the constituent consensus can vary significantly from district to district and county to county. IGS certainly did not suggest all is well, with three-quarters of likely voters and parents – and most Democrats – saying public education has deteriorated since the start of Covid. But the pro-mask, pro-vax contingent appears to have the numbers. BREAKING — President Joe Biden has selected D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, two sources familiar with the situation told POLITICO. Jackson emerged as Biden's top choice during a month-long search process that reportedly involved the president interviewing at least three women jurists, including California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger. BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. Conservatives from around the country are converging on Florida for the annual Conserative Political Action Conference. Californians expected to speak include former Trump official Richard Grenell and top recall replacement vote-getter Larry Elder. And back in California, the Air Resources Board is celebrating the millionth electric vehicle sold in the state. Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit jwhite@politico.com or follow me on Twitter @jeremybwhite. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I don't believe a check is the ultimate solution. It's the vestiges of redlining, not allowing us to get into the universities we wanted, not allowing us to get the jobs we want, not allowing us to be head coaches in the NFL. If all of that is still going on, you could give every Black person in California a check for a million bucks, but that doesn't mean it will lift us." Assemblymember Reggie-Jones Sawyer at a reparations task force hearing on who should be eligible. TWEET OF THE DAY: House Intelligence chair @RepAdamSchiff on the consequences of Russia invading Ukraine: "We must enact the most severe sanctions possible. Go after Russia's biggest banks. Go after Russia's biggest oligarchs. Go after Russia's ability to use financial markets. Cut them off from doing business with the West until they end this bloody war. And we need to do it now." BONUS TOTD: Former Gov. Arnold @Schwarzenegger : "I am not a foreign policy expert, so I will leave the analysis to smarter people than me. I do know what it's like to grow up after a war , in an occupied country, and I know that in war and its aftermath, no one wins. Everyone suffers." WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
| | A message from the California Clean Cars Campaign: DROUGHT. WILDFIRES. SMOG. Exhaust from cars and trucks is the number one source of climate and air pollution in California. Electric vehicles are pollution-free. Strong standards that put more electric vehicles on the road faster will protect public health, fight the climate crisis and create jobs. We need our regulators to adopt electric vehicle sales targets that achieve 75% pollution-free car sales by 2030. Click here to learn more about how we can improve California's landmark Advanced Clean Cars program. | | | |  | Top Talkers | | POSTPONED — "California panel delays vote on Black reparations due to eligibility questions," by POLITICO's Alex Nieves: "Legal experts, like UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, have argued that a race-based reparations law could face legal challenges under state and federal anti-discrimination statutes, while tying payments to a specific act like slavery is more likely to survive in court." BLOCKED — "Judge's order blocks Herb Wesson from serving on L.A. City Council, " by the LA Times' David Zahniser: "Wesson was sworn in Tuesday as a temporary replacement for Ridley-Thomas, who is fighting corruption charges and was suspended by his colleagues in October." — "A California Boarding School Besieged by Sexual Misconduct Allegations Faces a Scandal That Hits Even Closer to Home, " by Law and Crime's Colin Kalmbacher: "A Law&Crime investigation details what multiple sources claim to be a striking omission: a sexual misconduct claim against a direct relative of Sherman Day Thacher, who founded the school in 1889." HELP FOR HANK — "Spare the bear: Hank the Tank avoids death, relocation thanks to DNA evidence, " by the Sac Bee's Ryan Sabalow. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR | |
CLOSE TO HOME — "Russia-Ukraine Crisis: How the invasion impacts California," by the SF Chronicle's Jessica Flores: "The attacks against Ukraine may also impact California's gas prices as Russia was considered the world's third-largest producer of petroleum and other crude oil in 2020, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration."
OVERBOARD — "Oakland mayor: Defund the police push went 'too far,' " by POLITICO's Mackenize Wilkes: Libby Schaaf said her city has deep activist roots — the Black Panther Party was founded there — and that racial justice in Oakland goes beyond criminal justice but into other areas such as housing and income inequality. — " The Secret to Getting More Women on Boards: Forcing Companies to Act," by Bryce Covert for POLITICO Magazine: "Contrary to the concerns of many executives before the law went into effect, the California law shows that they will find women who are just as qualified as men, suggesting that the real hurdle to gender diversity came down, at least in many cases, to a lack of effort." IDLE — "In San Francisco, Hundreds of Homes for the Homeless Sit Vacant," by the SF Public Press' Nuala Bishari: "The city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing reported 1,633 homeless people like Ladybird — approved for housing and awaiting their turn to move in. Yet records provided by the department show 888 vacancies in its permanent supportive housing stock as of Feb. 22." IN A HAZE — "The return of California's tule fog," by the LA Times' Diana Marcum and Paul Duginski: "A 2019 UC Berkeley study linked declining fog to declining air pollution — a hard sell to locals who struggle with some of the worst air in the nation. The decline is more often linked to climate change and development, with foggy fields being paved over." — "'A lot of innocent people will die': Ukrainians in California decry Russia's attack," by the LA Times' Sarah Parvini: "Although the Ukrainian diaspora in Southern California is small compared with communities on the East Coast and the Midwest, enclaves across the state keep close ties, community members say." MOVING ON — "Report: S.F. police crime lab director up for new position in New Orleans," by the SF Chronicle's Megan Cassidy: "The San Francisco police crime lab attracted national attention last week after San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin revealed that the lab had identified a suspect in a recent property crime through DNA she had submitted as a victim in a 2016 rape exam." — "As Evidence of Cap and Trade Problems Mount, California Air Regulators Remain Defiant," by Capital & Main's Aaron Cantu: "While California accounts for only about 1% of global emissions, its policies for reducing them are watched as an exemplar across the globe, experts said." — "L.A. must add more than 250,000 homes to zoning plan by October, state rules," by the LA Times' Liam Dillon and David Zahniser: "If city leaders do not fix the housing plan or complete the rezoning by the new deadline, they could lose access to billions of dollars in affordable housing grants, officials with the state Department of Housing and Community Development said in a letter this week."
| | | | A message from the California Clean Cars Campaign:   | | | | | BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL | |
— "Bay Area lawmakers condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine as they grapple with what can be done," by the SF Chronicle's Tal Kopan: "Most called for the West and U.S. to remain united against Russia's aggression and backed President Biden's use of sanctions."
— "Exclusive: Sen. Padilla to unveil housing bill, wading into fierce debate," by the SF Chronicle's Tal Kopan: "The hundreds of billions of dollars for new housing would be paired with other large investments in short-term options like the parking sites and with programs to help those who historically are most vulnerable, like the elderly and disabled people."
| | SILICON VALLEYLAND | |
— " SEC Probes Trading by Elon Musk and Brother in Wake of Tesla CEO's Sales," by the Wall Street Journal's Dave Michaels: "The SEC's investigation began last year after Kimbal Musk sold shares of Tesla valued at $108 million, one day before the Tesla chief polled Twitter users asking whether he should unload 10% of his stake in the electric-car maker and pledging to abide by the vote's results."
BACK IN BUSINESS — "Google restores Bay Area office perks, loosens vaccine mandate for remote workers, " by the SF Chronicle's Roland Li: "The company's massive real estate holdings could also set a trend for smaller companies and have a major impact on local tax revenue." | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | MIXTAPE | |
— "2 California school officials charged, accused of not notifying police about alleged sexual assaults by student," by the Mercury News' Quinn Wilson.
— "49ers-Santa Clara feud rises again: Mayor says team wants to oust city manager," by the SF Chronicle's Lance Williams and Ron Kroichick. — " A Wedding or a House? One Couple Made their Choice in the San Fernando Valley," by the New York Times' Candace Jackson. — " 'Another reason to lose sleep': California fires are growing more intense at night, study shows," by the Sac Bee's Michael McGough. — "Why are so many San Franciscans moving to Montana?" by the SF Chronicle's Susie Neilson.
| | TRANSITIONS | | — SEIU California announced a pair of leaders on Thursday: David Huerta will serve as president and Tia M. Orr as executive director. The union also announced Rene Bayardo will serve as government relations director. — Yana Mayayeva has been promoted to be chief of staff for Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). She most recently was legislative director for Speier. — Cameron Edinburgh is now comms officer at the Center for a New American Security. He most recently was comms director for Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.). — Jodi Seth is now head of corporate and policy comms at Lyft. She most recently was head of policy comms at Amazon, and is a Facebook and John Kerry alum. | | IN MEMORIAM | |
— "Don Dix, Riverside County Republican Party chairman, dies at 64," by the Press Enterprise's Jeff Horseman.
| | BIRTHDAYS | | Meta's Anne Kornblut … Lauren Capp ... Sagie Kleinlerer ... Lyla Rose Holdstein ... Guy Lipa
| | A message from the California Clean Cars Campaign: California is home to the most polluted air in the United States. The American Lung Associationranked seven California cities in the top 10 of the most ozone polluted cities in the country. Polluted air contributes to asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and premature death, and harms the those most vulnerable like our seniors and children.
It's time to take big steps toward creating a safer, healthier future. If we don't significantly cut our climate pollution the average 6-year-old today will live through roughly three times as many climate disasters and experience twice as many wildfires as their grandparents.
With stronger early electric vehicle sales targets we can help protect health and mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
We need Governor Newsom and the Air Resources Board to act boldly in setting new electric vehicle sales targets in the Advanced Clean Cars program! | | |
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