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It’s election season, child!
Today is the last day for San Francisco voters to forged or mail of their ballots in a particular election runoff that may decide who fills the state Assembly seat vacated by David Chiu when he was appointed San Francisco metropolis legal professional — the newest in a slew of particular elections prompted by a “Great Resignation” of state lawmakers.
And, in precisely seven weeks, the statewide June 7 major election shall be upon us.
But don’t fear: CalIssues is right here to assist.
We’ve launched a revamped, better-than-ever model of our famend Voter Guide to stroll you thru all it’s essential to learn about the rapidly approaching election, together with:
- Key election dates and a voting FAQ.
- An interactive software to seek out your newly redrawn congressional and legislative districts — and the candidates competing in them.
- Candidate resumes and job descriptions — in the event you’ve ever puzzled how a lot a governor earns, or the distinction between state controller and treasurer, now’s your likelihood to seek out out!
- Hot races for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and state Assembly and Senate.
- Side-by-side comparisons in key, contested races of prime candidates’ stances on main points, together with housing and homelessness, training, justice, well being care, the financial system and the surroundings.
- The most complete marketing campaign finance information we’ve ever supplied.
- And a curated collection of must-know election information and evaluation.
“We made the CalMatters Voter Guide so you could find these answers from expert, independent reporters who ask the tough questions, look at the research and talk to all sides,” mentioned Editor-in-Chief David Lesher. “We want you to feel confident in the decisions you need to make.”
You obtained a sneak peek of the Voter Guide in Monday’s e-newsletter, which shared key takeaways from CalIssues’ 90-minute interview with GOP state Sen. Brian Dahle, the Lassen County farmer in search of to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom.
And right here’s our latest providing: the prime issues you need to know from our 70-minute interview with Nathan Hochman, a Republican former federal prosecutor operating for legal professional normal in opposition to Democratic incumbent — and Newsom appointee — Rob Bonta.
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The coronavirus backside line: As of Thursday, California had 8,536,943 confirmed instances (+0.1% from earlier day) and 88,907 deaths (+0.2% from earlier day), based on state information now up to date simply twice per week on Tuesdays and Fridays. CalIssues can be monitoring coronavirus hospitalizations by county.
California has administered 74,133,081 vaccine doses, and 75.1% of eligible Californians are absolutely vaccinated.
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Other tales you need to know
1. Instacart withdraws tax credit score proposal
Instacart has withdrawn its software for a $21 million California Competes Tax Credit, the gig-economy firm informed me Monday — a transfer that follows vehement opposition from labor teams and raises questions as as to whether Instacart will proceed its deliberate growth in San Francisco.
The information got here a number of days after I reported on Instacart’s tentative settlement with Newsom’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Under the phrases of the deal, Instacart’s tax credit score was conditional on it creating 1,155 new full-time jobs in California and making at the least $21 million of capital investments in further workplace house in San Francisco. Without the tax credit score, Instacart licensed in its software, the “project may occur in another state.” A GO-Biz spokesperson famous that Instacart’s secondary U.S. headquarters in Atlanta may home the deliberate growth.
- Instacart informed me in a press release: “Instacart is proud to call California home and to have created thousands of jobs and contributed millions in tax revenue to the state over the past decade. At this time, we have decided not to further pursue a grant through the Cal Competes Tax Credit Program. We appreciate the opportunity to work with state leaders and look forward to continued discussions about how we can build on Instacart’s long legacy of growth, job creation, and community impact across the state.”
- Heather Purcell, GO-Biz deputy director of communications, informed me in a press release: “Instacart informed us (Monday) that they have withdrawn their application as companies have the right to do at any point and for any reason.”
The proposed tax credit score was met with sturdy union pushback. Following this text’s protection and outcry from incoming California Labor Federation chief Lorena Gonzalez, a coalition of labor teams despatched Dee Dee Myers, GO-Biz director and chair of the California Competes Board, a letter urging the board to reject the tentative deal. The unions cited Instacart’s monetary backing of Proposition 22, a 2020 poll measure that exempted it and different gig-economy giants from a controversial state labor regulation Gonzalez authored as a state Assemblymember: “Given that Instacart’s business model is based on violating labor law, exploiting workers, and replacing good union jobs with low-wage jobs, this proposal is not only a poor use of taxpayer funds — it also adds insult to injury for the tens of thousands of Instacart shoppers who have been systematically denied their rights and protections as employees in the state of California.”
2. Protests collide at state Capitol
No sooner did state lawmakers return to Sacramento after an 11-day spring recess than issues began heating up. Two rallies converged outdoors the state Capitol on Monday, leading to chaos as some members of the People’s Convoy — apparently related to a trucker caravan crisscrossing the nation in opposition to vaccine mandates and COVID restrictions — screamed over the attendees of another event calling for expanded assets for crime victims. That rally, sponsored by the California Prosecutors Alliance, featured a number of of the Democratic lawmakers who unveiled sufferer safety payments in February.
- Fred Greaves, who was photographing the crime victims occasion for CalIssues, was hit by a person seemingly affiliated with the People’s Convoy protest. The man “smacked my camera back into my face” after which “said something snarky and kind of laughed and just walked away,” Greaves informed me. “As somebody that’s been a journalist for more than 30 years and covered all kinds of stuff … it was pretty outrageous.”
- Greaves wasn’t injured and determined in opposition to urgent fees, although he mentioned the incident with California Highway Patrol officers monitoring the protest. “My sense is that he was looking to … generate some sort of conflict or strife,” Greaves mentioned. He famous that some protesters — who had been yelling slogans equivalent to “Elected officials are all child rapists!” — appeared to suppose that “because we were paying attention to this other event and not the People’s Convoy, that … (was) proof of some collusion or media coverup.”
- Cristine DeBerry, govt director of the Prosecutors Alliance of California, informed me in a press release: “Members of the convoy wandered into our event and many were hostile and disruptive. After the victims spoke, however, many apologized and expressed support for the changes we’re trying to make. These are reforms that everyone can get behind.”
Groups affiliated with the People’s Convoy are slated to return to the Capitol right now and Wednesday for daylong protests, based on the California Highway Patrol’s allow calendar. Also scheduled for right now: Two protests in opposition to a invoice that might stop girls from going through civil or legal liabilities for their being pregnant outcomes; the California Family Council alleges it “decriminalizes infanticide.”
3. Roundup of Capitol information
Let’s dive into different key Monday happenings at the state Capitol:
- Democratic Assemblymember Ash Kalra of San Jose unveiled a invoice that might drive employers to inform staff once they’re being monitored or tracked — and ban surveillance outdoors of labor, CalIssues’ Lil Kalish reviews. The proposal additionally would ban the use of facial recognition expertise and forestall employers from utilizing algorithms to determine when and whether or not an worker ought to be be disciplined or fired.
- Meanwhile, as Newsom and lawmakers wrangle over the finest means to offer monetary aid to Californians hurting from excessive fuel costs, Democratic Assemblymember Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles and anti-poverty advocates referred to as on the state to ship one-time funds of $2,000 per little one to households making as much as $30,000 a yr, CalIssues’ Jeanne Kuang reviews. The proposed funds are supposed to partially make up for the expiration of final yr’s expanded federal little one tax credit score.
- GOP lawmakers launched a proposal to make use of $10 billion of the state’s finances surplus to create a Mental Health Infrastructure Fund to assist construct new county psychological well being and dependancy remedy services and broaden the behavioral well being workforce. Democratic lawmakers — and Newsom — have their very own concepts for psychological well being reform.
- And a key Assembly committee superior a invoice that might construct on California’s regulation mandating variety on company boards by increasing the listing of “underrepresented communities” to incorporate individuals who determine as Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, Jewish, Muslim, or Sikh, or who’ve a incapacity. However, a superior court docket decide not too long ago dominated the regulation was unconstitutional.
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CalIssues columnist Dan Walters: Californians bear certainly one of the nation’s highest tax burdens — and two new polls point out they resent it.
Proposed well being care contract would profit susceptible Californians: A single state contract with Kaiser Permanente to offer Medi-Cal providers in counties the place it operates will additional California’s targets of constructing high quality well being care extra accessible and reasonably priced, argues Dr. Bechara Choucair, senior vp and chief well being officer for Kaiser Permanente.
Other issues value your time
Los Angeles’ eviction moratorium holds as Supreme Court refuses to listen to landlords’ problem. // LAist
A rising tally of lonely deaths on California’s streets. // New York Times
How do individuals fall into homelessness? Three tales of hardship. // San Luis Obispo Tribune
These airways are making masks non-compulsory after federal mandate struck down. // CNN
Some state-issued digital vaccine playing cards could have incomplete data. // San Diego Union-Tribune
Battle traces are drawn over California take care of Kaiser Permanente. // California Healthline
UC Davis, Kaiser attempt to place extra docs in Central Valley. // Sacramento Bee
California wants extra medical staff, however are they being stalled at group faculties? // Fresno Bee
5,000 Stanford nurses and households may lose medical insurance in the event that they go on deliberate strike. // ABC7 San Francisco
Thousands of Sutter nurses strike at Bay Area services for higher staffing, well being and security measures. // Mercury News
CalPERS considers new guidelines for working after retirement. // Sacramento Bee
Silicon Valley’s COVID windfall raises alarms about area’s financial system. // Mercury News
Is San Diego getting sufficient out of Tailgate Park deal with Padres improvement crew? // San Diego Union-Tribune
Rick Caruso missed practically 40% of conferences as LAPD commissioner. // Los Angeles Times
Sonoma State president separates from husband amid sexual harassment, retaliation scandal. // Los Angeles Times
Why so many California faculty board recall efforts fizzled throughout the pandemic. // Mercury News
New LAUSD superintendent plans to fill a whole bunch of instructor vacancies by reassigning faculty workers. // The 74
He spent 30 years in jail on a wrongful homicide conviction. A Chesa Boudin marketing campaign promise will free him. // San Francisco Chronicle
Kamala Harris to give attention to portfolio points on journey to California. // CNN
PG&E’s Tesla Megapack battery in California now operational. // Associated Press
Toxic bathe water. Sewage pits. ‘Infuriating’ woes in east Coachella Valley cellular parks. // Palm Springs Desert Sun
See you tomorrow.
Tips, perception or suggestions? Email emily@calmatters.org.
Follow me on Twitter: @emily_hoeven
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