‘ONE AND DONE’? Dem angst on ballot strategy deepens — PELOSI hit for luxe NAPA dinner — NEWSOM requests POTUS disaster declaration — CUOMO gives clemency to BOUDIN’s father

Presented by Californians for Broadband Equity
THE BUZZ YES OR NO ON ONE AND DONE?Anybody who has interest in California politics is getting the question from distraught Democrats these days: Do we ignore the second question on the recall ballot?
The first question facing 22 million California voters in the ongoing recall election, set to conclude on Sept. 14, asks: Should Gov. Gavin Newsom be recalled? The second asks: Who should replace him? Voters can choose from 45 candidates, but the governors team advises Democrats to be one and done to vote no on the first question, and dont even bother with the second one.
Its a strategy that has prompted some wild back-and-forth between media, election experts and even some leading Democratic voices. After all, its unprecedented: Who can remember an election in which California voters have been advised to just sit out half of the ballot?
A voter marks their mail-in ballot for the recall election at the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters office in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. | AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
KCBS Doug Sovern,whos covered California politics for decades in the state, got into the issue Monday when he published an impassioned blog post urging voters to do their job and make a choice.
Its a smart tactical approach for Newsom: reject the recall and dont legitimize it by participating any further. It serves his interests well but if youre a California voter, it doesnt serve yours, Sovern wrote. There is a real chance that Newsom will lose this election and be recalled. That remains unlikely, but it could happen. And if it does, perhaps as much as half the electorate will have abdicated its responsibility to help choose his successor, leaving that decision entirely in the hands of the people who want Newsom drummed out of office.
NATE SILVERS TAKE: Sovern was backed up by 538 pollster Nate Silver,who tweeted Monday: Pretty much always, if someone tells you not to vote, they are giving you bad advice. If you live in California and leave the recall line blank, you are partly disenfranchising yourself and are making a mistake. He argued that Newsoms advice to voters was self-destructive more than self-interested.
A DEMOCRAT ON THE BALLOT AGREES:YouTube phenom Kevin Paffrath, 29, the millionaire businessman leading the Democratic field of challengers, has hammered this point, telling us at a recent campaign event that asking Democrats to sit out a critical part of the election is nothing less than selfish. His advice was to hit his website and view his positions on issues. Dont leave it blank its anti-American.
2003 CAMPAIGN HAND SAYS NO WAY:But Democratic consultant Garry South, who advised then-Gov. Gray Davis in the 2003 recall, argues that Democrats should pass on any choice of a replacement for the sitting governor as, he said, they should have back when it was Davis turn, when Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante set himself up as the Democratic alternative. I have direct experience in what happened then, in 2003, he said, and it was a disaster.
His case: Theres nine Democrats who filed to run, South said, and not a single one is even remotely qualified to be governor. Why would we suggest they vote for one of them? And choosing a Republican is equally untenable option, he added: What is the downside of just saying, Just vote no, fold up your ballot and send it in?
DEMOCRATIC RETURNS LEADING The ballots that have been returned by mail so far may give Democrats some comfort about the so-called enthusiasm gap theyre facing in this recall. With 3 percent reporting, the data compiled by election guru Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc shows early returns so far have favored Democrats over Republicans by a 2-1 margin but thats with some 21.5 million ballots still outstanding.
BUENOS DÍAS, good Tuesday morning. Get ready: A fourth recall candidate debate will be hosted by the San Francisco Chronicle and KCRA on Wednesday, with Republicans Kevin Faulconer, Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, businessman John Cox and, for the first time, Democrat Paffrath. Once again, Republicans Caitlyn Jenner and frontrunner Larry Elder have refused to debate.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: I think Larry Elder, with tens of thousands of hours on the air, is entertaining, and thought-provoking. He is a thoughtful conservative who has a lot of great ideas. GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, pressed on CNN as to whether Elders past comments about women disqualify him as governor. Issa, in coming to Elders defense, never mentioned he has already endorsed Kevin Faulconer for governor.
TWEET OF THE DAY: SF DA Chesa Boudin @chesaboudin: My heart is bursting. On the eve of my first child’s birth, my dad – who’s been in prison nearly my entire life – was granted clemency. He never intended harm, yet his crime devastated many families. My heart breaks for the families that can never get their loved ones back.
WHERES GAVIN? Nothing official announced.
A message from Californians for Broadband Equity:
Broadband equity for all Californians is in our reach but only if we make chronically unserved and historically hard-to-reach communities in our state the top priority. Californias lawmakers must act now to amend the states $6b broadband plan to ensure all investments in middle-mile infrastructure are coupled with last-mile deployment. It is imperative to incorporate effective public-private partnerships when deploying broadband infrastructure to make more funding available for adoption programs. Learn more.
TOP TALKERS
BOUDINS FATHER GRANTED CLEMENCY Cuomo commutes sentence of radical who took part in ’81 robbery, via Albany Times Union. Just hours before leaving office, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo granted clemency to five men, including the commutation of the 75-years-to-life sentence of David Gilbert, a former member of the radical Weather Underground who in 1981 took part in the robbery of a Brink’s armored truck in Rockland County that left two Nyack police officers and a security guard dead.
Newsom requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Northstate wildfires, by KRCRs Ashley Gardner: Read the request.
After Jan. 6 attack, US Capitol Police choose San Francisco for new field office. Here’s why, by the SF Chronicle’s Tal Kopan: The impetus? The level of threats in these places to members of Congress, the agency says.
HERE WE GO AGAIN California state lawmaker quarantining after positive coronavirus test, by POLITICOs Jeremy B. White: The breakthrough case underscores the perils of the highly contagious Delta variant as lawmakers gather in Sacramento for the final few weeks of the legislative session. Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, a Sacramento Democrat, said he got tested after “feeling mild cold-like symptoms” and will self-isolate for a week before returning to the Capitol on August 30.
Revealed: how California police chased a nonexistent antifa bus, by the Guardians Sam Levin: Authorities in rural northern counties spread misinformation and launched aircraft surveillance in response to false rumors about antifa infiltrators, according to records obtained by the Guardian.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Video shows hordes of maskless people with Nancy Pelosi at Napa fundraiser, by KCBS Stephanie Raymond: The event is drawing ire as Napa County is designated as a high COVID-19 transmission area — the most concerning designation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CAMPAIGN MODE
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK RECALL TEAMWORK: A pro-recall ballot committee aligned with Republican Elder and former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaios Reform California outfit are working together to blanket the airwaves. Reform California is targeting Latino voters with an initial $125,000 buy of English and Spanish spots and looking to the Elder-linked ballot committee to help extend the ad blitz to cover multiple markets.
FPPC PROBE State officials open investigation into whether Larry Elder failed to disclose income sources, by the LA Times’ Adam Elmahrek: A Times article earlier this month first reported that Elder likely failed to properly disclose his finances because he appeared to own the company, meaning he was also required to report ownership in the business as well as income sources to the company above certain amounts.
LA LANDSCAPE L.A.s mayoral election is months away. But some are already unhappy with the choices, by the LA Times’ Dakota Smith and David Zahniser.
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD California isn’t just blue. It’s dead, by Joe Mathews in the SF Chronicle: California governance is a thoroughly bipartisan affair … with one important caveat. Our state today is governed both by living Democrats and dead Republicans.
ISSUE MATTER Democrats spotlight abortion in bid to save Newsom, by POLITICOs Alice Miranda Ollstein and Victoria Colliver: Fearful of widespread voter apathy, Democrats and their allies are hammering the message that a GOP governor could veto abortion-rights laws, cut funding for clinics and appoint anti-abortion agency officials, judges and senators in a state thats long been at the forefront of making it accessible to terminate a pregnancy.
ROB ON THE RECALL Rob Pyers latest take via the nonpartisan California Target Book: Elder’s campaign and ballot measure committees have now raised over $8 million between them, with venture capitalist Tim Draper (of ‘Six Californias’ and ‘Three Californias’ notoriety) one of the latest contributors to max out.
Also noted by Pyers: There have already been a number of conspiracy theories circulating on social media by conservatives alleging that the ballot return envelopes and placement of Elder’s name on the ballot (which varies across California’s 80 Assembly Districts) are evidence of a far-reaching conspiracy spanning multiple jurisdictions to steal the election. The Secretary of State, news outlets, and CA GOP officials have all attempted to debunk the claims, although Larry Elder was happy to fan the flames.
Longshot recall candidate Kiley may emerge as a GOP leader, by APs Adam Beam: While little known outside his district, the former teacher and state prosecutor has gained a devoted but relatively small following by staking a claim as one of Newsoms chief critics during the pandemic.
JOIN TODAY FOR A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH REP. DAN CRENSHAW: As the Biden administration grapples with the fallout from the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels will dissect the latest with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), a former Navy SEAL who deployed five times overseas, including in Afghanistan. Crenshaw will discuss the precarious situation, drawing from his own experience, and detail what he thinks should happen in the coming days, weeks, and months. REGISTER HERE.
CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR
WEINERS CRUSADE CONTINUES Major housing upzoning bill passes Assembly, by POLITICOs Jeremy B. White: The bill, by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), would allow cities and counties to skip environmental reviews when they upzone urban infill or transit-rich areas for housing developments of up to 10 units.
ENVIRO OP-ED Californias top Democrats took money from big oil and gas. Then climate legislation died, California League of Conservation Voters Mary Creasman opines in the Sac Bee: Senate leaders need to deliver for Californians who are worried about the impact of the climate crisis on our water and air, protecting our homes from wildfires and the resilience of our food and energy supply. Breaking corporate polluters grip on Sacramento is the only way we will solve the climate crisis.
Caldor Fire jumps north of Highway 50 amid red-flag winds, nearly topping 100,000 acres, by the Sac Bee’s Vincent Moleski.
TRIBES TRAGEDY Native American Maidu tribes get sacred Sierra land back, only to see it burn in Dixie Fire, by the SF Chronicle’s Kurtis Alexander: With its sprawling meadows ringed by pine forests and granite peaks and concealing remnants of the old civilization, the plot is the largest and most sacred of four properties the native people recently reclaimed. The fire hit all of these spots.
Many small districts complain California shorted their funding during the pandemic, by EdSources John Fensterwald.
BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION Pelosi and centrists search for path out of standoff, by POLITICOs Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris: Pelosi and the leader of a group of 10 centrist defectors white-knuckled their way through last-minute deal-making on Monday night as both sides searched for a deal that would end their stalemate and clear the way for passage of a $3.5 trillion budget framework.
Capitol Police clear officer in shooting of San Diego activist Ashli Babbitt during Jan. 6 riot, by POLITICOs Nicholas Wu: The department said in a statement that its Office of Professional Responsibility determined the officer’s actions were “lawful and within Department policy.”
McCarthy faces speakership test on infrastructure vote, by POLITICOs Olivia Beavers: With the House voting this week on advancing the infrastructure legislation, a $3.5 trillion Democratic spending framework plus an election reform bill, Republicans are still waiting to receive guidance on whether the GOP leader will whip against or withhold his influential fire on the bipartisan plan.
CALIFORNIA COUPLE Matt Gaetz elopes to California, marries girlfriend, by AP: The controversial 39-year-old Republican, who is under investigation as part of a sex trafficking probe, announced the wedding on his personal Twitter page.
FDA approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making way for more vaccine mandates, by POLITICOs Katherine Ellen Foley and Lauren Gardner.
SILICON VALLEYLAND
YouTube Boasts $30 Billion in Payments as Creator Wars Heat Up, by Bloombergs Mark Bergen and Lucas Shaw: The media arm of Alphabet Inc.s Google announced on Monday that it shares advertising sales with over 2 million video producers. YouTube also said it has paid out more than $30 billion to creators in the past three years from ads, merchandising and other service features.
HOLLYWOODLAND
L.A. County prosecutors obtain new indictment against Harvey Weinstein, by the LA Times’ James Queally: The disgraced mogul was indicted on 11 counts of rape, forced oral copulation and other charges in April, but L.A. County Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench threw out one count of sexual battery against Weinstein last week, agreeing with a defense motion that the statute of limitations on the charge had run out.
CANNABIS COUNTRY
CHRONIC PROBLEMS Times are really, really tough: Plummeting cannabis prices strain small Northern California farmers, by Mercury News Isabella Vanderheiden: Humboldt County cannabis farmers are drowning in a flooded market. As the price of cannabis continues to fall, small farmers struggling to stay afloat fear for the sustainability of their future.
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MIXTAPE
Al Capone’s granddaughters to auction off his personal belongings in Sacramento, by the SF Chronicle’s Michael Cabanatuan.
Diners are bailing on Bay Area restaurant reservations amid delta variant concerns, by the SF Chronicle’s Janelle Bitker.
Santa Clarita Authorities Investigate Brazen Attack of 2 Workers at COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic, by NBC LAs Christine Kim.
Bay Area home gutted by fire sells for $1 million, by the LA Times’ Robin Estrin.
Chevy Chase! California car dealership lets customer trade in his Corvette for new 2022 model after technician who fixed the supercar was caught taking it on 148mph street race, by the Daily Mails Christopher Eberhart.
IN MEMORIAM
James Flanigan, longtime Times business columnist, dies at 85, by the LA Times’ Michael Hiltzik.
TRANSITIONS
MAZEL TOV Andrew Bower, a senior legislative assistant for Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), and Clara Beyer, who runs a web development and design firm and is the daughter of Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), got married Saturday in Newport, R.I., overlooking the ocean, hours before Hurricane Henri slammed the coast. Pic
BIRTHDAYS
David Molina Mel Karmazin Geo Saba of Rep. Ro Khannas office
A message from Californians for Broadband Equity:
California will squander an historic opportunity to achieve Broadband For All if state lawmakers dont prioritize investments in connecting chronically unserved and hard-to-reach communities. The State has opened the door with a $6 billion broadband investment now we must get the details right. To make this a reality, state lawmakers must:
· EXPEDITE DEPLOYMENT of viable broadband projects through reform of the existing California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and leverage available broadband service maps to accurately identify the unserved communities who are in critical need of priority investment
· AVOID NETWORKS TO NOWHERE by requiring all proposed middle-mile builds be paired with last-mile investments to actually connect unserved households
· INCREASE BROADBAND ADOPTION by providing subsidies, devices and digital literacy programs to close the divide for the 26% of Californians who have broadband access, but choose not to subscribe for service
Learn more.
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