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Politico
a day ago
- Politics
- Politico
Can YIMBYs win without Scott Wiener?
BIG SHOES — Activists with the pro-housing YIMBY movement have scored win after win at the California Legislature in recent years. But they could soon face a conundrum: What happens when state Sen. Scott Wiener isn't around? Wiener, in tandem with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, has been the tip of the spear, pushing through a host of aggressive bills to turbocharge housing construction. Most notably, Wiener and Wicks championed a proposal this year to bypass environmental reviews for new housing in urban areas — the biggest reform to the landmark California Environmental Quality Act in a generation. His time at the state Capitol is winding down, however. Wiener recently opened a campaign committee to run for San Francisco's congressional seat currently held by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. There are a lot of 'ifs' surrounding Wiener's political aspirations. Pelosi, who's represented the city in the House since 1987, hasn't ruled out running for another term in 2026. Wiener's fundraising committee is ostensibly earmarked for a 2028 campaign, but he could easily transfer it to a 2026 run. And Wiener's campaign has been ambiguous lately about whether he would consider running against Pelosi. All of that said, activists with the YIMBY — 'Yes in My Back Yard' — or Abundance movement are grappling with the reality that their champion legislator may soon depart. At stake is whether those groups will have the legislative muscle to continue pushing through efforts to solve the housing shortage by slashing state and local regulations. More lawmakers aligned with the YIMBY movement have been elected in recent years, but it's unclear who among them has the skills to be a cudgel in the Senate like Wiener. 'The honest answer is, 'We'll know in time,'' said Todd David, political director for Abundant SF and a member of Wiener's inner circle of advisers. 'Senator Wiener has loomed so large on this issue. The question is, 'How long will it take for some of these (new) legislators to come into their own?'' Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action, said she's not sweating Wiener's eventual exit. She said the group's success reforming CEQA and passing other pro-housing legislation is a reflection of the movement's grassroots, with YIMBY chapters that have canvassed and raised money to help elect lawmakers. 'There's going to be elected officials that want to claim that mantle,' Foote said. She listed a handful of new-ish legislators who are YIMBY-friendly: Sens. Jesse Arreguín and Christopher Cabaldon and Assemblymembers Juan Carrillo, Lori Wilson, David Alvarez and Nick Schultz. Wicks won't be forced out due to term limits until 2030. Wiener told Playbook he's not worried about the plight of housing bills after he's gone: 'Listen, we're all replaceable. We all have expiration dates,' he said. 'There are various members in both houses who are deeply committed to housing, so I'm confident the work will continue.' But YIMBY advocates have another problem, too — one that is cropping up before Wiener leaves Sacramento, and regardless of when he runs for Congress. Incoming Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, one of the chamber's biggest environmental champions and a lukewarm supporter of housing legislation, is widely expected to remove Wiener as chair of the powerful budget committee (this year's CEQA reforms advanced through budget bills). Moreover, the YIMBY movement has faced sharp criticism in recent months from some labor union leaders and environmentalists, who argue the effort to streamline construction has undermined other priorities, such as protections for workers and wildlife habitats. California Labor Federation leader Lorena Gonzalez, a fierce opponent of recent YIMBY legislation, said a sizable group of Democratic lawmakers are uncomfortable as pro-housing groups take bigger regulation-cutting swings. She predicted that discomfort will grow regardless of Wiener's plans. 'The (YIMBY) movement has moved the bar … it finally got to a point where lawmakers were like, 'Hold up, I didn't sign up for that,'' Gonzalez said. 'It's a natural reaction to people opening their eyes.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Like what you're reading? Sign up to get California Playbook in your inbox, and forward it to a friend. You can also text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. CA vs. TRUMP DUKING IT OUT OVER DATA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James are leading a lawsuit against the Agriculture Department over its efforts to obtain sensitive information on participants in the country's largest anti-hunger program, our Grace Yarrow reported for POLITICO Pro subscribers. The officials allege USDA's request for state data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and participants violates federal privacy laws. Bonta has also sued the Department of Health and Human Services for sharing patient data with immigration authorities. This latest development tees up another fight over jurisdiction as immigration advocates seek to keep wide swaths of undocumented Californians' data out of the Trump administration's hands. 'President [Donald] Trump continues to weaponize private and sensitive personal information — not to root out fraud, but to create a culture of fear where people are unwilling to apply for essential services,' Bonta said in a statement. NUMBER OF THE DAY 100,947: The record number of California residents admitted to University of California campuses for the upcoming academic year. CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: KHANNA'S NOD — Rep. Ro Khanna is backing Democratic entrepreneur Brandon Riker in his bid to unseat Rep. Ken Calvert, Riker's campaign exclusively told Playbook. The crowded race to oust Calvert — a top target of Democrats this cycle — also includes Katherine Aleman, a teacher who announced last week, and Riverside attorney Anuj Dixit, who was recently endorsed by Rep. Dave Min. MONEY MEADE — In case you missed it while we were off, Democratic labor organizer Perry Meade last week joined the field challenging Republican Rep. Young Kim. And he raised $250,000 in the 24 hours after he announced his candidacy, his campaign told Playbook on Monday. Read more on his launch from our Juliann Ventura STATE CAPITOL EYES ON GAZA — Sacramento leaders have joined national and international leaders in condemning the starvation and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza amid a growing global outcry. Wiener, who is chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus, shared an X post on Friday condemning the Israeli government's actions. 'What the Israeli govt is doing in Gaza — inflicting mass displacement & starvation on Palestinians — is indefensible & has to stop,' he said. 'The Israeli govt's actions won't bring the hostages home or bring peace. This gruesome campaign will do nothing except continue to inflict misery.' Jewish Caucus member Matt Haney called for an end to the 'despicable, inhumane assault on the people of Gaza' yesterday in an Instagram post. State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez also shared an Instagram post calling for a ceasefire. 'We will not let people starve in silence,' she said. Gov. Gavin Newsom — who took a trip to Israel shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — hasn't weighed in on the topic in recent days. Asked whether he planned to comment on the situation, Newsom's team pointed to a statement he made during his appearance on 'The Shawn Ryan Show' podcast two weeks ago. 'Just enough,' Newsom said on the podcast. 'Come on, all these poor children. Enough. When's enough, enough? I mean, fuck Hamas … But Jesus. Look at these children starving.' — Lindsey Holden Top Talkers SOUNDING THE ALARM — Wiener, in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, warned against dismissing Trump's idea to reopen Alcatraz as a prison. The San Francisco Democrat wrote that 'we can't assume this idea is fake' and that 'we need to be planning now for how to stop this awful plan — or at least slow it down.' UNIVERSITY EXPANSION — A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University said that the school is considering expanding into San Francisco and has been working with Mayor Daniel Lurie's office, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The spokesperson said that the university is exploring the idea of 'establishing a presence downtown.' CHECKING IN — Rep. Robert Garcia said he spoke to Andry Hernández Romero, a Venezuelan migrant whom the U.S. deported to El Salvador, about the makeup artist's recent release from a Salvadoran prison. Garcia on X said Romero was in good spirits but spoke of horrific conditions in the CECOT detention facility. AROUND THE STATE — A U.S. citizen arrested during a July 17 immigration raid at a Sacramento Home Depot store was charged Monday with vandalism and accused of puncturing a tire on a van being used to transport undocumented immigrants, The Sacramento Bee reports. — The union representing thousands of grocery store workers from the U.S.-Mexico border to Bakersfield authorized a strike against a major supermarket chain. (The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Environmental groups sued California over a state climate rule, alleging it increases air pollution. (POLITICO's E&E News) — A city in Mexico that has more than a thousand dentists draws patients mostly from across the border who are seeking more affordable dental care. (The New Yorker) PLAYBOOKERS SPOTTED: WEDDING CRASHER — Kamala Harris in the Cotswolds region of England, attending the reportedly $6.7 million wedding of Olympic equestrian Harry Charles and Eve Jobs, the daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. PEOPLE MOVES — Rhonalyn Cabello has been promoted from communications manager to communications director in the office of Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. — Stuart Leavenworth has rejoined the Los Angeles Times as state editor, based in Sacramento. He'll oversee general assignment reporters across the state. BIRTHDAYS — former Rep. Jeff Denham … author Jason Levin … documentary filmmaker Ken Burns … actor Wil Wheaton … BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Monday): Josh Curtis 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.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fast Company
The coming battle among YIMBYs
The YIMBY ('yes in my backyard') movement has achieved remarkable growth in the past few years, uniting people across the political spectrum who share a common belief: It should be easy to build more housing. You can find shared interests among unlikely alliances when you step out of political tribes. People who label themselves as socialists and capitalists are standing at town hall podiums to support and promote abundant housing. High fives! Hooray for unity, right? Insert record scratch. Socialists and capitalists have economic worldviews that are incompatible with each other. There's definitely consensus about the ends (plenty of homes), but the means will be hotly debated. The clash was inevitable, and the recent book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, Abundance, has keyboard warriors starting to realize there are a host of competing opinions on how to get past the gatekeepers who would have homes remain scarce. You might think something as apolitical as a townhouse wouldn't be a lightning rod for a populist left-versus-right debate. The reason is economics. Considering the surge in populism in recent years, it's worth understanding why economics, not 'neighborhood character,' is at the heart of the argument. The Socialist YIMBY Socialist YIMBY advocates believe housing should be universally accessible, treated fundamentally as a human right rather than a commodity to be bought and sold for profit. Prominent democratic socialists, like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh, argue for 'decommodifying' housing, where the government would guarantee homes. Market forces are not part of the equation. A socialist YIMBY is going to want state-managed housing solutions, price controls, rent freezes, and strict regulations on private ownership. Mamdani even said he'd be open to the abolition of private property if it meant getting people places to live. Socialist YIMBYs build their case on fairness, social justice, and community stability. They argue that a free market creates disparities, displaces vulnerable populations, and commodifies essential human needs. The belief here is that removing profit motives from housing reduces speculation, stabilizes communities, and ensures housing stability and equity, prioritizing human dignity and communal well-being above private gain. The Capitalist YIMBY Capitalist YIMBY advocates believe in leveraging market mechanisms. To them, the root cause of housing shortages lies in artificial restrictions imposed by zoning laws, burdensome permitting processes, and other bureaucratic interference. Their economic rationale hinges on the concept of supply and demand, and prices as crucial signals. Capitalist YIMBYs argue that when the price of a type of home goes up in an area, it signals to developers, investors, and builders that demand is high and supply low. Rather than suppressing these signals through artificial price controls, they propose getting rid of laws that prohibit housing and streamline approval processes in order to spur rapid and flexible housing production. They argue that robust competition among builders and investors inherently leads to diverse housing options, lower overall costs, and more innovation in housing solutions. The Perplexed YIMBY A person is standing at the philosophical crossroads to abundant housing and two fellow YIMBYs are giving conflicting directions: 'We have to go left.' 'No, we have to go right.' Socialists look at capitalist solutions as inherently exploitative, always creating more inequalities, and they believe profit motives are what make homes too expensive. Capitalists look at socialist solutions as inevitably leading to inefficiencies, housing shortages, and stagnation. When I've asked people about their take on this conflict, a common response is something like 'We'll have enough homes for everyone if building regulations are relaxed and the government is in charge of low-income housing.' I believe that's wishful thinking, since it brings us right back to the fundamental disagreement on economics. A capitalist will say, 'There is a market for small and modest housing, so get the government out of the way.' The socialist will say, 'We don't believe you.' I truly believe that populists on the left and the right want there to be enough homes for everyone. But it's also clear that the populist left and right will forever treat each other like they're living in a cartoon or comic book. 'I'm the good guy and you're the bad guy.' In spite of their shared interest in abundant housing, the socialist YIMBYs and capitalist YIMBYs are never going to agree on the means to the end. The best first step is something both sides claim to support: getting rid of the local regulatory barriers that are preventing anyone from building a granny flat, a townhouse, a duplex, etc.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Why Ireland's YIMBYs are having a moment
FOR THE DOZENS of (non political) people who actually read public consultations on Irish infrastructure projects, the recent decision on Ballyboggan came as a shock. The location is planned to be the capital's newest town , with officials planning to deliver 6,000 homes at the site of the Dublin Industrial Estate, which is close to Glasnevin Cemetary and only a short distance from the city centre. 6,000 sounds like a lot, and it is. But under Dublin City Council's proposed plan, much of the development would be limited to four storeys, with just a few above that height. Normally, these heights would be welcomed by locals in most areas of Ireland. Anyone who has read through planning submissions from local residents (if you haven't, what are you doing with your life) would know that there are often protests over new housing developments. Common issues cited are taller buildings blocking out light, too many new homes putting a strain on local services, too much traffic, and so on. But Ballyboggan was different. Not only were most of the submissions in favour of development – they actually called for taller buildings. While there were plenty of articulate submissions, one in particular succinctly sums things up: 'The plan would represent a huge missed opportunity to provide homes for thousands of people at a time of overwhelming demand.' The one line comment cuts to the core of the most important issues for many in Ireland – housing. Unsurprising, given prices have surged a staggering 40% or so over the last five years. The comment also outlines the solution many people want to see implemented: build more homes. As fast as possible, as affordably as possible, in an effort to tackle the country's crippling supply shortage. Their cause is increasingly being championed by Ireland's YIMBY movement – yes in my back yard. It's meant to act as a counterbalance to so-called 'NIMBYs' – not in my back yard. The proposed Ballyboggan development in Dublin. Dublin City Council Dublin City Council YIMBY vs NIMBY The two terms don't just apply to housing – they apply to any kind of new infrastructure development. In recent years, 'NIMBYism' has increasingly become a dirty word in Ireland. Some of this is with good reason. Think of how county councils zone for low-density property development in the middle of a housing supply crisis. Or the role local objections played in upgrading the Luas green line to a metro. Or local residents objecting to new housing developments in emotional, attention-grabbing terms – such as describing a proposed six-storey apartment block as a ' monstrous tower '. There are plenty more examples, which led then-Taoiseach Micheál Martin to agreeing in 2021 that Ireland has a 'culture of Nimbyism' . But there seems to have been some pushback as of late – which is where YIMBYs come in. Their ultimate aim is simple, at least on paper: Get stuff built. The YIMBY movement has its roots in the U.S. – as did its counterpoint, NIMBY (unsurprising, given that they both use the term 'yard'). The term 'YIMBY' has likely existed in some form for decades. But the movement in its current guise took off in San Francisco in the last 10 years or so, as a way to try to tackle the area's affordability crisis. Put simply: surges in house prices are normally attributed to too much demand, and not enough supply. Given there's not much you can do to lower demand in booming economic areas like San Francisco, YIMBYs want more to improve supply by building more homes, ultimately improving housing affordability. Advertisement The movement grew to become more broadly pro-development, generally pushing for the likes of transport and environmental projects. Given Ireland tends to follow the lead of the U.S. in most areas, it was perhaps just a matter of time before YIMBYism took off here. And resentment with NIMBYism had already been bubbling away for years as the housing crisis worsened – as evidenced by Martin's comments back in 2021. But Irish YIMBYism recently received a more definitive push from John and Patrick Collison, the two self-made billionaires from Limerick who co-founded payments processing firm Stripe. With the company's headquarters based in San Francisco, the YIMBY movement seems to have rubbed off on the pair, who have frequently called for more development in Ireland as a way of tackling surging prices. In May 2024, they helped launch 'Progress Ireland', a think tank which focuses on how to address 'housing shortages' and 'poor infrastructure'. Its ideas already seem to be gaining some traction. In February, the government announced it was considering making cabin homes in back gardens exempt from planning rules. Progress Ireland and other YIMBYs have advocated for similar measures, arguing that boosting the supply of 'small houses' could help ease some of the pressure in the property market. The government is now bringing forward other proposals which would be generally cheered by YIMBYs, such as legislation which would extend planning permission which has been challenged by judicial reviews. This relates to many cases for large housing developments, which are often appealed to the courts. A common complaint is that these judicial reviews tie up housing projects for years due to the slow process of cases being resolved in the legal system. There have even been claims that objectors have taken advantage of this, demanding huge sums of money from builders to withdraw legal complaints. This is a view which Housing Minister James Browne appears to subscribe to, as he said judicial reviews 'have been weaponised by some people'. Regardless of whether you think judicial reviews are being used in the spirit of the law or not, the move to extend planning permission timelines again shows a more pro-development attitude from officials which lines up with YIMBYs. Objection rates So between support from the general public, a new voice in the policy debate, and increasingly favourable attitudes in government, it appears things are going fairly well for the YIMBYs. But it's worth keeping in mind that there are still plenty of questions to answer. The first one being – is the problem of NIMBYism really as big a deal as it's made out to be? Housing lecturer Lorcan Sirr has argued that the issue is overstated. Writing for the Irish Times in 2023, he said just 6% of planning permissions granted nationally in 2021 were appealed. This would suggest that objections may not be as big a barrier for housing development as they are made out to be. This is also backed up by the fact that planning permission for tens of thousands of homes are currently unused. Opposition politicians had called for 'use it or lose it' rules to be introduced, due to the suspicion that some developers were applying for planning permission solely to increase land values. But the government's plan for increased time extensions suggests a move in the opposite direction. There is also the argument that increasing supply alone may not be enough to tackle Ireland's housing affordability crisis. As previously examined , it would likely take a decade or two before boosting supply made a real dent in prices. Regardless, many YIMBYs would argue that doing something to impact a positive change, no matter how small, is better than letting problems continue to worsen. And with the government planning to scale up housing delivery from 30,000 to 50,000 homes a year, it's likely new rules will be increasingly pro-development. The progress of legislation which could broadly be classed as pro-YIMBY over the last year looks like a sign of things to come. In short – it's a good time for those who want something built in their back yard. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
ABC News
19-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
ABC Long Read story collection
A deep dive on the issues that matter The Yes In My Backyard movement is lobbying for denser cities and more housing in places people want to work and live and YIMBYs want these homes built yesterday. But the NIMBYs haven't given up yet. By Jane Hutcheon After witnessing my mum's cognitive decline and with dementia now the leading cause of death for Australian women, I can't help but wonder: Will I be among them? By Gary Nunn Sperm donors help many couples conceive, sometimes even becoming part of the family. But what happens if the IVF clinic mixes up the records? By Annie Louey With burnout at unprecedented levels who doesn't dream of stepping away from it all and embracing a career break. But can it solve the problem? By Brett Worthington Anthony Albanese's re-elected government includes a record number of female MPs, but insiders worry there's a long road ahead to promote women to top leadership roles. By Rhiannon Stevens In an age of polarisation and AI, the free online encyclopedia might be more important than you think. By Nick Bryant Some of America's strongest allies are rethinking their relationship as Donald Trump's isolationism threatens to entirely remake the West. By Judith Brett Meet the woman who turned female votes into political dynamite By Gary Nunn Prescriptions for ADHD medications are skyrocketing. How do the treatments on offer stack up?
Politico
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The fight that could doom San Francisco's moderate coalition
Presented by MODS AT ODDS — A dispute over an urban park is threatening to fracture San Francisco's coalition of moderate Democrats, who've successfully wrested control of city politics from more progressive forces in recent years. San Francisco voters approved a ballot measure last year to close a 2-mile portion of a major roadway, the Great Highway, and convert it into a beachfront promenade for residents and tourists at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. While the ballot initiative passed with 55 percent of the citywide vote, the loss of a major arterial to a park has enraged many homeowners on the city's more suburban west side. Those homeowners in the Sunset and Richmond neighborhoods, many of them Chinese Americans, are part of one of the city's most powerful blocs of moderate voters. And they weren't just grumbling about traffic headaches. Unrest over the road closure and the park, renamed Sunset Dunes, has propelled a campaign to recall Supervisor Joel Engardio, who championed putting the question on the ballot. The divide speaks to simmering tensions within the city's coalition of moderates, between so-called urbanists — who want to build a denser city that prioritizes pedestrian spaces, mass transit and apartment towers — and single-family homeowners, many of whom want to keep streets open to car traffic and preserve the suburban feel of more neighborhoods. Both forces have largely put aside their differences in recent election cycles as they focused on common priorities like combating crime, reducing homelessness and improving the city's troubled school district. But as San Francisco has improved in those areas and urbanists flex their political muscle, the fight over housing and transportation policy is taking center stage. The schism is amplified by Engardio's looming Sept. 16 recall election, which his detractors recently qualified for the ballot. It hasn't helped him that the city recently released a proposal to upzone much of the west side that would allow taller apartment buildings along commercial and transit corridors — further angering homeowners in the area. Some urbanist leaders — many of whom are followers of the 'abundance' or YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) pro-housing movements — say the split shows they need to form a new coalition of San Francisco voters who are in favor of denser development and expect the city to provide clean and safe streets. 'I like to say San Francisco is the most progressive city that hates change,' Engardio quipped during an interview at a coffee shop down the street from Sunset Dunes. 'We need to let each new generation define for themselves what they want the city to be. We can't freeze the city in amber on the day that we arrived.' But Engardio likely faces an uphill battle to keep his seat. Some deep-pocketed moderate political advocacy groups that backed him in the past aren't pitching in to defend him now — and it's unclear if the county Democratic Party will even oppose the recall. One of the groups staying out of the fray is Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, the city's wealthiest moderate advocacy group. Jay Cheng, its executive director, says he supports Engardio. But, he argues, the fight over the Great Highway and denser housing shows that urbanists often overlook or even 'demonize' single-family homeowners, including parents with young children for whom driving is part of their daily routines. 'They're often talking past those voters, and even worse they're often demonizing those voters,' Cheng said. 'The moderate coalition as a whole will lose if we keep going down that path.' Nancy Tung, chair of the county Democratic Party, shares the sentiment. She said many Chinese voters on the west side resent that their community wasn't brought to the negotiating table when Engardio and four other supervisors decided to put the issue on the ballot for voters. Urbanists, she said, need to be less 'heavy-handed' in their tactics to avoid voter backlash. GOOD MORNING. Happy Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Like what you're reading? Sign up to get California Playbook in your inbox, and forward it to a friend. You can also text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Attorney General Pam Bondi plan to visit Alcatraz before it opens for tours this morning, KQED reports. The administration wants to reopen it as a federal prison. CA vs. TRUMP HIGH-SPEED SLOWDOWN — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his administration had eliminated federal funding for California's high-speed rail project, making good on his promise to end government support for the project, our colleagues Seb Starcevic and Alex Nieves report. The development came after the Transportation Department issued a scathing report last month slamming the ambitious development for 'missed deadlines, budget shortfalls, and overrepresentation of projected ridership.' NEWSOMLAND GERRYMANDERING FEVER — Gavin Newsom suddenly can't stop talking about Texas gerrymandering — and a provocative idea to counter it in California, our Jeremy B. White and Nicholas Wu write. On podcasts and social media, the California governor has threatened that if Texas follows President Donald Trump's advice and redraws its congressional districts to shore up the GOP's slender House majority, California should throw out its own maps to boost Democrats, circumventing or overhauling the state's voter-approved redistricting commission. The proposal, however, is a long shot. And reactions have been … mixed. — 'Trying to save democracy by destroying democracy is dangerous and foolish,' said Assemblymember Alex Lee, the head of the state Legislature's progressive caucus. 'By legitimizing the race to the bottom of gerrymandering, Democrats will ultimately lose.' — 'The idea of taking away the power from the citizens and giving it back to the politicians — the optics of that is horrendous and indefensible,' said one Democratic political consultant granted anonymity to speak freely. 'That's insane. That's a crazy hill to die on.' Read more from the piece here. UNION TOWN SERVING COMPLAINTS — The hospitality union UNITE HERE Local 11 is accusing a defunct restaurant owned by billionaire Rick Caruso of violating labor law by laying off its entire staff without offering severance packages. The union asked the state labor commissioner in a letter Wednesday to investigate. It also filed an unfair labor practice charge accusing managers of Tony P's Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey of failing to provide employees legally guaranteed breaks and requiring them to take a survey, unpaid, outside work hours. 'There's a lot of workers that have been working 10-plus years,' said Lolita Olivarez, a server who was involved in the unionization efforts at the restaurant who was laid off when it closed. 'We didn't want to leave just with the pat on the back.' This is just the latest time UNITE HERE has tangled with Caruso, who could run for governor or again for Los Angeles mayor, after his failed campaign against labor-backed Karen Bass in 2022. The union unsuccessfully this year pushed the California Coastal Commission to block expansion of a Caruso-owned resort because it would place affordable housing in a flood-prone area. 'Billionaire Rick Caruso talks a lot about helping families but closing a restaurant that he owns and tossing workers out on the curb after they had the courage to organize their union and then failing to pay a penny of severance to them speaks volumes about his concern for working people,' UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President Kurt Petersen said in a statement. 'Los Angeles needs a leader who will protect Angeleno working families and not a billionaire's bottom-line.' Restaurant leaders announced they'd be closing up shop in April, which UNITE HERE officials said was after workers had announced their intent to unionize. But a spokesperson for restaurateur Tony Palermo disputed that claim and said management provided job placement resources to help laid off workers find jobs in the hospitality industry as the grill closed its doors in June. 'The dedicated employees took great pride in working at Tony P's – a fixture in the community and known for its family-oriented culture since the '90's,' the spokesperson said in a statement. 'The allegations by the Union, which did not represent workers until after Tony and Danny announced their decision to retire, are not accurate and contrast sharply with the culture that was developed over nearly three decades of operating Tony P's.' CAMPAIGN YEAR(S) FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: BAINS' MAINS — Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains racked up a slew of endorsements from fellow Democrats on the first day of her campaign against Republican Rep. David Valadao. They include Central Valley state Sen. Melissa Hurtado and seven members of California's congressional delegation: Reps. Luz Rivas, Laura Friedman, Dave Min, Judy Chu, Ami Bera, Julia Brownley, Norma Torres and Adam Gray. 'I know what it takes to win tough races in the Central Valley — and I know Jasmeet Bains has what it takes to do it too,' Gray, who flipped a Republican House seat in the region last fall, said in a statement. Consolidating support on her side of the aisle will be key for Bains, who is up against a more progressive Democratic challenger, Visalia school board member Randy Villegas. Also giving Bains the nod were IBEW Local 428, the Kern County electrical workers union and SEIU California, which has like her been pushing Valadao over Medicaid cuts. 'Dr. Jasmeet Bains is SEIU members' choice for Congress because she's fighting for our lives, our kids' healthcare, and home care our seniors need to thrive,' the Democrat-aligned labor powerhouse said in a statement. BADGE OF APPROVAL — The Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County is the latest law enforcement group to throw its support behind Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's gubernatorial campaign. 'California is facing a number of issues that must be addressed — public safety chief among them,' said Michael O'Deane, president of the association. 'The deputies who keep San Diego County safe know that there's only one candidate in this race who will do what's needed to protect our communities and get things done. We are proud to stand with Sheriff Bianco.' The pro-Trump sheriff from Southern California who had success on the campaign trail for Prop 36 has coalesced a large group of more than 30 county sheriffs, several district attorneys and multiple sheriffs' associations. But an architect of the tough-on-crime ballot initiative — Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig — has endorsed Bianco's most serious Republican opponent, Steve Hilton. STATE CAPITOL PUTTING OUT FIRES — Incoming Assembly Republican Caucus Chair Heath Flora wants you to know even though he's not on the front line anymore, he's still ready to fight fires. After a few picked up seats and legislative wins, Flora, a former firefighter, hopes to build off of the work done by outgoing caucus Chair James Gallagher by staying focused on what he says are 'non-partisan' issues like homelessness, public safety and the cost of living. 'We're not going to chase rabbits down rabbit holes. You want to stay focused on what the electorate cares about,' he told Playbook. Flora says he is also excited to 'lean in on' SB 54 and CEQA reform, something he says they have been making noise on for some time. Opting for a milder style than some of his current and former colleagues, Flora said, 'I want to be a part of being an effective elected official that can be a calming voice [in] sort of a chaotic political climate that we have.' As for those firebrand Republicans, Flora admits that he understands their appeal to voters in conservative districts. Just expect him to be cheering them on from a distance. 'It's just not my style or my personality,' he said. IN THE COURTS RAID FALLOUT — A U.S. citizen who was detained for three days by immigration agents after a raid at a cannabis farm last week in California said he plans to sue the federal government over the incident. 'I hope they learn,' George Retes, a 25-year-old Army veteran and security guard at Glass House Farms, told reporters Wednesday. 'The only way they will learn is through a lawsuit.' Retes said he was pepper sprayed and handcuffed when he showed up for his shift at the Camarillo farm July 10 but was given no explanation of the charges against him. Another person, 57-year-old Jaime Alanís Garcia, fatally fell from a greenhouse roof while fleeing federal agents during a pair of raids at Glass House locations in California the same day. Retes said he missed his daughter's birthday while in custody and was placed on suicide watch. He said Immigration and Customs Enforcement previously visited the facility, but he stopped them from entering. 'The way they're going about this entire deportation process is completely wrong,' he said. CLIMATE AND ENERGY IT ISSUES — Lawmakers are looking to extend their push for affordability to the AI boom, with efforts to shield ratepayers from the potential costs of data centers. The tech industry is fighting back. Read last night's California Climate for more on the changes that lawmakers are hoping will win over techies. Top Talkers SUPERSTAR STATUS — The San Francisco and San José regions are artificial intelligence 'superstars,' meaning that the areas are well-prepared for AI system development, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. San Francisco, San José and Los Angeles are among the top 10 areas for AI. AUTHORITY EXPANSION — ICE is sharply expanding its authority to detain far more people by using a legal authority to jail anyone who entered the U.S. illegally without allowing them a bond hearing, The Associated Press reports. ICE's acting Director Todd Lyons wrote in a memo to workers that the agency was revisiting its authority to detain people and, effective immediately, people would be ineligible for a bond hearing before an immigration judge. They cannot be released unless DHS makes an exception, the report said. AROUND THE STATE — Cannabis industry leaders are figuring out how to react as immigration raids on Southern California cannabis facilities sow fear in workers. (San Francisco Chronicle) — California almond growers are set to have their second-largest harvest in history. (Fresno Bee) — Berkeley's Homeless Response Team could improve its transparency, create stronger coordination practices and enhance its data collection, a City Auditor's report finds. (The Mercury News) Compiled by Juliann Ventura PLAYBOOKERS PEOPLE MOVES — Andrew Kehoe, former communications director for Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, joined UC Davis Health as government and community relations manager. — Lila Mirrashidi became Newsom's chief deputy cabinet secretary earlier this year as Gina Da Silva, the governor's top immigration adviser, stepped back from chief deputy duties to focus on immigration in Trump's second term. Mirrashidi is a Brown administration alum and former deputy secretary at the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. 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.
