In the heart of the Central Valley, a push to get Latino voters to the polls
LAT's JAZMINE ULLOA: "In a city most known for its prison and farmland, the modest, one-story home of Mary and Raul Gomez has the feel of the quintessential American dream with its trimmed green lawn, little porch and white picket fence. In the driveway, there’s even a remodeled 1968 black Chevrolet Biscayne visible from Dairy Avenue."
"For 20 years, it also has served to foster a truly American value — the civic duty of voting — as the campaign headquarters for the Kings County Latino Roundtable. There, in a shaded backyard decked with Oakland Raiders memorabilia, members meet over hot dogs and cold beverages to strategize voter canvassing routes, host candidate meet-and-greets and craft their trusted election guide — logistics for the crucial task of getting Latinos to cast ballots."
“Some think that voting doesn’t matter; it does,” Raul Gomez said as he arranged lawn chairs for Tuesday’s primary night watch party. “Every vote counts. I have seen where people have won by three votes or four votes.”
Think elections are controversial? Try the census
LISA RENNER in Capitol Weekly: "The once-a-decade national census is still nearly two years away but it’s already generating heated discussion."
"There’s a lot at stake here."
"Among the myriad concerns raised so far is that this survey will be the first conducted in part online. People are also expressing alarm over the inclusion of a new citizenship question, the wording for questions on race and ethnicity and the way prisoners are counted."
More than 2 million California votes left to count in primary election
Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "California elections officials have another 2.6 million votes to count from the June primary – and that number could grow by the end of the week."
"Secretary of State Alex Padilla's office on Thursday released its first report of the estimated number of unprocessed ballots across the state, including more than 2.1 million vote-by-mail ballots and nearly 380,000 provisional ballots."
"The total reflects figures provided to the state by county election offices late Tuesday and early Wednesday. It could rise as more ballots arrive by mail. Under California law, ballots postmarked by election day and received within three days must be processed."
Trump and taxes will dominate the governor's race for the next five months
From the LAT's MELANIE MASON: "Gavin Newsom and John Cox see eye-to-eye on very little — and Californians can expect to hear plenty about those disagreements from now until November."
"With the contours of the gubernatorial election exactly five months from now set as a matchup between Newsom, the Democratic lieutenant governor and former mayor of San Francisco, and Cox, the Republican businessman based in Rancho Santa Fe, voters are in for a partisan battle that will litigate the state’s recent gas tax — now under siege by a repeal effort — and competing visions of how to address California’s high cost of living."
"And above all, Donald Trump, whose polarizing presidency has turned nearly every electoral contest into a referendum on the current administration."
Can anything stop Gavin newsom from becoming California's next governor?
Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART: "In deeply Democratic California, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom appears unstoppable in his long-running bid to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown."
"He faces a Republican in a state where Democrats comprise nearly half of the electorate, the Republican Party is losing voters and President Donald Trump's approval rating in California is lower than most other parts of the country."
"If you have an 'R' after your name and you're running statewide in California, it's a scarlet letter," said Garry South, a Southern California-based Democratic consultant."
Bret Daniels censured by Citrus Heights City Council over allegations of stalking
Sacramento Bee's NASHELLY CHAVEZ: "The Citrus Heights City Council voted to publicly censure councilman Bret Daniels during a special meeting Thursday, with the city’s vice mayor following the decision by calling for his resignation from the board."
"That ain't gunna happen,” Daniels replied to Vice Mayor Jeannie Bruins’ comment Thursday."
"Their motivation for the public censure, which passed 4 to 1, centered on reports made to the city’s Police Department in 2008 and 2017, in which Daniels was accused of stalking a former girlfriend from high school in both instances, according to the meeting’s agenda."
READ MORE related to Local Politics: Sacramento mayor wants a permanent sales tax hike. Here's how much and why -- Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS; Sacramento mayor opposes rent control measure and wants to keep it off the ballot -- Sacramento Bee's RYAN LILLIS
Why SoCal is calling for a do-over on its vote to bankroll the Delta tunnels
Sacramento Bee's DALE KASLER/RYAN SABALOW: "A historic vote on the Delta tunnels project is getting a do-over."
"Southern California's powerful water agency — the Metropolitan Water District — said Thursday its board will vote again in July on whether to pay for the lion's share of the project, known officially as California WaterFix. The announcement comes after environmentalists and an open government group complained that Metropolitan directors violated the Brown Act before voting in April to support the tunnels."
"The Brown Act sets rules intended to prevent government boards from making decisions behind closed doors."
READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Bay Area project tackles sea-level rise and water quality -- Water Deeply's ROBIN MEADOWS
Tax break for undocumented immigrants pushed by California Democrats
Sacramento Bee's ADAM ASHTON: "The California state budget could extend a tax break to low-income families of undocumented immigrants."
"Assembly Democrats want Gov. Jerry Brown to expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit in such a way that people who do not have Social Security numbers can apply for it."
"The proposal is meant to help poor Californians recover some of their state income tax. Last year, a household with two children and an adjusted gross income of up to $22,309 would have been eligible for a tax credit. The maximum credit for a family of that size is $2,467, according to the Franchise Tax Board."
READ MORE related to Immigration: House leaders to try to sway reluctant business community on immigration deal -- Sacramento Bee's ANITA KUMAR/FRANCO ORDONEZ/KATE IRBY
