Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Dec. 5.
- Poll reveals shared politics of Texans and Californians.
- Oakland school leaders warn against “Palestine teach-in.”
- And three head-turning listings in Northern California.
Please note: The newsletter will be off tomorrow. Back on Thursday.
Statewide
1.
Texans and Californians aren’t so politically apart after all. A poll found that even on hot-button issues, differences amounted to fewer than 10 percentage points.
“Texans, on average, lean a few points to the right, Californians, a few more points to the left,” the L.A. Times wrote. “Those leanings tip politics in each state, empowering conservative Republicans in Texas and liberal Democrats in California who have driven policy in opposite directions, magnifying differences between two states that otherwise have much in common.”
2.
Students in California’s lowest-performing schools showed dramatic improvement after participating in a phonics-based reading program, Stanford researchers found. The results are being cited as some of the most compelling evidence yet that so-called science-of-reading methods are effective. “This study shows we can eradicate illiteracy at warp speed,” said Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney who has sought education reform. “I wasn’t surprised at the results. But I was impressed with the speed, especially during a pandemic.” CalMatters | L.A. Times
3.
California developments connected to the Israel-Hamas war:
- Mike Hutchinson, the Oakland school board president, said teachers who go through with a planned pro-Palestinian “teach-in” on Wednesday could face termination. “It’s just like any other job: you can’t show up and do whatever you want and not face any consequences,” he said. Mercury News | KTVU
- USC lifted its campus ban on economics professor John Strauss after he condemned Hamas as murderers who “should be killed.” In a statement, the university said the ban was meant not to be punitive but to “ensure a safe learning environment.” L.A. Times | Daily Trojan
- California figures influencing the Mideast debate:
- On a trip to Dubai, Vice President Kamala Harris took a forceful tone in urging restraint by Israeli forces. The message was aimed in part at young voters and people of color back home. N.Y. Times
- Sheryl Sandberg, the former Meta executive, helped organize a meeting at the U.N. that accused the body of ignoring violent sexual acts committed by Hamas. “Silence is complicity,” she said. CNN | N.Y. Times
4.
A YouTuber who staged a plane crash over the Los Padres National Forest for internet clout in 2021 was sentenced Monday to six months in prison for obstructing an investigation into the crash, prosecutors said. Trevor Jacob, 30, a former snowboarding Olympian, drew immediate skepticism from other pilots after he posted video under the title “I Crashed My Plane.” He expressed regret on Monday. “This experience has been so humbling,” he said in a statement. “I’ve learned more about myself than in my entire prior life combined.” A.P. | NBC News
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Northern California
5.
In recent years, candidates for political office in San Francisco have embraced the practice of putting flowery Chinese names for themselves on ballots to influence the city’s Chinese-speaking population. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins adopted a name meaning “safety” and “pleasant”; mayoral contender Daniel Lurie’s chosen name translates as “auspicious” and “virtue.” Now elections officials are trying to put a stop to the practice. From now on, candidates must prove a longstanding connection to their Chinese name. SF Standard
6.
In early 2018, the North Coast fishing town of Trinidad hastily removed a historic lighthouse from its bluff after the sliding hillside threatened to cast it into the sea. The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse became a symbol of the growing threat posed to coastal structures by the rising Pacific. Nearly six years later, cranes last Friday placed the lighthouse on its new permanent perch in a harbor a quarter mile up the coast. Lost Coast Outpost published pictures.
7.
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park is the one of the least-visited state parks in California. But that’s only because it requires a boat to get there. Located about 40 miles east of Mount Shasta, the wilderness abounds in natural beauty, with brimming lakes, wooded islets, and the country’s largest freshwater springs. A dispatch by travel reporter John Bartell includes some gorgeous drone views. 👉 ABC10/YouTube (~5:30)
8.
Payton Sample, a UCLA student and videographer, has a talent for giving places what he calls the “cinematic” treatment. He shared a recent 18-second video chronicling his visit to San Francisco that was a hit on Reddit, where locals celebrated it as a counterpoint to “doom loop” portrayals of the city. @paytonsample
- He has another great video for life at UCLA. 👉 @paytonsample
9.
A “mystical portal” to the sea, an earthquake shack, and a big red rock — here three impressive properties now up for grabs in Northern California.
- Sea Ranch, the utopian community spread out along the Sonoma coast, is celebrated for its oneness with the natural world. A bluff-top home takes the harmony to another level with a portal that amplifies the sounds of the ocean. Yours for $8 million. SFGATE | Real Deal
- After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, relief groups built more than 5,600 single-story structures for refugees. Dozens of the historic “earthquake shacks” still remain. A restored 611-square-foot specimen just hit the market for $898,000. Realtor.com
- Red Rock Island, the only privately owned island in San Francisco Bay, has no electricity or running water. But there is plenty of seclusion. “You could put a big beautiful house on top,” said Brock Durning, whose family has owned the island for decades. Asking price: $25 million. Wall Street Journal | SFGATE
Southern California
10.
Over the past year, striking workers have won major compensation gains across California. But in West Hollywood, it’s the business owners who are protesting as they are forced to lay off staff and cut hours. The city’s liberal lawmakers have set the minimum wage at $19.08 an hour, with paid leave even for part-time staff. It’s the highest wage floor in the country. “The workers who get higher wages and keep their jobs and hours — they’re better off,” said David Neumark, a UC Irvine economist. “It’s workers who lose their jobs and hours. There’s the tradeoff.” L.A. Times
11.
“We need to be able to dream about this county.”
A report that estimated vast amounts lithium under the Salton Sea has lifted hopes that the rare mineral used in electric vehicle batteries could be a boon for one of California’s poorest regions. Imperial County, home to just 180,000 residents, has estimated that its tax revenue from lithium extraction could amount to as much as $30 million a year. Locals are already debating how to spend the potential windfall. SFGATE
12.
Macaulay Culkin, who rose from being a child megastar to a life largely outside the spotlight, was honored Friday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — and a video of him paying tribute to his partner, actress Brenda Song, has since gone viral. He teared up as he turned to her: “You’re the only person happier for me today than I am. You’re not only the best woman I’ve ever known, you’re the best person I’ve ever known.” See video. 👉 @PopCrave | Vulture
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