CalWatchdog Morning Read – November 3
Trump supporters to “watch” polls next week- School construction bond in trouble?
- Leaked emails show strange relationship between Bay Area billionaire and Clinton strategist
- Environmentalists top list of lobbyist employers in CA
- Is Rep. Janice Hahn in trouble in L.A. County supervisorial race after L.A. Times investigation?
Good morning! TGIT. Two more days until the weekend and six more days until the election.
And don’t be surprised if when you go to vote next Tuesday (if you haven’t embraced mail-in voting yet) someone is there watching you. According to the Riverside Press Enterprise:
“Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump have announced plans to observe Election Day voting throughout California. … Poll watchers can’t legally interfere with voting, interact with voters within 100 feet of a polling place or challenge a voter’s eligibility. But the leader of a pro-Trump veterans group said his people are prepared to call for help if they see anything suspicious.”
In other news:
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One of the 17 measures voters will consider, Proposition 51, a $9-billion school bond, is struggling, according to polling from the last two months, despite the fact that school construction spending tends to be popular at the ballot box. The Los Angeles Times has more.
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In non-ballot measure election news, “Bay Area billionaire philanthropist Herb Sandler, who was among those blamed for the 2008 mortgage meltdown that triggered the financial crisis, has edged back into the spotlight thanks to the WikiLeaks hacking of the email account of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta.” The San Jose Mercury News has more.
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And speaking for the influence of the wealthy, “California lobbyist employers spent $84.4 million to advocate to officials and influence legislation from July 1 through September,” writes The Sacramento Bee. “NextGen Climate Action, a campaign committee led by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, topped the list of lobbyist employers, spending $7.3 million during the seventh quarter of the 2015-16 legislative session, according to state filings.”
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LA Weekly wonders if a Los Angeles Times investigation about questionable political contributions from a local developer will upend an L.A. County supervisorial race where Democratic Congresswoman Janice Hahn has been the frontrunner.
Legislature:
- Gone till December.
Gov. Brown:
- Out on the trail, per Politico: “California Gov. Edmund J. Brown Jr., joined by Los Angeles firefighters, nurses, business and labor leaders, will detail his opposition to Proposition 53, the ballot measure that undermines local control by forcing a statewide vote on water, highway, and other local infrastructure projects.” Details: Thursday, 10 a.m., United Firefighters Headquarters, 1571 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90026
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Per Opposition to Prop 53 release: “California Gov. Edmund J. Brown Jr., joined by public safety and local government leaders, will detail his opposition to Proposition 53, the ballot measure that undermines local control by forcing a statewide vote on water, highway, and other local infrastructure projects.” Details: Thursday, November 3, 2016, 1 p.m. at IBEW 569 Union Hall, 4545 Viewridge Ave, Suite 100, San Diego.
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