Newsom keeps politically connected picks in medical watchdog role past deadline
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Asif Mahmood at a campaign appearance in 2018 in Los Angeles. Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated Mahmood to the regulatory Medical Board of California in 2019 and has allowed him to stay on for months past a deadline for the state Senate to confirm him.Nick Ut / Associated Press 2017Show MoreShow Less
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Richard Thorp, a former California Medical Association president nominated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the regulatory Medical Board of California. Newsom has allowed Thorp to stay on for months past a deadline for the state Senate to confirm him.Medical Board of CaliforniaShow MoreShow Less
John Laird
–State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) who represents Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County in his district announced his State Senate committee assignments, revealing a broad array of assignments. They are:
– Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee #1 (Education)
– Vice Chair, Joint Legislative Audit Committee
– Member, Appropriations Committee
– Member, Joint Legislative Committee on Budget
– Member, Judiciary Committee
– Member, Natural Resources & Water Committee
– Member, Rules Committee
– Member, Joint Legislative Committee on Rules
“I want to thank Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins for allowing me the opportunity to serve on several crucial policy-making and fiscal committees,” said Sen. Laird. “These assignments well position me to advance strong, workable measures on climate change, sustainable public education, affordable housing, access to health care and support for science-based public health, addressing issues of social justi
Ann O’Leary’s resignation letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom
DeBoo started his career in the Legislature in 1998 and said he wants to return to government service to try to help California at one of the most difficult times in state history.
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“When you’re watching something this difficult and people struggling and you think you can help, this is the exact time to step in,” DeBoo said in an interview with The Times. “I don’t want to regret not coming in and trying to assist the governor, his staff and the people of California.”
Democrats, labor union leaders and other interest groups were quick to commend the governor’s pick.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chief of staff leaves as new top advisor joins his team [Los Angeles Times]
Halfway into his first term as governor and immersed in a historic struggle to slow the spread of COVID-19 in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed on Monday the departure of his chief of staff and the selection of a veteran Sacramento strategist to lead his administration.
Ann O’Leary, who was one of the first appointments made by Newsom after his 2018 election, sent the governor her resignation letter on Monday. Jim DeBoo, a former top advisor to members of the California Legislature who has more recently worked as a political consultant and lobbyist, will step in at the beginning of the year.
San Francisco Chronicle – December 9
The legislative package to address California’s housing shortage in 2021 will look a lot like it did this year. State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said she expects lawmakers to bring back at least half a dozen unsuccessful measures, including her own proposal to make it easier to split lots and convert homes into duplexes. Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, has reintroduced his “gentle density” measure that would allow cities to rezone residential parcels for apartment or condominium projects of up to 10 units without having to go through environmental reviews that can add years to the process. Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, introduced SB6, which would open properties zoned for office and commercial buildings to housing development, particularly in areas where the land has sat empty for years. Another Atkins bill, SB7, revives a proposal to renew and expand a shortened environmental review process for projects tha