Gavin Newsom ducks protesters by canceling in-person Sacramento tree-lighting ceremony
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NEWSOM CANCELS IN-PERSON CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING DUE TO PROTEST
In a bid to avoid an awkward and politically uncomfortable scene Wednesday evening, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has canceled the public, in-person Christmas tree lighting ceremony, in favor of a remotely held, pre-recorded event.
Newsom is going virtual to avoid a planned protest calling for an end to Israel’s war on Hamas that has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians.
“As we continue to see protests across the country impacting the safety of events of all scales — and for the safety and security of all participating members and guests including children and families — the ceremony this year will be virtual. The program is unchanged and viewers can tune in Wednesday evening to watch this year’s festivities,” a Newsom spokesperson said in an email to The Bee.
Palestinian rights groups slammed the governor for the decision.
“Governor Newsom decided to cancel the tree lighting ceremony rather than face the public that is enraged by his shameful silence on the genocide in Gaza,” said Yassar Dahbour of the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights in a statement.
Another protester, Makeez Sawez of Youth for Palestine said in a statement that “it’s upsetting to see my governor, who I have voted for and supported for many years, chose to alter his plans in such a quiet manner because he is not able to face the public. He has chosen to not be visible or available to citizens and his voters. He is too concerned having public debates with others than to address the pain, anguish, and needs of Californians.”
The protesters gathered at the Capitol Tuesday afternoon, where they held a rally on the west steps.
Newsom made headlines in October when he visited Israel just a few weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that left 1,400 dead and an estimated 240 kidnapped. Newsom has sent medical aid to Israel and has pledged to do the same for Gaza.
The Christmas tree lighting is a tradition that dates back to the 1930s. This year’s lighting features the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, the Wilton Rancheria, and representatives of the Department of Developmental Services’ regional centers.
The virtual ceremony can be watched on YouTube beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION TRIPLE ENDORSES IN SENATE RACE
Faced with a tough choice with three prominent Democratic candidates for California senator, the California Labor Federation on Tuesday decided to split the difference and just endorse all of them.
“BREAKING NEWS @CaliforniaLabor makes a TRIPLE endorsement in US Senate Race! With 3 pro-union candidates who have all shown they’ll stand shoulder to shoulder w/@CaliforniaLabor in our biggest fights, workers can’t lose with@AdamSchiff, @BarbaraLeeForCA, or @katieporteroc!” the labor group wrote in a tweet.
It’s unclear what this triple testimonial of Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee means for the race, and whether this endorsement that isn’t really an endorsement will be followed with any campaign contributions.
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS GAVELS HER WAY INTO HISTORY
Via David Lightman...
Vice President Kamala Harris entered the congressional record books Tuesday, breaking another Senate tie to surpass the total of former record-holder John C. Calhoun.
Harris, the former California U.S. senator and attorney general, set the mark with her vote to confirm Loren Alikhan as a federal district court judge.
Calhoun, a South Carolinian and major defender of slavery, had cast 31 tie-breakers when he served as vice president from 1825 to 1832. Harris, who took office in January 2021, needed far less time. The vice president, the president of the Senate, breaks Senate ties.
Closely divided Senates forced Harris to swing the gavel more often. For the first two years, Democrats controlled 50 seats and currently, the party controls 51 members in the 100-member Senate.
After her vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, presented Harris with a “golden gavel.”
GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR UTAH HOUSE SEAT
Via Jenavieve Hatch...
Jeff Howell, former Granite Bay resident and Granite Bay High School graduate, announced Tuesday he’s running for a seat in Utah’s 23rd House District. Howell, 35, is running as a Democrat in a seat that covers east Salt Lake, near the state’s Capitol. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife and fellow Granite Bay graduate, Caitlin Howell, and their three sons.
He works as an advisor for the tech company Workday, and sits on the board of the Emerging Leaders Initiative in Utah, which mentors young people to get involved in non-profits and politics, as well as The Inn Between, a hospice and end-of-life care center for people experiencing homelessness.
”I believe it’s time for a new generation of leaders who listen, who are honest, who can solve problems and deliver results,” Howell told The Bee. “I am just sick and tired of the polarization and contention infiltrating our current political environment. My mode of operation, my leadership style, is bipartisanship.”
Incumbent Brian S. King is stepping away from his seat to run for Governor, and Howell hopes to replace him in 2024.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I don’t come to this trying to be punitive toward tech companies. I’m not in the pocket of the publishers. I don’t care about Rupert Murdoch and hedge fund papers. What I care about is our democracy.”
- Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, in remarks delivered to the Senate Judiciary Committee during an informational hearing on the importance of journalism in the digital age. Wicks is the author of AB 886, which would require companies like Google and Meta to pay journalism outlets for news that appears on their platforms.
Best of The Bee:
California will receive about $3.1 billion from the Biden Administration to help advance planning and construction of the state’s bullet-train line through Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley, including extensions to Merced and Bakersfield, via Tim Sheehan.
Three months after suing the city of Sacramento over its response to the homeless crisis, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho is accusing city officials of allowing homeless camps to pollute area waterways and endanger public health, via Sam Stanton.
Yolo County’s Moms for Liberty chapter and conservative groups are suing the county and its library system, alleging their First Amendment rights were abridged by protests against them during events at the Davis library branch, via Sam Stanton and Ishani Desai.
