World Cup in Cali? + 106 billion robocalls + New Capitol fellowships
Good Monday morning to you, readers. Thanks for starting your day with the AM Alert.
ICYMI — California government stopped paying for officials to commute across the state last year after The Sacramento Bee reported on a department director’s regular travel between Sacramento and San Diego, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told The Bee last week.
SOCCER...ER, FOOTBALL?
Whatever you call it, the FIFA World Cup is heading to North America in 2026.
Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, and a coalition of state lawmakers is working to enhance California’s chance at securing a hosting role in the games. The United States will host 60 of the 80 matches, while Mexico and Canada will each host 10. It’s the first time the tournament will span across three countries, according to U.S. Soccer.
Gabriel announced Assembly Bill 2026 (how fitting) last week as a measure to boost the odds for Los Angeles and San Francisco’.
The bill would create “framework for collaborative public safety and security planning” during sports events, specifically for the Cup.
Gabriel said the measure would demonstrate California’s commitment to event safety and the steps it would take to prevent sex and human trafficking.
“Californians are passionate about soccer and we’re eager to host the 2026 World Cup here in the Golden State,” Gabriel said via press release. “Our legislation demonstrates that California is ready to roll out the red carpet and provide the resources necessary to bring the tournament to Los Angeles and San Francisco. We’re committed to ensuring a safe and fun environment for everyone involved.”
Twenty-three cities have already submitted bids to host the games, according to a 2018 bid report.
The other U.S. cities vying for the opportunity: Seattle, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, Orlando and Miami.
WE’RE NUMBER ONE (FOR UNWANTED ROBOCALLS)
No, you weren’t imagining it. There really were a lot of nuisance robocalls last year. In fact, there were more unwanted robocalls in California than in any other state, according to Transaction Network Services, a data services company that monitors such things.
There were more than 106 billion nuisance robocalls in 2019. That’s a 49 percent increase over the year before. Wednesday was the worst day for getting them (hump day, amiright?), while October was the busiest month, according to TNS.
Californians received more of these scam calls than any other state, followed by Texans and then Ohioans.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only area where California led.
California also sent more robocalls than any other state, followed by Texas and then Florida. Shame, shame.
Sick of robocalls? So was Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego. That’s why in 2019 he introduced legislation requiring telecom providers to implement caller ID authentication measures that let you recognize a scam call right away.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed that bill into law last fall; it goes into effect in 2021. So hang tight, and hang up on scammers.
PUBLIC SERVANTS
California Volunteers is announcing a new fellowship program today at the Capitol with private and public university leaders partnering with the state to promote the public service opportunity.
The Civic Action Fellowship was “designed to help students pay for college through public service,” a press release for the new program says.
Fellows at Dominican University, University of the Pacific, CSU Stanislaus, Cal Lutheran, Cal State LA, UC Berkeley, UC Merced and San José State University are part of the collaboration with the public service-oriented division of the governor’s office.
“Fellows will participate in service activities and projects aligned with pressing local community challenges. The service will be embedded into the academic curriculum in order to allow students to stay on a four-year path to graduation while better positioning them for employment, graduate school, and a life of civic engagement,” the release says.
More than $3 million in state and federal money will fund the program and another near-$700,000 will finance scholarships.
The press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. in room 1190.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“These trumped up charges were always a sham – a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to prevent more automakers from joining California and agreeing to stronger emissions standards. This is a big loss for the President and his weaponization of federal agencies – and a victory for anyone who cares about the rule of law and clean air.”
- Gov. Gavin Newsom, after the Department of Justice dropped its antitrust probe into Ford, Volkswagen, Honda and BMW. The four automakers agreed to reduce emissions under an agreement with California , which the Trump administration claimed illegally limited consumer choice.
Best of The Bee:
- A California assemblywoman and her chief of staff were reprimanded for sexual harassment on Thursday after a workplace investigation substantiated claims that the lawmaker inappropriately hugged and the aide made unwanted sexual comments toward an unidentified Capitol employee, by Hannah Wiley
Democrat proposes ban on Trump hotels for California state workers, lawmakers, by Wes Venteicher
- California voters are beginning to get their ballots in the mail, and more than 5 million of them might have restricted choices in the presidential primary because they registered as having no party preference, by Bryan Anderson