Senator calls for CSU chancellor investigation + A political ad archive? + New spot targets CJAC
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
SENATOR CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO CSU CHANCELLOR
One day after USA Today published a report that California State University Chancellor Joseph Castro covered for a subordinate who allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct, Senate Education Committee Chair Connie Leyva, D-Chino, called for the CSU Board of Trustees to investigate the allegations and for Castro to resign if they are determined to be factual.
“As Chair of the Senate Education Committee and as a mother and grandmother, I was extremely troubled when I read the recent report by USA Today that detailed Chancellor Castro’s handling of former CSU Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Lamas’ ongoing abusive conduct, including the sexual harassment of female students,” Leyva said in a statement. “To that end, I call for an immediate and thorough investigation by the CSU Board of Trustees – and any other authority that may have jurisdiction – to determine the accuracy of the information that appears in the USA Today story.’
Leyva said she would call on the chancellor resign if the allegations are proven accurate.
“As the head of the entire CSU system, Chancellor Castro must prioritize the safety of students, staff, faculty and the entire CSU community and – if the information in the story is corroborated through an outside investigation – it would be evident that his ongoing behavior and favoritism further endangered the safety and well-being of countless students and others, possibly causing Title IX violations by the university.”
Leyva also called for the investigation’s findings to be presented to her committee, which she said would hold a hearing to discuss the matter.
The Fresno Bee reached out to Castro, who said in an interview, “I have great respect for Sen. Leyva. She and I have worked closely together on higher education issues. I understand that she would like to talk with me and I welcome the conversation with her so that I can share information about this and answer any questions she has and as it relates to an investigation, this is something that I will be discussing with the Board of Trustees and in the end it’s their decision about whether to do so, but I would be open to that and I will let her know that as well when we speak.”
AN ARCHIVE FOR POLITICAL ADS?
Following recommendations of the Fair Political Practice Commission’s Task Force on Digital Transparency, Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, has introduced a bill – SB 921 – that would create an online archive of every digital political ad employed by a political campaign or committee.
“For all of their obvious impact, it’s easy to forget that digital political ads are seemingly here one moment and gone the next. SB 921 will give the public the ability to hold the creators of digital political advertisements accountable, in terms of both their assertions and their funding,” Newman said in a statement. “Transparency and accountability go hand in hand with promoting honesty in political campaigns.”
According to Newman’s office, the use of digital ads has risen dramatically. In the 2015-16 election cycle, digital media accounted for just 2% to 3% of political ad spending, while in 2020 it rose to 18%, according to the senator’s office.
“In this fast-changing digital world, a California political ad archive would provide California voters an easy way to find out who is responsible for each ad they receive,” FPPC Chair Richard C. Miadich said in a statement. “The FPPC is grateful for Senator Newman’s support of this concept, which will help California to continue being a national leader in campaign finance transparency.”
CONSUMER ATTORNEYS RELEASE NEW ANTI-CJAC AD
The Civil Justice Assocation of California may have taken a pause in their effort to gather signatures for a ballot initiative capping attorneys’ contingency fees, but that hasn’t stopped the Consumer Attorneys of California from releasing a new, 15-second ad criticizing the group and its backers — including tobacco giant Altria and car manufacturers like Ford, Tesla and General Motors.
You can watch the ad for yourself.
“After exposing the powerful corporate interests hiding behind the dark money interest group ‘Civil Justice Association of California,’ we are warning Californians about what’s at stake: access to justice,” said Consumer Attorneys of California CEO Nancy Drabble in a statement. “Automakers Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Hyundai and Volkswagen have teamed up with the corporations responsible for tobacco deaths to block access to our courts and avoid accountability for their wrongdoing.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“’Legitimate political discourse’ does not describe what I saw on January 6th. I’ve been @GOP since the day I turned 18, but I’m out today. I love my country & liberty too much to abide either of the major parties’ nonsense.”
- San Bernardino County Supervisor Janice Rutherford, reacting to the Republican National Committee vote declaring the Jan. 6 insurrection “legitimate political discourse,” via Twitter.
Best of the Bee:
Gun shows on state property could soon be a thing of the past in California, via Andrew Sheeler.
It’s official: California energy regulators are retooling their controversial proposal to slash the subsidy paid to homeowners who generate excess electricity from their rooftop solar panels, via Dale Kasler.