Capitol Alert

Mayor Darrell Steinberg endorses a candidate in packed Sacramento-area Assembly race

Sacramento Mayor Darrel Steinberg, who was selected to be the lead advisor for San Quentin’s transformation by Gov. Gavin Newsom, meets with media at San Quentin State Prison in San Rafael on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. In March 2023, Newsom announced a plan to transform the prison into the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The transformation is being guided by a team of correctional, reentry and rehabilitation experts.
Sacramento Mayor Darrel Steinberg, who was selected to be the lead advisor for San Quentin’s transformation by Gov. Gavin Newsom, meets with media at San Quentin State Prison in San Rafael on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. In March 2023, Newsom announced a plan to transform the prison into the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The transformation is being guided by a team of correctional, reentry and rehabilitation experts. pkitagaki@sacbee.com

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

STEINBERG ENDORSES SACRAMENTO-AREA ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE

In the crowded race for Assembly District 6, Democratic candidate Paula Villescaz has found a way to distinguish herself from the competition by securing endorsements from Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Mayor Pro Tem Mai Vang and City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela.

In a statement, Steinberg said Villescaz, a former assistant secretary for the California Health and Human Services Agency, is a proven public servant.

“She has a decade of policy experience that will serve our community well. She is an expert in two issues deep to my heart and of critical importance in our region – solving homelessness in a humane way and addressing the mental health issues that affect so many Californians,” Steinberg said.

Villescaz is running to succeed Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, who in turn is running to succeed Steinberg. She previously ran unsuccessfully for Senate District 6 against Republican Roger Niello.

CALIFORNIA REACHES ZEV MILESTONE

Last quarter, one out of every four cars sold in the Golden State was a zero-emission vehicle, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday.

That adds up to more than 125,000 sold last quarter, and 1.6 million ZEVs sold this year — a pace that is two years ahead of schedule, Newsom noted.

California makes up more than a third of the national market for zero-emission vehicles, according to the governor’s office.

“California is showing the world what’s possible – fostering innovation and creating space for an industry to flourish,” Newsom said, adding that state incentives for such vehicles mean “we’re not leaving anyone behind.”

PELOSI TO KEYNOTE TAHOE CONFERENCE

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Lake Tahoe Summit, taking place Aug. 9.

The 27th annual summit, hosted by California Sen. Alex Padilla, “will highlight Tahoe’s Environmental Improvement Program, a successful bipartisan, bi-state collaboration among local, state, federal, and private entities,” according to a statement from Padilla’s office.

The conference also will examine “the challenges that lie ahead in the face of climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather whiplash, as well as the growing demands on regional infrastructure.”

The governors of California (a Democrat) and Nevada (a Republican), are both expected to attend the summit, as are members of Congress from both the Golden and Silver States.

You can register to attend the conference for free by visiting here.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“California leads the nation again with the highest gas prices — the only state over $5/gallon. It’s a direct consequence of our broken policies which include over $1 in hidden taxes per gallon. All on top of the $600 million gas tax Sacramento Democrats just approved last month.”

- Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Riverside, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

  • The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors’ decision to designate July American Christian Heritage Month, which sparked opposition from some residents, has now drawn protest from a national organization that promotes the separation of church and state, via Jenavieve Hatch.

  • Punjabi Americans want a California free of discrimination. Will an anti-caste bill help? Via Shaanth Nanguneri.

  • Sacramento City Council narrowly voted Tuesday to give City Manager Howard Chan a controversial power — to open new sanctioned homeless campgrounds without council approval, via Theresa Clift.

  • A Roseville firm accused of selling thousands of devices that allowed truck drivers to defeat emissions controls on vehicles pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Sacramento, agreeing to pay $1 million in fines and penalties, via Sam Stanton.

  • What’s going on behind all those blanketed gates at the California Capitol? We peeked inside, via Hanh Truong.

  • Florida governor and 2024 presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis will deliver a keynote address at the California Republican Party Convention this fall, via Andrew Sheeler.

  • A proposed ballot initiative would force California lawmakers to disclose meetings with lobbyists and make investigations into alleged misconduct subject to public scrutiny, via Andrew Sheeler.

AS
Andrew Sheeler
The Sacramento Bee
Andrew Sheeler is a former reporter for The Sacramento Bee’s Capitol Bureau.
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW