Continuing to read Gray Davis's oral history. On page 271, he says this of his campaign strategist Garry South: "Have you ever met him? He's larger than life, a very good advocate, and very persistent. I just thought he was perfect for the job.
Dan Morain
@danmorain.bsky.social
My book about the mental health care system coming in March ‘27. Author of "Kamala's Way, An American Life." Ex-Sac Bee editorial page editor, ex-LAT reporter, ex-CalMatters.org, current grandpa, dog walker.
There are lots of reasons to criticize Xavier Becerra's run for governor. His origin story is not one: danmorain.substack.com/p/xavier-bec...
Xavier Becerra’s parents’ California Dream
There are reasons to criticize Xavier Becerra. His origin story is not one.
danmorain.substack.com
Gov. Davis: "Part of it is just—I learned this from Jerry Brown—instead of just saying, 'What a nasty story that was,'see if there isn't some wisdom there. See if there isn't something instructive in it.
Gov. Davis: "I think the press over time treated me fairly. Obviously, they were critical on many occasions, but in part that's their role. I don't have any complaints. ...
And this from Gov. Davis: "There's a guy who's an editor at the Chronicle. His last name is Diaz." Interviewer: "John Diaz." Davis: "John Diaz, yes. I like him. He's very fair-minded."
More from Gov. Davis: "Then we have Dan Walters. He's on the other side of the equation, but he's a pretty good journalist. He obviously has a point of view. He's a columnist, and he's generally on the other side of whatever argument I'm on or Jerry's on. He's made a living off of Jerry, literally."
I realize this odd but I am spending the day reading Gray Davis's oral history, produced by Bancroft Library. All kinds of interesting detail. This on the great George Skelton: "I always liked George Skelton. He's still around. He's kind of an old curmudgeon, but he's got a heart of gold." Yep.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2222 to provide money to help journalism. That’s great and much appreciated. Some of those journalists will write critical pieces about Newsom’s policies. That’s how journalism works. Much as he gets annoyed by some coverage, he understands that. I wish all pols did.
Listeners to a discussion focused on Behavioral Health moderated by @danmorain.bsky.social last week might have missed the big news if they weren’t dialed into one important and complex facet of CA's mental illness crisis... danmorain.substack.com/p/settlement...
Settlement helps people with mental illness, to a point
Judge ends an 11-year-old lawsuit focused people deemed incompetent to state trial
danmorain.substack.com
An 11-year lawsuit that helped transform how California cares for people who have committed crimes and struggle with mental illness has come to a quiet conclusion. @danmorain.bsky.social in CW capitolweekly.net/lawsuit-that...
Lawsuit that prompted better care for mentally ill inmates ends - Capitol Weekly
An 11-year lawsuit that helped transform how California cares for people who have committed crimes and struggle with mental illness has come to a quiet conclusion. In a five-page order issued last Mon...
capitolweekly.net
I love this story by @shawnhubler.bsky.social Laurel Canyon Wants Its Beloved Hippie Store Frozen in Time www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/u...
‘You Can’t Buy Vibe’: Laurel Canyon Tries to Save a Beloved Store
The country store that was a hub for rock musicians like Jim Morrison and Graham Nash faces challenges and change. Supporters are trying to make it a landmark.
nytimes.com
There are many infuriating aspects to Tom Philp’s powerful column. Assemblywoman Mia Bonta and her committee gutted important legislation is one. Another is that Chatham Asset Management gutted the Bee’s opinion staff. Who will write such pieces next yesr? www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...
Liberal Democrats gutted California’s CARE court, so homeless addicts just say ‘no’ | Opinion
A Sacramento father petitioned CARE court seeking treatment for his homeless daughter. She refused to cooperate, and a weak law is on her side.
sacbee.com
I was at the Sacramento Bee eight years ending in 2018. I wasn’t there during its heyday. But it was a damned good paper. Here’s an ode to it, as the hedge fund Chatham Asset Managment dismantles what remains. danmorain.substack.com/p/what-chath...
What Chatham Asset Management discarded
Photos on the walls of The Sacramento Bee’s editorial boardroom told a tale
danmorain.substack.com
Cerebral and soft-spoken, Bryon Sher was the antithesis of politicians nowadays. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Byron Sher, an uncomfortable politician who left an indelible mark on California's environment, dies at 98
Byron Sher, a Stanford law professor-turned California legislator who wrote some of the state’s most far-reaching environmental laws, died Saturday. He was 98.
latimes.com
I didn’t always agree with the Bee’s opinion journalists’ takes but that’s not the point. Their opinion pieces and endorsements were informed, reported and honest, and they were a vital part of the civic discourse. The layoffs will weaken democracy in Sacramento and California.
Stephen Cloobeck initially toyed with running for governor as a Democrat, then backed Democrat Eric Swalwell before he flamed out. On Labor Day, Sept. 7, Cloobeck donated the maximum, $39,200 to Republican Steve Hilton for governor, a California Secretary of State campaign finance report shows.
Having downloaded Mapquest, I like it more than the other two. It’s very easy to use.
I just finished “Nerd Reich.” Helluva story on many levels. It’s scary and infuriating. Gil Duran, @gilduran.com, writes clearly and gets to the point. Thiel, Musk and the rest of them have fled California where they made their riches and live wherever they want, Argentina, Texas, New Zealand.
I wonder what Congressman Tom McClintock says about this deal. It’s in his district. Trump Administration Looks to Give a Swath of Yosemite to a Developer www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/u...
Trump Administration Looks to Give a Swath of Yosemite Park to Developer
The proposed land swap would allow easy access to the crown jewel of the national park system. Democrats and former Park Service officials are incensed.
nytimes.com
In California, the death penalty is not a front-burner issue. There hasn't been an execution in 20 years and probably won't be another one. But Gov. Gavin Newsom could have a final word on capital punishment in his final days in office: danmorain.substack.com/p/gov-newsom...
Gov. Newsom’s life-or-death decision
Governor could grant clemency in 565 death penalty cases. Or not
danmorain.substack.com
A conservative Illinois billionaire has throw down $10.5 million to require Californians to prove they’re eligable to vote. Of course, he did. substack.com/@danielmorai...
California's Voter ID initiative goes national
Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein's $6.5 million donation boosts Carl DeMaio's Prop. 39
substack.com
Reading about Iran’s latest demands about opening the Strait of Hormuz, can you imagine if Vice President Kamala Harris had said such a thing: x.com/Acyn/status/...
Acyn (@Acyn) on X
Vance: The coolest thing about the progress we’ve made over the last few weeks is that you’re seeing people within the Iranian system—senior leadership, even IRGC officials—say, “You know what? We rec...
x.com
I remember when the California Republican Party all but printed money. Not so much these days: open.substack.com/pub/danmorai...
California's GOP falls onto even harder times
Once upon a time, the California Republican Party all but printed money
open.substack.com
Tom Philp of the SacBee writes about Carlos Reales Dominguez, the former UC Davis student who stabbed to death two people in Davis in 2023, and his medical marijuana card, which he obtained "thanks to the most dubious of authorizations from a doctor" www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...
California should rethink teen access to cannabis after Davis stabbings | Opinion
Carlos Dominguez started legally using cannabis at age 19. Four years later and with schizophrenia, he went on a stabbing spree in Davis.
sacbee.com
In Kansas, Melinda Henneberger derails the ballot fight for the independence of the state supreme court. Vote is next week. open.substack.com/pub/kansasci...
Current and "retired" KCK archbishops have different messages on Kansas Amendment 5
But only one of them is in your mailbox.
open.substack.com
In other news, four dozen elephant seals slept on the beach south of Cambria, California.
Former UC Davis student Carlos Reales Dominguez found guilty of invol manslaughter in stabbing deaths of a UC Davis honors student Karim Abou Najm and “Compassion Guy,” Davis Breaux and wounding a homeless woman. Originally faced 1st degree murder. He has schizophrenia and was a heavy weed smoker.
Alex Padilla had a personal story to tell when we met 20 years ago. I recall it as he attacks Trump’s bogus claims of voter fraud. An essay: danmorain.substack.com/p/alex-padil...
Sen. Alex Padilla and our most fundamental right
Padilla had a personal story to tell when we met 20 years ago
danmorain.substack.com
@capitolweekly.bsky.social-Open California published another in its series of oral histories, this one with a pioneer in the mental health care field, Areta Crowell. Check it out on my Substack, or go to the source: danmorain.substack.com/p/a-pioneer-.... capitolweekly.net/oral-histori...
A pioneer details California's mental health care system origin story--and its flaws
Areta Crowell and Open California's oral history series
danmorain.substack.com