Newsletter: Essential California: California’s new electric car

Good morning. It is Friday, Nov. 6. Rep. Brad Sherman of the San Fernando Valley suggested to the chair of the Federal Reserve that interest rates should not go up this winter because of a higher power. “God’s plan is that things rise in the spring. And so if you want to be good with the Almighty, you might want to delay until May,” the congressman said. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Electric vehicles

A group of former Tesla employees has taken to Faraday Future, an electric vehicle start-up in Gardena. The company declined to identify its ownership and investors; documents show it has ties to a Chinese multibillionaire. “There is a significant investor who has an international profile and wants the company to stand on its own merits before making the association,” a company spokeswoman said. Los Angeles Times

Crime trends

It’s been a year since voters approved Proposition 47, and law enforcement officials say since then it’s been easier for criminals to repeatedly violate the law with little consequence. “Crime has risen in the state’s largest cities, setting off debate over whether the proposition is responsible. In some areas, street cops are making fewer narcotics arrests.” Los Angeles Times 

Defense strategy

The trial of Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow is expected to start on Monday, and a new court filing may be a road map of his defense. At the heart of it is an allegation of “outrageous government conduct.” “The defense blasts the more than $2 million spent on the long investigation, noting that taxpayers footed the bill for ‘the [undercover agent’s] fake bombshell girlfriend’ as well as ‘flights, liquor bills, transportation, his $20,000 Rolex watch, his fine wardrobe.’” Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

On the ground: Take a tour around the Salton Sea. “The Salton Sea lurks in the dark: moist, poisoned and yet ever fecund at its edges. Much grows and much dies here. Everyone but the locals focus on the bad news.” KCET

L.A. AT LARGE

Major flub: L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti endorsed Hillary Clinton for president Thursday. About an hour later, after The Times inquired about using city resources for campaign purposes, his office followed up with another message: "Today's statement on Hillary Clinton was sent in error.” Back in 2008, the mayor was an early supporter of Barack Obama in the presidential primary against Clinton. Los Angeles Times

Traditional sacrifice: The bizarre crash that sent a young man’s body flying onto a freeway sign has brought attention to the matagh tradition within the Armenian Church. Matagh is a sacrifice to show God appreciation for granting good health or providing peace to a deceased loved one. Reports said that days before Richard Pananian died, his family sacrificed a lamb because the 20-year-old had triumphed over health issues. Los Angeles Times

Party time: Developer Danny Fitzgerald specifically designs his homes to host Hollywood’s biggest parties — much to the anger of neighbors and even L.A. city leaders. “Just before the recession hit, he began to pursue what would turn out to be his coup de grace: The Weidlake complex, which features expansive neon lighting, club-style banks of urinals and ‘Hollywood’ spelled out in tile above the pools.” Hollywood Reporter

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Second term: San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee easily won reelection, but that doesn’t mean his second term will be smooth sailing. “The city's affordability crisis matters beyond all else. And due to a surprising result in the only supervisorial district that was up for grabs, Lee is now likely to meet strong resistance to policies perceived as too tech-friendly.” Los Angeles Times

Public sector bonuses: Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin is getting heat for giving $200,000 in bonuses to members of her staff. Members of the city council say they didn’t know anything about the payments, which also angered local labor leaders. “I’m really appalled because they nickel and dime us. It just really ticks me off,” said a rep with the International Union of Operating Engineers AFL-CIO/Stationary Engineers Local 39. Fresno Bee

CRIME AND COURTS

Good Samaritan: A contractor who heard screams and crashing chairs in a classroom at UC Merced is being called a hero for thwarting a stabbing attack by a man who, police said, was angry over being snubbed by a study group. “The suspect rammed the knife into [Byron] Price’s side, stabbing him near the waistline. Price managed to kick the assailant in the head, his father said. Then, the hooded man fled.” Los Angeles Times

Children injured: A one-time teacher was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after she struck two 12-year-old boys in a marked crosswalk, police said. The children were on their way to Marina Middle School when they were hit by 30-year-old Kirsten Andereck, who allegedly went around a truck that had stopped for the boys. SFist

Covering crime: One of the toughest crime reporters in Los Angeles history, Agness Underwood, is being remembered with her own photo exhibit at the Los Angeles Public Library. During her career, she befriended gangster Mickey Cohen, and even believed she knew the real killer of the Black Dahlia. “Aggie Underwood was a gutsy broad who both created and typified the image of the tough-as-nails lady journalist long before it became a film noir trope.” Atlas Obscura

School protest: About 1,500 students from Berkeley High School marched in protest after a racist message was found on a school computer. Authorities are investigating the message, which read, “KKK Forever Public Lynching December 9th 2015.” Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Inside Scientology: Actress Leah Remini and director Paul Haggis are two of the most famous ex-Scientologists. They sat down to talk about their former religion. Vanity Fair

City streets: A new graphic shows the scarcity of streets named after women in major cities, including San Francisco. City Lab

Car king dies: The creator of the Batmobile died Thursday. George Barris was perhaps best known as the L.A. king of customized cars. Los Angeles Times

Social connection: One Instagram account is a window into the L.A. Chicano gang life of the 1990s. “The feed is a virtual exploration of the past, a way to revisit lost friends and loved ones.” LA Weekly

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will be sunny and 75. In Los Angeles, it will be sunny and 78 degrees. Riverside can expect sunshine and temperatures of 77 degrees. San Francisco will have plenty of sun and a high of 63.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Linda Dus Hamilton:

“Once the Northridge quake had stopped rattling and rolling, I lay on the sofa, too unnerved to return upstairs to bed, and pondered my next move. No electricity meant no TV or radio, ergo no information. Much to my surprise and shock, the telephone rang. A friend in Switzerland was watching CNN and called to see if I was still alive. She then reported all the details of the quake as she was learning them. I didn’t miss the irony of having someone halfway around the world telling me what was happening up the street.”

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad.