Newsletter: Orange County could turn blue on Tuesday

Good morning. It is Wednesday, Nov. 2. Yummy, yummy, yummy — these might be the best burgers in San Francisco and Oakland. Here’s what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORIES

Will Orange turn blue?

For the first time since the Depression, Orange County could go blue in the presidential election. Though the tilt to the left may have been inevitable, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump appears to be speeding up the process by turning off college-educated white women and wealthy suburbanites. “They expect a certain style from their presidential nominee, a certain intellect and a kind of measure in serious discussion of policy,” said Stu Rothenberg, a veteran nonpartisan political analyst. Los Angeles Times

Restricting development

Will Santa Monica voters adopt a restrictive slow-growth measure on next week’s ballot? Measure LV would require voter approval of most developments taller than 32 to 36 feet. “Something like this would be so onerous. It would be extremely difficult to provide more affordable housing, even for housing for the middle class or millennials who can’t afford single-family homes,” said Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, associate dean of UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Los Angeles Times

Pay up

Some cities beg developers to build projects. But not Beverly Hills. The Chinese firm Wanda Group agreed to increase its fees to the city by more than a half-billion dollars over 30 years to win approval of a luxury condo-hotel project near the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards. Los Angeles Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Back to work: Southern California Gas Co. wants to start injecting gas back into Aliso Canyon. State environmental regulators have yet to give their OK. “We will thoroughly review all the information and data, conduct independent site inspections, seek public feedback and the opinion of outside experts before making any determination,” the Department of Conservation said in a statement. Los Angeles Times

Allegations of harassment: Comedian Heather McDonald is calling out University of California regent Norman J. Pattiz for his inappropriate comments toward women. For his part, Pattiz apologized for a remark he made to McDonald about her breasts. “I can assure you that you can teach an old dog new tricks,” he said. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Campaign update: Columnist Steve Lopez went to Pismo Beach to check on the reelection of Councilman Erik Howell, who is also a member of the Coastal Commission. Mystery ensued. Los Angeles Times

Strategist hired: Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hired San Francisco consultant (and former Gavin Newsom confidant) Eric Jaye as he ponders a 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Politico

Say cheese: The ACLU of Northern California is fighting for voters who want to snap a selfie with their ballot. The practice is illegal, though a law taking effect on Jan. 1 will change that. The secretary of state encourages voters who feel the need to publicize the completion of their civic duty to take a picture with the “I Voted” sticker. Los Angeles Times

Transit funds: L.A. City Councilman (and Metro board member) Paul Krekorian makes the case for Measure M in this op-ed. “This is a defining moment for the San Fernando Valley. Measure M presents the best opportunity we’ve had in our lifetime to build the type of effective, affordable and connected transit system that the Valley needs and deserves,” he writes. Daily News

Nice work: Meet the BART janitor who made $270,000 in pay and benefits last year. Mercury News

CRIME AND COURTS

Policing the police: The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to create a nine-member civilian panel to oversee the Sheriff’s Department. The commission’s work will focus on policy rather than disciplinary issues. One supervisor rejected criticism that the panel will lack independence because “while the commission answers to the supervisors, the supervisors have certain leverage — such as control over the Sheriff’s budget.” Los Angeles Times

Speaking up: The woman who was raped by former Stanford student Brock Turner was named a Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine. In a new essay, the woman, whose identity has not been revealed, describes what happened after Turner was sentenced to six months in jail. Glamour

On fire: It was one of the most controversial buildings in Los Angeles. Did an arsonist burn it down? And if so why? LA Weekly

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Conservation efforts: Californians did a better job of saving water in September. “I am glad to see the slide stop, and even reverse a bit overall, especially as we move into traditionally lower water-use months when we would expect [savings] percentages to drop significantly,” said state Water Resources Control Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus. Los Angeles Times

Lessons learned: What Australia can teach California about the drought. New York Times

Getting hot in here: Daytime temperatures will climb into the 80s today in Southern California. And the Santa Ana winds are about to start blowing. The San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys can expect winds of 15 to 25 mph. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Young musicians: Gustavo Dudamel’s Youth Orchestra Los Angeles went to Oakland this week. “There was the undeniable thrill Sunday of seeing accomplished young musicians who began with cardboard violins and the like a decade ago having become a genuine orchestra with its own distinctive look, style and sound,” writes music critic Mark Swed. Los Angeles Times

Down the slide: How a marble and a video can show off the Millennium Tower’s tilt. SFGate

Eureka! The midnight bath that led to this Marilyn Monroe-inspired parody. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will be mostly sunny with a high of 73 degrees. Los Angeles will be 79 and sunny. Riverside will have a high of 80 degrees and a breeze. San Francisco will be 71 and mostly sunny. Sacramento will begin the day with fog before reaching a high of 68 degrees.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California Memory comes from Gisele Rainer:

“When I was in the 4th grade at Havens Elementary in Piedmont, we were studying the Gold Rush. Mom invited my best friends to come with us one Saturday to Angel’s Camp to pan for gold and see the Jumping Frog Contest. We almost peed our pants when each of us found a big chunk of craggy gold in our pan. Only years later did my aunt explain that the week before our outing, Mom had had all her gold fillings replaced with porcelain ones.”

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.