Newsletter: The Golden Globes go for a younger, more diverse crowd
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Dec. 13, and here’s what’s going on around California:
TOP STORIES
Hollywood diversity
It was little less than a year ago that Hollywood was roiled by a diversity debate that was summed up in the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. But if the new Golden Globes nominations are any indication, the Oscars won’t see a repeat. This year’s crop is younger, newer and decidedly more diverse. And this new wave left some veterans shut out, including Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese. Los Angeles Times
Warehouse wars
Cracking down on dangerous warehouses like the one in Oakland where 36 people died is going to take detective work, money and commitment from city leaders. After the fire, cities are beefing up inspections. But many see that as only a short-term gambit unless officials can find better ways to find these illegal, underground living quarters and effectively deal with them. Also: Where will the evicted go? Los Angeles Times
Runaway bride
The much-discussed, much-anticipated marriage of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp. is off. Shari Redstone on Monday abruptly reversed course, saying the two media firms were strong enough to stand on their own. Viacom shareholders were unnerved by the news, the latest surprise at a company that has been roiled by turmoil for more than a year. One concern: no reason cited for abandoning the proposed merger just three months after advocating for it. Los Angeles Times
L.A. STORIES
Fisher fired: This might be an understatement given the L.A. Rams’ record, but team leaders said the decision to fire coach Jeff Fisher was “solely a performance-related issue.” The Rams have struggled for a while, but the ugliness of the last few weeks “really changed the barometer,” said one official. Los Angeles Times
Plus: Who will replace Fisher? Here are some names. Los Angeles Times
Port o’ call: Seals and sharks have found a home in a decidedly unnatural coastal environment: amid the ships and piers of the L.A. and Long Beach harbors. Press-Telegram
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Drought battle: An inside look at the California water fight waged in the final days of a lame-duck Congress. It pitted the state’s U.S. senators against each other in the last moments of their 24-year partnership. Over frayed feelings and filibuster threats, both chambers overwhelmingly passed the bill, which changes how much water is pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to San Joaquin Valley farmers and Southern California. Los Angeles Times
Tax ruling: In a loss for local governments, the California Supreme Court decided Monday that online travel companies such as Expedia Inc. are exempt from paying hotel occupancy taxes. Los Angeles Times
Trump “terror”: An Orange County community college teacher said she got threats and had to leave the state after she was caught on video telling students Donald Trump’s election was “an act of terrorism.” Orange County Register
Pérez move: Citing a recent diagnosis of a serious health problem, former California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez said he is dropping out of the race to replace U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles). “I’ve got to focus on my health right now,” Pérez said in an interview. Los Angeles Times
CRIME AND COURTS
Unusual trial: A man accused of serial killings is representing himself in court. As columnist David Whiting describes it, that’s created a surreal, absurdist trial and caused more anguish for the families of the victims. Orange County Register
Hate crime hunt: Authorities believe the man responsible for stabbing a worshiper near a Simi Valley mosque over the weekend is still at large, leaving faith leaders shaken that a violent person with a hatred for Muslims remains a threat to their community. Los Angeles Times
Nude sharing: Police in Mountain View are investigating allegations that high school students shared nude photos on a Dropbox account. Mercury News
Homeless agenda: L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey writes that veterans’ housing should be at the top of Trump’s agenda. New York Times
DROUGHT AND CLIMATE
Good times: One big sign of the improving drought picture in Northern California: Folsom Lake rose 15 feet after weekend rains. And more storms are on the way. Even dry Southern California might get some sprinkles. SFGate
Dam worries: Plans to retrofit a major Bay Area dam have hit a series of problems. Mercury News
CALIFORNIA CULTURE
Architectural detour: It takes a long drive from San Francisco (and even longer from Los Angeles) to find the new museum that has captured the imagination of architecture buffs. Set your GPS for … Davis. Los Angeles Times
Hi, Bob!? A great line about Bob Dylan’s Nobel prize and his (likely) home in Malibu. New York Times
Traffic villain? Are Uber and Lyft making San Francisco’s already unbearable traffic much worse? That’s what some believe. They point out there are 45,000 ridesharing workers in the city, compared with just 1,800 taxis. Curbed San Francisco
Mall plan: There is a new push to redesign the Capitol Mall in Sacramento as the area has seen a revitalization. Sacramento Bee
Bar one: The Will Ferrell-themed pop up bar in Hollywood is about what you might expect. Sample drink: Milk Was a Bad Choice, which contains vanilla Stoli, vanilla schnapps, milk, ice. LAist
CALIFORNIA ALMANAC
Los Angeles area: Morning clouds should clear up later in the day; highs in the mid-60s. San Francisco area and Sacramento: Rainy with highs in the mid-50s.
AND FINALLY
Today’s California memory comes from Harry S. Lester:
“I moved to San Francisco in 1946, as I believed the job opportunities were better here than in Connecticut. Through a SF Chronicle ad, I found an apartment on Nob Hill, placed by a fellow who needed someone to share his place and help pay the rent. From my bedroom window I enjoyed a great view of the Bay. On my first night I was awakened by what appeared to be gunfire and flames in the distance. This incident turned out to be the attempted but unsuccessful prison break at Alcatraz.”
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 Shelby Grad.
