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Newsletter: Essential California: NorCal cops pick up nunchakus

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Good morning. It is Tuesday, Oct. 27. West Hollywood’s annual Halloween carnival will be broadcast on the city’s YouTube channel. Viewer discretion is advised, given the skimpy costumes worn by revelers. Here's what else is happening in the Golden State:

TOP STORY

Housing costs

How should Los Angeles County pay for affordable housing? The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is expected to debate competing proposals when it meets today. Two of the board's more liberal members want to establish a fund that would ultimately provide $100 million a year to housing, but Supervisor Don Knabe argues that’s not sustainable. He wants a calculation that would provide closer to $28 million a year. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

New looks: Will the trend of drought-tolerant landscaping live on beyond the drought? “Now that the cash has dried up and El Niño is expected to bring drenching rains for California’s winter, it is possible that interest in lawn replacement will wane and that the green grass signifying the good life here will return to favor.” New York Times

L.A. AT LARGE

Transit discrimination: Former Major League player and ESPN commentator Doug Glanville had just landed at LAX when he and a colleague tried to get a cab. Just as they were about to get in, the driver looked at Glanville, who is African American, and told him to hop on a bus. An airport employee told him it was the third time that day she had seen a cab driver refuse to give a ride to an African American. The Atlantic

At what cost: Will Los Angeles escape the Olympic curse of cost overruns? “Olympics not only often lose money; many experts say they don't produce much in the way of economic benefit. But mayors and premiers around the world want to achieve ‘World Class City’ status.” City Lab

Be prepared: Life won’t be very rosy in the aftermath of a major earthquake. That’s what earthquake expert Lucy Jones wants to get across to Angelenos in the hopes that they’ll take preparedness seriously. “[N]ot dying in the coming earthquake is not enough. We need a bigger goal. We need to have a city we still want to live in,” she said. Curbed LA

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Exciting race: California’s 2016 elections are just an appetizer to the frenzy that will be the 2018 race for governor. Names floating around for the gubernatorial race include Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, billionaire investor Tom Steyer, former state Controller Steve Westly and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. “This field looks far more prominent and monied than those vying to replace current four-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.” Daily News

CRIME AND COURTS

Diverse policing: Asia Hardy is not a typical LAPD recruit: She is one of two African American women in her class. “I think that it is not as easy for our family members or our friends to actually accept the profession that we are going into just because of the perception African Americans have towards law enforcement,” Hardy said. CNN

First to do it: Robert Ram is reported to be the first amputee to graduate from the Orange County Sheriff’s Correctional Services Assistant Academy. The 20-year-old’s goal is to one day become a sheriff’s deputy, despite missing his left leg. “He's definitely opened the door for other people, that you can do whatever you want to do,” said Deputy Will Griffin, a trainer with the program. KTLA

Weapon of choice: Police in Anderson will soon have another nonlethal option when dealing with suspects: nunchakus. Cops in the Northern California town say the weapon will provide a peaceful means of calming a suspect. “I see the value and the safety they bring to me,” said one sergeant. Los Angeles Times

EDUCATION

New kind of school: In Porter Ranch, parents are doing something unusual — they’re choosing a public school over nearby charter and private schools. Porter Ranch Community School opened three years ago as a “pilot school,” which gave teachers more freedom in developing their curriculums and calendars. “It's a public school with a private school feel,” said one parent. Los Angeles Times

GOLDEN STATE PERSPECTIVES

Removing a city clerk: Allegations of bizarre and threatening behavior by Carson Clerk Jim Dear have been piling up, leading some in the south L.A. County city to question his mental fitness for the job. If Dear had been appointed to his post, he’d have been shown the door long ago, but The Times’ editorial board notes that things aren’t so simple since Dear is an elected official. Petitions are circulating in Carson to have voters recall Dear, a better option than forcibly removing him, the board says. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Trip to Mars: Take a virtual tour of the Gale Crater on Mars, which is known thanks to the Mars rover from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Los Angeles Times

Learning the language: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is continuing his charm offensive in China. This weekend, he gave a 22-minute speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing — in Mandarin. Facebook continues to be blocked in the country. Los Angeles Times

Safety first: “Thank you, Elon Musk — you saved my life.” That’s what Hollywood heavyweight Jeffrey Katzenberg is saying after a Beverly Hills car crash left him with a shattered arm and a destroyed vehicle. Katzenberg is known to drive a Tesla Model S. Hollywood Reporter

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

San Diego will be partly sunny with a high of 79 degrees. Los Angeles will have a few clouds as temperatures reach 83. In Riverside, it will be partly sunny and 87. San Francisco could have some rain. Temperatures are expected to reach 67.

AND FINALLY

Today's California Memory comes from Mark Salkin:

“In college I stood in line at the old Fillmore Auditorium with tickets for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, but Crosby was ill so they canceled: money back or tickets for an unknown headliner. I chose the ticks and Janis Joplin filled in, appearing in see-through pants and Jack Daniels. Just like (Bill) Graham, keeping the crowd pleased. SF rocks.”

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.

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