Newsletter: California’s ballots have finally, finally been tallied

Good morning. It’s Friday, Dec. 9, and here’s what’s going on around California:

TOP STORIES

Questions or witch hunt?

More troubling revelations are emerging about a lack of city inspections of an Oakland warehouse where 36 died in the worst fire in modern California history. It now appears that neither building nor fire inspectors had been inside the warehouse in years, despite repeated complaints about safety conditions inside. Oakland’s mayor said she’s committed to getting to the bottom of the issues but also said she doesn’t want to start a “witch hunt” of city workers. Los Angeles Times

Trump and Carl’s Jr.

Andrew Puzder, President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to be the next Labor Department secretary, turned around the Southern California-based parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s with help from scantily clad women hawking oversized burgers in racy ads. But Trump picked Puzder because of his tough stance against Obamacare and big hikes in the minimum wage and his advocacy for business interests. Los Angeles Times

Plus: Michael Hiltzik says Puzder has been a better advocate for owners than workers. Los Angeles Times

Down for the count

Some fascinating statistics, as all of California’s votes were finally counted this week: Hillary Clinton handily beat Trump by more than 4.2 million votes here. Voter turnout in California was higher than it was in the presidential election four years ago: 75.3% of registered voters. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

Beach battle: Another epic coastal access battle is brewing in Malibu. The California Coastal Commission on Thursday imposed fines and a settlement that will cost two property owners more than $5.1 million for denying the public access to the beach. Los Angeles Times

Mayoral race shakeout: Mayor Eric Garcetti’s path to a second term might have just become even easier. Los Angeles charter school founder Steve Barr has abandoned his bid to unseat Garcetti in next year’s election, an abrupt withdrawal that probably means that education and L.A.’s struggling schools will not become major issues in the March election. Garcetti was already heavily favored. Los Angeles Times

Olympic step: A small step forward for L.A.’s new Olympic dreams, but some major hurdles remain. Daily News

Effective diet? Putting Silver Lake’s Rowena Avenue on a diet was controversial. Now, there are some results. Narrowing the street reduced accidents but it also slowed down traffic. The Eastsider

House poor: So what do you get when you buy a Bel-Air mansion for $85 million? “The 10-bedroom, stone-clad château sits on 2.2 acres in the Bel-Air neighborhood. Measuring more than 40,000 square feet, the three-story house has a ballroom that seats more than 200, a Moroccan-themed room for entertaining, a Turkish hammam decorated with mosaic tiles, a wine cellar with its own dining room and an elaborate screening room with a mural on the ceiling.” Wall Street Journal

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

City Hall scandal: The FBI has launched an investigation involving allegations that Compton’s deputy treasurer stole money from the city. Salvador Galvan, 47, was taken into custody Wednesday in connection with embezzlement allegations. Los Angeles Times

Trash talk: The Los Angeles City Council is poised to award trash-hauling contracts worth billions of dollars as part of a new citywide waste collection program that could raise costs for some customers. Los Angeles Times

“Dreamer” desperation: California Democrats are pleading with President Obama to pardon hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to whom he granted temporary deportation deferrals. But the idea’s legality is questionable at best. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Pot prisoner: To his supporters, Eddy Lepp is a marijuana martyr whose many years in federal prison show how unfair drugs laws are. Lepp is finally free and getting a hero’s welcome in San Francisco. Mercury News

Baca strategy: Using former deputies and others, federal prosecutors are attempting to establish that former Sheriff Lee Baca was personally aware of and involved in an elaborate scheme in 2011, when they allege the sheriff and his subordinates conspired to obstruct federal authorities. It’s a tried-and-true legal strategy. Los Angeles Times

Naked lunch: L.A. had another one of those shared crime moments. A naked man scaled a Metro bus on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood on Thursday afternoon and stood there until deputies managed to rustle up a ladder to remove him. Los Angeles Times

Burgers with a side of…: This burger stand also sold crack in South L.A., authorities say. But it got good reviews on Yelp. LA Weekly

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Drought ends? House Republicans pushed through California drought legislation Thursday, but it faces a fight. “It is a bill that helps deliver water to our communities,” said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. “It will increase pumping. It will increase storage. It will fund more desalination, efficiency and recycling projects.” Fresno Bee

Strange sighting: Was that really a dolphin they saw way inland on the Sacramento River? Sacramento Bee

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Disneyland timetable: So what is the best time to go to Disneyland? One pro tip: “If you must go to Disneyland on a day with sparse crowds, here’s the better question to ask: ‘Is it raining?’ If the answer is yes, then go. That’s your best chance to find one of those magical days when crowds are light at Disneyland.” Orange County Register

L.A. darkness: A pick of four “neo-noir” movies set in Los Angeles (one of them stars a rabbit). New York Times

Food for thought: In Sacramento, Barnes & Noble is hoping serving food can help save its book business. Sacramento Bee

Party palace: You may never have heard of Earl Carroll. But in Hollywood’s Golden Era, his name meant celebrity, excitement and style. LAist

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: Cloudy with highs in the 60s through the weekend. San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento: Rain, which should clear up by Sunday; highs in the 50s.

AND FINALLY

Today’s California memory comes from Frances Robinson:

“For 27 years, until I retired and moved out of state, on Saturdays and Sundays, I would get up before daylight and drive down to the ocean (I lived in OC). At least 40 weekends out of 52. Usually I would go to Laguna Beach. Sometimes all the way to Oceanside Pier. And I would watch the day break as I sat on the beach. During the winter too. Sometimes even when it was raining. I didn’t care. For too few minutes I was pretty much in another world and away from all the traffic and myriad buildings on the coast. I’ve been gone 11 years. Still miss weekend mornings at the ocean.”

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.)

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