Wicks rebuts AB 886 criticism + California hate crime hotline is unveiled

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

WICKS REBUTS TECH INDUSTRY AB 886 ANALYSIS

Last week, we shared an analysis of Oakland Democratic Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks’ bill, AB 886, which is aimed at shoring up local California journalism outlets.

The analysis was from the tech industry-funded, center-left Chamber of Progress. It warned that the bill, which requires digital platforms such as Facebook and Google (both Chamber “partners,” according to its site) to pay California media outlets for news articles they share may have unintended consequences, such as funding misinformation outlets. That sentiment has been echoed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Other entities opposing the bill include the California Chamber of Commerce and CalMatters.

Wicks was unimpressed with the Chamber of Progress analysis. In an interview with The Bee, she said that, unlike the chamber, her interest is in saving journalism.

“The very people that they’re purporting to care about here ... are all at the table either supporting the bill or in conversations with me,” Wicks said.

AB 886 is co-sponsored by the California News Publishers Association, and supported by a range of media outlets, from the San Francisco Chronicle to the Los Angeles Blade. The Sacramento Bee and parent company McClatchy’s four other California news outlets — The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, the San Luis Obispo Tribune and the Merced Sun-Star — are members of the California News Publishers Association.

“We are at a moment in history when credible information is critical and when, according to Pew Research, 81% of Americans rely on local media to keep them informed. When local newspapers shutter, civic engagement goes down,corruption goes up, and the ability to combat disinformation erodes further,” the CNPA said in a statement of support for the bill.

“The whole point of the bill is to ensure that we have healthy newsrooms,” Wicks said.

Asked about the Chamber of Progress’ concern about the bill sending money to outlets like Fox News and others that have shared misinformation in the past, Wicks said that the bill — which has bipartisan support and has passed unanimously out of two committees thus far — doesn’t favor liberal or conservative media outlets.

Wicks said that the bottom line is, whether you are Democrat or Republican, “all of us understand the need to have a free press.”

CALIFORNIA UNVEILS HATE CRIME HOTLINE

Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Civil Rights Department announced the creation of a new multilingual state hotline and website where people can make anonymous reports of hate crimes.

According to Newsom’s office, hate crimes jumped almost 33% from 2020 to 2021.

“Now, Californians have another tool to ensure that not only justice is served, but that individuals have access to additional resources to help deal with the lingering wounds that remain after such a horrendous crime occurs,” Newsom said in a statement.

The CA vs Hate Resource Line and Network is available by calling 833-866-4283 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time, with more information available online here.

“In the face of hate across the nation, we stand united in declaring: California is for everyone. I urge all Californians to know their rights and to take advantage of these important resources,” said Civil Rights Director Kevin Kish in a statement.

Newsom’s office said the hotline was the brainchild of Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, back in 2021. The program is intended to help communities including Asian Americans, Latinos, Black Americans, LGBTQ people, religious minorities and others.

The service is confidential and free.

POSTSCRIPT — Because of a pesky computer glitch, The Bee’s email inquiries to legislative staffers ended up getting bounced back last week. As a result, Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins’ office never received our inquiry about Sen. Dave Min’s DUI arrest.

Here is the statement Atkins put out after news of Min’s arrest broke last week: “Like Senator Min, we’re disappointed in his actions, but pleased that he’s taken responsibility and apologized.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“This is absolutely sick. These kinds of disgusting acts have no place in California.”

- Gov. Gavin Newsom, responding to a Sac Bee story about UC Santa Cruz students celebrating Hitler’s birthday, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

• When Gov. Gavin Newsom releases his revised budget proposal this week, it will paint an even gloomier picture than the multi-billion-dollar deficit projected just four months ago, via Maggie Angst and David Lightman.

• A member of the newly-formed Committee to Support the Recall of Aisha Wahab is Congressional candidate Ritesh Tandon, a San Jose engineer and businessman. Tandon ran two failed campaigns against Rep. Ro Khanna in District 17 in both 2020 and 2022. He ran both as a Republican but told The Bee he is challenging Khanna in 2024 as a moderate Democrat, via Jenavieve Hatch.

• Should California hold a special election to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy, instead of having Gov. Gavin Newsom appoint someone to fill the seat? Via David Lightman.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democrats have repeatedly vowed to reform California’s landmark environmental protection law, which many blame for the state’s inability to build enough housing, via Maggie Angst and Lindsey Holden.

• How could Min’s DUI have been avoided? The lawmaker could have called for a Lyft or Uber, or asked someone to give him a ride. There was also a time when he could have enlisted the Senate sergeant-at-arms, via Andrew Sheeler.