As drought drags on, Newsom draws fire for ‘status quo’ approach

Two children water seeds in a garden
Erick Garcia, 2, watches as his sister Aryanna, 6, waters newly planted watermelon seeds in East Los Angeles.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Occasions)

Good morning, and welcome to the Important California publication. It’s Friday, July 29. I’m Christopher Goffard.

One of many state’s high water officers has stop mid-drought, with blistering phrases for the governor on his approach out the door.

In a resignation notice, Max Gomberg blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom for what he deemed insufficiently daring motion within the face of drought, aridification and local weather change. And he tore into former colleagues on the state water company for failing to push again.

“Witnessing the company’s skill to deal with large challenges practically eviscerated by this Administration has been gut-wrenching,” wrote Gomberg, who left his longtime publish because the local weather and conservation supervisor of the California State Water Assets Management Board.

In an interview with my colleague Ian James, Gomberg stated it had turn into “insupportable” to see his many climate-preparedness and water-conservation concepts ignored. The governor has been too gradual, cautious, and able to accommodate groundwater companies dominated by agricultural pursuits, Gomberg contends.

“The de facto coverage is affordable meals, as low-cost as attainable,” Gomberg stated, saying the water provide couldn't maintain the state’s “zillions of acres of almonds and grapes.”

Gomberg, 43, is now working as a water-policy marketing consultant. The governor’s workplace rejected his criticisms, saying Newsom “is doing greater than every other state to adapt to our altering local weather,” together with efforts to diversify water provides and improve ecosystems.

The water board’s chair additionally shot again, saying the company had taken “unprecedented, daring, real-time regulatory actions in response to the state’s drought emergency” over the previous yr.

California is coming into its third yr of drought. Some 700 family wells have gone dry in 2022, many within the Central Valley.

In the meantime, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has introduced the reopening of two recycled water fill stations. Residents can declare as much as 300 gallons of free, disinfected water per go to to irrigate their bushes and lawns.

And now, right here’s what’s taking place throughout California:

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L.A. STORIES

Masks mandate is off, for now. A brand new indoor masks mandate was set to enter impact at the moment, however Los Angeles County well being officers have referred to as it off as coronavirus circumstances decline. Los Angeles Occasions

Clouds float in a peach colored sky behind city buildings at sunset. In the foreground cars drive over a bridge.
The sixth Avenue Viaduct at sundown.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Occasions)

The summer season of the bridge. The $588-million sixth Avenue Viaduct has turn into a must-see expertise. Los Angeles Occasions

8-figure condos and “penthouse reveal” dinners. The true property market could also be cooling total, however L.A.'s luxury-condo market continues to rack up large gross sales.Los Angeles Occasions

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Bass wins Clinton endorsement. Including to her near-monopoly on endorsements from institution Democrats, L.A. mayoral candidate Karen Bass can now rely Hillary Clinton as a supporter. Los Angeles Occasions

CRIME AND COURTS

Perjury case fallout. A person serving jail time for assaulting a Lengthy Seaside police officer will likely be launched, months after the officer was charged with perjury in one other case. Los Angeles Occasions

San Pedro capturing. Particulars emerge on the deadly capturing at San Pedro’s Peck Park. Los Angeles Occasions

Kidnapping hoax. The unusual case of Sherri Papini, who advised detectives she spent three weeks in captivity in November 2016 earlier than her story unraveled. Sacramento Bee

Sick canines seized by animal management. Authorities imagine they're linked to the operator of a Modesto pet mill. Modesto Bee

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HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Monkeypox outbreak. Because the virus continues to unfold, San Francisco officers have declared a state of emergency. Los Angeles Occasions

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

a person surfing.
Natasha “Tashi” Smith surfs on a foam surfboard at Topanga State Seaside in Malibu.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)

Costco surfboard. Tender-top surfboards used to scream “newbie,” however surfboard firms now promote higher-performance fashions. Los Angeles Occasions

Golden Globes. The Hollywood International Press Assn. has determined to turn into a for-profit enterprise.Los Angeles Occasions

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CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles: partly cloudy, 84. San Diego: partly cloudy, 72. San Francisco: partly cloudy, 64. San Jose: partly cloudy, 80. Fresno: sunny, 106. Sacramento: partly cloudy, 97.

AND FINALLY

Immediately’s California reminiscence comes from Duncan Earle:

I keep in mind driving with my six siblings and fogeys to California from Upstate New York in 1957, a lot of it within the West on Route 66, and tenting. We bought to the very finish of the route in Santa Monica, at the moment with some minimal limitations so that you didn't drive into the ocean. And I keep in mind, at simply age 5, realizing, “That’s what they imply by from sea to shining sea.” I can see it prefer it was yesterday.

When you've got a reminiscence or story in regards to the Golden State, share it with us. (Please preserve your story to 100 phrases.)

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