California Politics 360 Full Episode | Proposed Voter ID ballot initiative, CA Democratic Party convention, pear farmer impacts

There’s a proposed ballot initiative that would require voters to show their ID at the polls and for election officials to verify citizenship.

A PUSH TO REQUIRE PHOTO IDS AT THE POLLS. AN UPDATE FROM THE LAWMAKER LEADING THE CHARGE, AND WHY HE SAYS VOTERS WILL LIKELY DECIDE THIS IN NOVEMBER. THE RACE TO SUCCEED GOVERNOR NEWSOM HEATING UP WITH A PACKED GROUP OF DEMOCRATS VYING TO LEAD THE STATE. THERE’S A CHANCE CALIFORNIA COULD END UP DECIDING BETWEEN TWO REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER. FARMERS IN GENERAL HAVE TO BE ETERNAL OPTIMISTS. CALIFORNIA GROWERS FEELING THE IMPACT OF A RISE IN ARGENTINA, IMPORTS THAT CAUSED OUR MARKETING CAPABILITIES TO KIND OF BE SQUASHED. WHAT EXACTLY DO GROWERS NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO DO HERE? THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. I’M ASHLEY ZAVALA. THERE’S A PUSH TO REQUIRE A PHOTO ID WHEN VOTING IN CALIFORNIA, AND IT MAY BE ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE THIS NOVEMBER. REPUBLICAN STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARL DEMAIO IS LEADING THE BALLOT INITIATIVE. IT WOULD REQUIRE VOTERS TO SHOW A GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID AND FOR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TO VERIFY VOTER CITIZENSHIP. EARLIER THIS WEEK, I SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLYMAN DEMAIO. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS TO GET AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR THAT WOULD REQUIRE VOTER I.D. IN CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS MOVING FORWARD, WHAT’S THE STATUS SO FAR OF YOUR INITIATIVE? WELL, I INTRODUCED THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT A YEAR AGO, AND I GAVE THE POLITICIANS IN SACRAMENTO A CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO GIVE THE VOTERS, NOT JUST REPUBLICAN VOTERS, BUT DEMOCRAT VOTERS AS WELL, A COMMON SENSE REFORM, VOTER ID, AND OF COURSE, IT ALSO INCLUDES AN AUDIT OF OUR VOTER ROLLS TO CLEAN THEM UP AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION. THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE. THE DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS IN SACRAMENTO VOTED IT DOWN. SO I WENT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BUILDING THAT SAME AFTERNOON AND SAID WHAT THE POLITICIANS REFUSED TO DO. THE CITIZENS MUST NOW ENACT ON OUR OWN. AND THAT’S WHEN WE LAUNCHED OUR SIGNATURE DRIVE. AND GETTING A MILLION SIGNATURES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. NOT EASY, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING. THERE’S NO, YOU KNOW, MONEYED INTEREST BEHIND VOTER ID IT’S JUST GOOD GOVERNMENT. SO WE WE ASKED VOLUNTEERS TO STEP FORWARD, AND 18,000 VOLUNTEERS STATEWIDE HELPED COLLECT SIGNATURES. AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A MATTER OF DAYS, SUBMITTING 1.35 MILLION SIGNATURES. AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THE REQUIRED 880,000 VALID SIGNATURES BECAUSE WE VALIDATED EACH OF THEM AS WE WENT ALONG. OKAY. SO ESSENTIALLY YOU’RE SAYING THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT. IT’S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT. IF THE POLITICIANS AND THE DEMOCRATS IN CALIFORNIA FOLLOW THE RULES AND GIVE US OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A CITIZENS INITIATIVE, BUT THEY HAVE TAKEN CITIZENS INITIATIVES OFF THE BALLOT IN THE PAST. AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGHT HARD AND GET THIS ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. I THINK VOTERS, WHEN THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE A CLEAN ELECTION, A SIMPLE ELECTION ON THIS ITEM, 70%, ACCORDING TO THE POLLING, WILL VOTE YES ON VOTER I.D. IN THE SAME VEIN, SIMILAR TO YOUR INITIATIVE, THE HOUSE THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PASSED THE SAVE ACT, WHICH ESSENTIALLY TRIES TO REQUIRE VOTER ID IN ELECTIONS FEDERALLY MOVING FORWARD, WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR INITIATIVE IF THAT ENDS UP BECOMING FEDERAL LAW? WELL, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY COMPLIMENTARY. THEY DON’T CONFLICT, BUT I WHILE I SUPPORT THE SAVE ACT, I DON’T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF HOPE THAT IN THE SENATE IT WILL PASS. AND AND SO IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GET A VOTER I.D. REQUIREMENT IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT CALIFORNIA DOES IT RIGHT. THIS INITIATIVE WILL TAKE CALIFORNIA FROM THE WORST ELECTION PRACTICES TO THE BEST. AND WE CAN DO THAT. AND IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PARTIZAN ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN THING. THIS IS ABOUT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN SAYING, WHY NOT? WHY NOT DO VOTER I.D.? WHY NOT DO CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION? THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO NOT WANT IT ARE THE POLITICIANS IN CHARGE. AND I THINK THAT SHOULD TELL YOU AGAINST. SPEAKING OF POLITICIANS IN CHARGE, SECRETARY OF STATE SHIRLEY WEBER FOR CALIFORNIA HAS SECURITY PROTOCOLS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING REQUIRING PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE TO PROVIDE THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSES OR STATE IDS, AND OR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. IN THIS, WHEN THE WHEN THE REGISTERING TO VOTE. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HER REACTION? IT’S PROVABLY FALSE. SHE’S JUST PLAYING GAMES. SHE HASN’T DONE HER JOB PROPERLY, AND THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO PROVE THAT IS NOT JUST TO SAY ALL OF US KNOW THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO SHOW OUR I.D. ALL OF US KNOW THAT WHEN YOU MAIL IN A BALLOT, THERE’S NO VERIFICATION. BESIDES, YOU KNOW, CHICKEN SCRATCH FOR YOUR SIGNATURE, AND THAT’S NOT DONE VERY ADEQUATELY IN THE COUNTY OFFICES TO REVIEW SIGNATURES. BUT I THINK THE BEST WAY TO PROVE THAT SHE’S NOT TELLING THE TRUTH IS, WHILE SHE SAYS WE’RE ALREADY DOING THIS, SHE THEN TOLD THE FISCAL ANALYST THAT IN ORDER TO DO ALL OF THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS AND REFORMS, IT WOULD COST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO MY QUESTION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS, WHICH IS THE LIE? ARE YOU ALREADY DOING IT, OR ARE THERE SO MANY NEW REQUIREMENTS IN THIS THAT IT’S GOING TO COST YOU MONEY? AGAIN, SHE DOESN’T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KIND OF TRUTH TEST OR FACT CHECK WHAT SHE’S SAYING OTHER. THE REALITY IS THIS THIS SHOULD NOT BE HARD. THIS IS DONE BY OTHER STATES. 28 OTHER STATES HAVE A SIMILAR VOTER ID REQUIREMENT. AND SO THIS IS JUST BEST PRACTICE. AND WE SHOULD BE GIVING OUR VOTERS FROM ANY PARTY DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN AND INDEPENDENT, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE OUTCOME OF OUR ELECTIONS. MY FULL CONVERSATION WITH ASSEMBLYMAN DEMAIO IS ON POLITICS 360.COM. I ASK HIM ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS REDUCE ACCESS TO ELECTIONS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES, AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT DEMOCRATS PUT A COUNTERMEASURE ON THE BALLOT. AFTER MY INTERVIEW WITH ASSEMBLYMAN DEMAIO, I REACHED OUT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE FOR AN INTERVIEW. SHE DID SIT DOWN WITH ME. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. JOINING US NOW IS CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE SHIRLEY WEBER. SECRETARY WEBER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME FOR US. THANKS FOR INCLUDING US IN THE CONVERSATION. SECRETARY WEBER, ASSEMBLYMAN CARL DEMAIO IS CONFIDENT HE HAS THE SIGNATURES FOR HIS VOTER I.D. INITIATIVE TO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT? WELL, THAT’S FINE. I MEAN, THAT’S WHAT THE INITIATIVE PROCESS IS ALL ABOUT, TO GIVE CALIFORNIANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IN THE PROCESS, I, I ASSUME HE PROBABLY TRIED THE THE OTHER METHOD IN TERMS OF AS A LEGISLATOR TO AUTHOR BILLS HIMSELF. AND IF HE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL, THEN THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT. SO HE HAS A RIGHT TO DO IT. WE WELCOME HIM INTO THAT PROCESS, AND WE WILL GIVE HIM THE FAIRNESS THAT HE THAT HIS INITIATIVE DESERVES. HE POINTED TO COMMENTS THAT YOU’VE MADE IN THE PAST ABOUT VOTER I.D., AND I’M JUST QUOTING HIM HERE, HE SAID. HE POINTED TO HOW YOU’RE ALREADY YOU’VE SAID YOU’VE ALREADY YOU’RE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK, BUT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY REQUIREMENTS IN A PROPOSAL LIKE HIS THAT IT’S GOING TO COST YOU MORE MONEY. HE SAID, QUOTE, WHICH IS THE LIE I’M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE HE SAID HIS PROPOSAL WAS GOING TO COST ME HIM MORE MONEY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THOSE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE THERE AND THAT ARE NOT TRUE. SO, YOU KNOW, I’M NOT SURE WHAT HE MEANS BY IT’S GOING TO COST HIM MORE MONEY. AND BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, MORE TIME AND CREATE LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM, BUT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN THE FACTOR WITH REGARDS TO VOTER I.D., IT’S NOT AN ISSUE ABOUT MONEY. IN FACT, WE DON’T MAKE MONEY. THE MAJOR ISSUE IN ELECTIONS, BECAUSE WHEN WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO DO EXTRA THINGS THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ENFRANCHISED, TO VOTE, AND WE’RE NOT CUTTING CORNERS AND DOING CHEAP STUFF. AND SO WHEN HE’S TALKING ABOUT MONEY, MAYBE THAT’S HIM. SOMEONE MAY HAVE TOLD HIM THAT HIS WOULD COST MORE MONEY, BUT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE THAT THINGS HAVE TO BE CHEAP, THAT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUFF IS CORRECT, THAT IT’S ACCURATE, AND WHEN IT’S NOT, WE CHANGE IT. WE DID WE DID THAT WHEN AND WE NOTIFIED THE PRESS WITH, WITH WITH INITIATIVE PROP 50 THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERY CALIFORNIAN UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT WAS A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR AND WE MADE THAT CORRECTION. WE DID IT ON THE RIGHT. SHE AND I TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS. MY FULL CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY WEBER IS ON CAL POLITICS 360.COM RIGHT NOW. THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS HEATING UP AND IT’S PACKED WITH CANDIDATES VYING FOR YOUR VOTE. THE LIKELIHOOD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSES ONE OF THOSE WE’RE THE LAW BROTHERS. NEXT WEEKEND, THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL CONVENE IN SAN FRANCISCO. MANY ARE WONDERING, WILL THEY ACTUALLY ENDORSE ONE CANDIDATE FROM THE PACKED FIELD OF DEMOCRATS VYING TO SUCCEED GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM? I SAT DOWN WITH PAUL MITCHELL, WHO ANALYZES RECENT POLLING AND CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING. HE SAYS IT’S UNLIKELY, BUT THERE IS A CHANCE CALIFORNIA COULD SEE TWO REPUBLICANS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. HERE’S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION. PAUL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. SO, PAUL, YOU BUILT A DATA TOOL THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO INPUT POLLING NUMBERS, CAMPAIGN SPENDING, SORT OF SPIT OUT WHAT THE SCENARIO COULD END UP IN NOVEMBER. YEAH, RIGHT NOW IT HAS A 12% CHANCE THAT A REPUBLICAN REPUBLICAN COULD END UP BEING THE GOVERNOR’S RACE. JUST IS THAT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I’VE HAD REPORTERS AND OTHERS CALLING ME AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE POLLS WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE LIKE, MAYBE THE FIRST AND SECOND CANDIDATES IN A POLL. IS IT POSSIBLE THEY COULD BOTH MAKE IT INTO THE RUNOFF IN NOVEMBER, GIVEN THE STATE’S TOP TWO PRIMARY? AND SO IT’S ONE THING TO JUST TO SAY, WELL, WE CAN DISMISS THAT. THAT’S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN. IT’S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. BUT WHAT I ENDED UP DOING A FEW MONTHS AGO IS I STARTED DOING THIS LITTLE PROGRAM FOR MYSELF, WHERE I CREATED A PROGRAM THAT LOOKED AT THE POLLING AND BASICALLY RAN A SIMULATION OF THE ELECTION. BUT WHEN YOU RUN SIMULATIONS, YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR DIFFERENT PROBABILITIES. SO I ACTUALLY SET IT UP TO RUN 1000 SIMULATIONS OR 5000 SIMULATIONS. AND THEN I STARTED MAKING IT MORE SOPHISTICATED, LIKE LOOKING AT FUNDRAISING AND OTHER THINGS AND DECIDED, LIKE, I’M GETTING SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, LET’S JUST MAKE THIS A PUBLIC TOOL. SO I HAD SOME FUN WITH IT, PUT SOME FUNNY GRAPHICS TOGETHER, MADE IT SO THAT ANYBODY CAN GO IN. THEY CAN SET DIFFERENT PARAMETERS. THEY CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY RUN THAT ELECTION SIMULATION. THEY CAN EVEN MESS WITH THINGS LIKE TAKE SOME CANDIDATES OUT OF THE RACE, OR GIVE SOMEBODY $100 MILLION INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE AND THEN RERUN IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. AND IT’S A IT IS A SERIOUS TOOL AND THAT IT’S LITERALLY USING MATH. AND A LOT OF THE SAME MODELING THAT LIKE A NATE SILVER OR SOMEBODY WOULD BE DOING TO KIND OF PROJECT. SO IT’S SERIOUS IN THE MATH, BUT IT’S TRYING TO BE PLAYFUL IN HOW WE LOOK AT THIS SO FAR OUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, POLLING IS ONLY SO DETERMINATIVE THIS FAR OUT. THE THERE’S A LOT THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION, I’M SURE THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE CLARITY. PLAYFUL WITH THE NUMBERS BUT STILL SHOWING THIS SLIGHT CHANCE. THE SLIGHT CHANCE AND IT YOU KNOW, IT ISN’T SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DISMISSED. I MEAN, IF IF THERE WAS A 12% CHANCE OF ME GETTING AN ACCIDENT DRIVING OVER HERE, WE’D BE DOING THIS BY ZOOM. THERE’S NO WAY I WOULD GET IN THE CAR. SO, LIKE. AND WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED IN OUR LIVES ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE SMALL PROBABILITIES. AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SMALL PROBABILITY THAT TWO REPUBLICANS MAKE THE RUNOFF, BECAUSE IT COULD REALLY POLITICALLY DECIMATE THEM FOR NOVEMBER, EVEN SO MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, IMPACTING THAT PROP 50 RESULT AND THE COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES THAT COULD REPUBLICANS COULD WIN, IMPACTING BALLOT MEASURES, IMPACTING OTHER STATEWIDE RACES. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT IF TWO REPUBLICANS WERE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT WOULD BE SO DECIMATED THAT IT WOULD DRAMATICALLY IMPACT THE POLITICS STATEWIDE AND POTENTIALLY NATIONALLY. AND SO I WAS PUTTING THIS OUT THERE AS KIND OF A SOUND, THE ALARM FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT’S THE LIKELY OUTCOME. WELL, SOME PEOPLE ARE GATHERING IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND. THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS HAVING ITS CONVENTION THERE, WHERE THEY COULD ENDORSE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR. I MEAN, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THEY DO THAT? COULD A CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSEMENT MAYBE HELP WITH THIS SCENARIO? WELL, DEFINITELY DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSEMENT FOR ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES COULD MASSIVELY ELEVATE THEM. BUT I DON’T THINK THAT IT’S LIKELY TO HAPPEN. THERE’S A 60% THRESHOLD. I THINK IT IS. AND ALL THESE CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING HAVE THEIR OWN POLITICAL BASES. AND I DON’T THINK THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF, YOU KNOW, THAT VOTERS, THE VOTERS IN THE DELEGATION PROCESS AT THE CONVENTION ARE GOING TO END UP RALLYING BEHIND ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES. SO I DON’T THINK THAT THEY’LL HAVE A PARTY ENDORSEMENT. BUT YOU MIGHT START SEEING OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS COME OUT AND START DOING ENDORSEMENTS. ADAM SCHIFF ENDORSING RECENTLY, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO COULD MAKE AN IMPACT ON THIS RACE, POTENTIALLY. AND THERE MIGHT BE MORE IMPETUS FOR THEM TO RALLY BEHIND CANDIDATES GOING INTO ELECTION DAY IF THEY’RE CONCERNED THAT THEY COULD END UP WITH A SMALL CHANCE OF A REPUBLICAN ON REPUBLICAN GENERAL. I ALSO ASKED PAUL MITCHELL ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD WE COULD SEE GOVERNOR NEWSOM ENDORSE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES AS HIS SUCCESSOR. OUR FULL CONVERSATION IS ON CAL POLITICS THREE 60.COM. WELL, FROM THE ORCHARD TO THE MARKET, THE IMPACTS PEAR GROWERS ARE FEELING BECAUSE OF A RISE IN RIGHT NOW, CALIFORNIA FARMERS ARE FACING ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. THE CALIFORNIA PEAR ADVISORY BOARD IS WARNING OF THE RISE IN IMPORTS FROM ARGENTINA AND THE IMPACT THAT IT’S HAVING ON THE FARMERS. BOTTOM LINE. PEAR TREES CAN CAN LAST A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME HERE IN THE DELTA. THESE ARE 80 YEAR OLD TREES BEHIND US. ALEX WILSON IS A SIXTH GENERATION PEAR GROWER IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY. FARMERS IN GENERAL HAVE TO BE ETERNAL OPTIMISTS. THE SITUATION WITH PEARS IS IT TAKES ABOUT TEN YEARS FOR PEAR TREE TO COME INTO PRODUCTION. BUT HIS PEAR ORCHARD WITH RIVER TRADING COMPANY IS FACING CHALLENGES. WE SAW A MAJOR RISE IN ARGENTINA IMPORTS, AND NORMALLY WHEN WE SELL OUR FRUIT, THE MARKETS OPEN. YOU KNOW, WE’RE THE FIRST TO MARKET. WE’RE THE FIRST AMERICAN PEAR, SO TO SPEAK, TO TO HIT THE GROCERY STORE SHELVES. BUT WHAT KIND OF HAPPENED THIS YEAR WAS THERE WAS AN INFLUX OF IMPORTED FRUIT. AND THEN FROM THERE THAT THAT CAUSED OUR MARKETING CAPABILITIES TO KIND OF BE SQUASHED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, IT’S ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED, WITH LAST YEAR BEING THE PINNACLE OF THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS. AND WITH PRICES THAT HAVE REALLY NOT CHANGED IN TEN YEARS. CHRIS ZANOBINI IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA PEAR ADVISORY BOARD. HE’S SEEN THE IMPACT THE IMPORTS FROM ARGENTINA HAVE HAD ON CALIFORNIA FARMS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PRODUCTION HERE IN CALIFORNIA, OUR PRODUCTION INPUT COSTS CONTINUE TO GO UP. LABOR GOES UP EVERY YEAR. AND SO IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPETE WITH PRODUCT THAT IS A LOW PRICED AND AND UNDERCUTTING OUR GROWERS. SO WHAT EXACTLY DO GROWERS NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO DO HERE. GROWERS NEED SOME SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE COMPETING ON A ON A FAIR LEVEL, YOU KNOW, PRODUCT COMING IN LATE AND DURING OUR SEASON IS REALLY HAVING A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS. SO WE’RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PUT SOME BARRIERS ON ARGENTINA, MAYBE LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT THAT COULD BE SHIPPED INTO THE US MARKET AND SET A TIMELINE WHERE NO MORE PEARS ARE IMPORTED INTO THE US, AS GROWERS WORK TO CHANGE REGULATIONS, THEY’RE ASKING SHOPPERS TO PICK CALIFORNIA PEARS. THE REALITY IS, I THINK THE CONSUMER IS USED TO JUST SEEING PEARS ON THE SHELF YEAR ROUND, AND THAT MAY SOUND NORMAL TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I, BUT HISTORICALLY THAT WASN’T NORMAL. WHAT I THINK CONSUMERS COULD USE NOW IS TO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT’S ON THE SHELF AND THEN WHAT CALIFORNIA IS PROVIDING, BECAUSE CALIFORNIA IS PROVIDING FRESH FRUIT. IF THIS ISSUE WITH PEARS ISN’T SOLVED, DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW OTHER CROPS ARE HANDLED MOVING FORWARD, TOO? YEAH, I HOPE IT’S SOLVED. YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR FOR GENERATIONS NOW, AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT THAT THE COMMUNITY, THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN MAYBE HAVE SOME SORT OF INFLUENCE ON WHAT WE’RE FACING AS GROWERS. BUT YEAH, IT’S IT’S NERVE WRACKING FOR SURE. BUT I TRY TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC. MY FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEAR FARMER ALEX WILSON AND THE CALIFORNIA PEAR ADVISORY BOARD ARE ON CAL POLITICS THREE 6.COM. NEXT, A LOOK AT THE WORLD FAIR IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE SHOWCASE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND THE LEGACY OF THE 1915 EXPO THAT REMAINS TODAY. THIS WEEK IN 1915, SAN FRANCISCO WELCOMED THE WORLD FAIR FOR THE PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION. GULSTAN DART SHOWS US THE HISTORY OF THE FAIR AND THE LEGACY THAT’S STILL EVIDENT IN SAN FRANCISCO TODAY. IN 1915, SAN FRANCISCO WOULD HOST THE WORLD AT THE PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION. AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS, THE WORLD FAIR WAS DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE PANAMA CANAL. THE FAIR ALSO CAME NINE YEARS AFTER THE DEVASTATING 1906 EARTHQUAKE THAT KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND DESTROYED MUCH OF THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO. IN THE YEARS AFTER THE QUAKE, THE CITY FACED SEVERAL CHALLENGES AS IT REBUILT. ON FEBRUARY 20TH, 1915, THE PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION WOULD OPEN MORE THAN 18 MILLION PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FAIR DURING ITS 288 DAY RUN. THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SAID. THE FAIR COVERED 600 ACRES AND STRETCHED ALONG TWO AND A HALF MILES OF WATERFRONT PROPERTY. THE EXPO WAS DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, CARS, AIRPLANES AND TELEPHONES. ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY WERE SHOWN OFF AT THE FAIR. HENRY FORD BUILT AN ASSEMBLY LINE BUILDING CARS SIX DAYS A WEEK. THE EXPO WAS THE FIRST FAIR TO DEMONSTRATE A TRANSCONTINENTAL TELEPHONE CALL, AND A PLANE FLEW THROUGH THE PALACE OF MACHINERY, THE LARGEST STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD AT THE TIME. ON DECEMBER 4TH, 1915, THE EXPO CLOSED. THE FAIR TOOK IN $27 MILLION. OVER THE NINE MONTHS, BUT CONSTRUCTION AND PRODUCTION COSTS WERE HIGH AND THE FAIR ONLY PRODUCED A $1.3 MILLION PROFIT. MANY OF THE BUILDINGS WERE TORN DOWN OR SOLD OFF SHORTLY AFTER THE FAIR, BUT A FEW LANDMARKS REMAIN, INCLUDING THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS. SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE THE DESIGN, SO THE BUILDING WAS SPARED FROM DEMOLITION IN THE 1960S. THE BUILDING WAS RESTORED AND TODAY THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS CONTINUES TO WELCOME MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR. AND JUST LAST WEEK, IT HOSTED THE NFL HONORS. BACK TO YOU, ASHLEY. THANKS, GULSTAN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEK’S CALIFORNIA POLITICS 360. SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY.

California Politics 360 Full Episode | Proposed Voter ID ballot initiative, CA Democratic Party convention, pear farmer impacts

There’s a proposed ballot initiative that would require voters to show their ID at the polls and for election officials to verify citizenship.

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Updated: 8:25 AM PST Feb 15, 2026

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There’s a proposed ballot initiative that would require voters to show their ID at the polls and for election officials to verify citizenship. Republican Assembly Member Carl DeMaio is leading the initiative. He sits down with Ashley Zavala on this week’s episode of California Politics 360. Assembly Member DeMaio criticizes the work of Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber. California Politics 360 reached out to the Secretary of State’s office for a comment. Weber agreed to do an interview and responded to the Assemblymember’s comments. Next weekend, the California Democratic Party will host their convention in San Francisco. Right now, there’s a packed group of Democrats vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. Ashley Zavala sits down with Paul Mitchell, the vice president of Political Data, Inc. He created a data map that analyzes recent polls and campaign funding to see who will likely advance to the November election. California pear farmers are facing economic uncertainty due to a rise in Argentina imports. Ashley Zavala talks with a Sacramento County farmer and the California Pear Advisory Board about the impact they are seeing on the market. This week marks 111 years since the Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened in San Francisco. Gulstan Dart takes a look back at the 9-month world fair and the showcase of emerging technology.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

There’s a proposed ballot initiative that would require voters to show their ID at the polls and for election officials to verify citizenship.

Republican Assembly Member Carl DeMaio is leading the initiative. He sits down with Ashley Zavala on this week’s episode of California Politics 360. Assembly Member DeMaio criticizes the work of Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber. California Politics 360 reached out to the Secretary of State’s office for a comment. Weber agreed to do an interview and responded to the Assemblymember’s comments.

Next weekend, the California Democratic Party will host their convention in San Francisco. Right now, there’s a packed group of Democrats vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. Ashley Zavala sits down with Paul Mitchell, the vice president of Political Data, Inc. He created a data map that analyzes recent polls and campaign funding to see who will likely advance to the November election.

California pear farmers are facing economic uncertainty due to a rise in Argentina imports. Ashley Zavala talks with a Sacramento County farmer and the California Pear Advisory Board about the impact they are seeing on the market.

This week marks 111 years since the Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened in San Francisco. Gulstan Dart takes a look back at the 9-month world fair and the showcase of emerging technology.

KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.