Google Fires Anti-Israel Protesters

Good Morning,

Welcome to Day 2 of the Netter Newsletter. Thank you for being part of our community.

Wondering how you got here? Well, it all stems from Rebuild California, spearheaded by Mike Netter. The newsletter is an extension of that initiative and his popular X feed.

Stay connected and informed on the quirky, consequential, and headline news shaping California.

Netter News Team

📱NETTER’S X-FACTOR 

Mike’s post about Oklahoma struck a nerve with more than 600k folks on X who viewed it. See how Oakies are getting things done and right in their state. Check it out:

REBUILD CALIFORNIA

SAN DIEGO SMUGGLERS

Safety concerns are escalating in San Diego County, underscored by a dramatic incident highlighting the Biden administration’s border security shortcomings.

Cellphone video captured over the weekend in Carlsbad shows nearly two dozen individuals rushing the shore after a high-speed boat landing on a beach.

The video then shows people running from the beach into a Carlsbad Village neighborhood where they are picked up by a waiting SUV.

GROWING PROBLEM

• This isn’t the first time this has happened in San Diego County.

• Customs and Border Protection reports maritime smuggling in California has increased by 139% 2020- 2023.

• San Diego leaders are calling on state and national leaders to step up and protect our border.

Along the border in Texas, a humanitarian organization has denied creating flyers urging migrants who just crossed into the U.S. to vote for President Biden. The Spanish language flyers, found near a shelter in McAllen, instructed migrants to vote illegally for Biden upon arrival in the U.S. The source of the flyers remains unclear.

POLITICS, ECONOMY, EDUCATION & SCIENCE

EXODUS FROM SAN FRANCISCO 

San Francisco’s housing market is facing tough times, with nearly one in five homes selling at a loss. Despite remaining one of the nation’s priciest real estate markets, it might be wise to hold off selling for now.

WHAT WE KNOW

According to Redfin, San Francisco’s median sale price peaked in 2022 at $1.66 million. It’s since fallen 15% to $1.41 million as of February 2024, a loss of $250k

WHAT’S DRIVING THE DECLINE?

High Mortgage rates aren’t the only culprit post-pandemic, the city’s allure has also diminished.

• Tech giants and retailers are fleeing due to security concerns and business climate.

• Safety worries have pushed more residents to the suburbs or out of state.

• Layoffs have hit various sectors, not just tech.

 As Netter said, this will start to spill over to more cities if we don’t start to act (where you at, Governor Newsom and Mayor Breed?) 

We are already seeing the domino effect, we heard that Google is planning to furlough yet more employees, this time in its real estate and finance sectors. We don’t know how many people are impacted, but the company said employees will be able to apply for internal roles in overseas hubs such as India or Ireland.

SOLAR PANEL MANDATE

By now you know that Governor Newsom is mandating the use of solar panels at a time when the cost of electricity is skyrocketing.

Solar power is a critical part of the state’s goal to achieve 90% carbon-free electricity by 2035 ( and 100% by 2045).

With the new tiered electricity plan looming, many Californians fear they can’t go green without going broke. 

Under this new system, the break-even point with solar could be 18 years or more.

We heard from you all on X about it:

Vulnerable Families Threatened: The state budget crisis could disproportionately impact families with autism. Governor Newsom’s plan could include gutting agencies that support autistic services to the tune of $612.5 million in state funding, along with a loss of $408 million in federal support. That is a total reduction of about $1 billion.

HOT TAKES

🚨 GOOGLE FIRES EMPLOYEES: Google has fired 28 employees who protested the company’s business ties with Israel. Many of the protesters also occupied the CEO’s office. A memo was sent to employees late yesterday by Chris Rackow, Google’s VP of Global Security. Here is part of that email:

🚨 DISNEYLAND EXPANSION PLAN: The Anaheim City Council gave the okay for Disney to move forward to revamp and expand the iconic theme park. This paves the way for one of Southern California’s major employers to add new attractions, shops, and restaurants.

🚨NEW HOMELESS TACTIC: The City of Escondido is taking a tough stance on battling its homeless crisis: they are prioritizing public safety and implementing stricter measures against criminal behavior. Additionally, the new measures will prohibit homeless services in the downtown area.

🚨FRAUD CHARGES: An Arizona woman who accused former Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer of sexual assault has been charged with defrauding the Cy Young Award winner. Bauer had a few things to say about the developments.

🚨SIGN OF THE TIMES: Prime real estate in a San Francisco neighborhood once known as a hotbed for tech startups just sold for a fourth of its pre-pandemic price- $64 million less than what it went for in 2019!

🚨VITAMIN B PUNCH: Your tortilla chip could soon pack a punch of Vitamin B9! A new proposed state law aims to force manufacturers to add folic acid to corn flour-based foods, aligning it with the fortification standards of wheat products. The Fresno Democrat behind the measure says he’s doing it to help Latina women of reproductive age.

GOLDEN STATE GLOW

🌴Remember the stories of the mayhem in the Cali desert? Well, it’s that time again, Burning Man tickets are on sale for $575 a pop, plus $150 for parking. You too can experience potential flooding, dust storms, traffic jams, and scarce supplies- if you are one of the “lucky Burners” to score one of 15k tickets now on sale.

🌴 There’s one thing we can all rally behind: our love for our state parks. And in California, we’re spoiled with 280 of them. Get ready to mark your calendars because, from June 12-16, the state is celebrating the beauty of our great outdoors with loads of free events. Check out the details here.

🌴For a quick day trip in SoCal, why not head just an hour east of Los Angeles to Chino Hills? You will find ancient Egypt vibes: a pretty incredible structure (in a shopping mall) built to imitate Egypt’s temples of Abu Simbel. Fair warning, it’s now a hotspot for Instagrammers.

 🗓THIS DAY IN CALI-HISTORY

April 18: 

1906: The devastating San Francisco earthquake and fire kills an estimated 3,000-6,000 people and obliterates 75% of the city. The photo shows Sacramento Street approaching the fire.

1958: The newly relocated Los Angeles Dodgers clinch their inaugural home game victory against rivals San Francisco Giants, 6-5 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. ⚾ Numerous MLB records were shattered during this historic game. ⚾

2002: LAPD arrests actor Robert Blake in connection with the deadly shooting of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. In a saga befitting of a TV drama, Blake is acquitted in his criminal trial but later found liable for her death in a civil trial.