Assembly Bill 3206 is why people hate politics.

The bill, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom over the weekend, creates an exemption from a decades-old state law that prohibits serving alcohol after 2 a.m.

But don’t head to your local dive bar to say toast just yet. This only applies to the private club at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which will now be able to serve cocktails until 4 a.m.

Tina McKinner must be an expert at handling Thanksgiving turkeys. Because the Hawthorne Democratic bill is a sculpture worthy of a medallion.

At a time when political opponents on both the left and the right feel beholden to the rich and powerful, a bill that would only benefit venues owned by billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is making headlines. This is an example of favoritism, as can be found in . Sacramento’s history — and that’s saying something.

Assembly Bill 3206 is why people hate elites.

Restaurant and bar owners have pushed for a decades-old easing of California’s last-call mandate, arguing that the next few hours will boost revenue and keep downtowns vibrant during a struggling restaurant industry. I’ve been looking for it for a long time. Police authorities have objected, arguing that it is irresponsible to allow people to drink alcohol until the early hours of the morning.

State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) sponsored a bill that would create a pilot program to test bars closing at 4 a.m. in some cities, including West Hollywood. But Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed one bill in 2018, and another failed in the Legislature two years ago.

If a tech mogul like Ballmer wants it, state lawmakers and Newsom seem willing to oblige.

Sean McMorris, a transparency and ethics expert at the nonpartisan California Common Cause, told colleague Mackenzie Mays that McKinner’s bill would “grow disproportionate influence of wealthy individuals and corporations over the legislative process.” It’s an example,” he said.

In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, rich drinks are different from you and me. And Sacramento is helping them take it even further.

Assembly Bill 3206 is why people hate Gavin Newsom.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic shutdown, the governor was caught on camera eating without a mask at the ultra-luxury French Laundry. He was there to celebrate the birthday of his friend, influential lobbyist Jason Kinney.

Newsom apologized for the night out, but the ensuing uproar fueled a recall movement that ultimately failed. Among the people who financed Newsom’s continued tenure? Steve’s wife, Connie Ballmer, donated $1 million.

Now, back to Kinney. If a friend were to put me in a situation that nearly destroyed my career, I would distance myself from my homeboy as much as possible. Instead, Newsom signed the 4 a.m. Intuit Dome liquor bill that Kinney’s company had sought. According to state records, Mr. Ballmer’s company paid $530,000. It was submitted to the company during the parliamentary session.

Despite Newsom’s lofty rhetoric about defending all Californians, he cannot quit the gentlemen and insiders who have built his career.

I asked Newsom’s spokeswoman Izzy Gurdon to interview the boss. I asked the governor whether he had ever signed a bill that was so narrowly tailored to the needs of one business, and what would happen to others who want to sell alcohol until 4 a.m. I asked for at least an answer as to whether there was any advice.

Gardon pointed me to a letter Newsom wrote to the state Legislature, promising to direct the California Highway Patrol to work with “local law enforcement” to track down drunk drivers around Intuit Dome.

Gardon concluded his email by saying, “If we have anything more to add, we’ll let you know.” As of this writing, that is not the case.

Assembly Bill 3206 is why people hate politicians.

This isn’t the first time McKinner has replaced Ballmer in a ride. Ballmer built the $2 billion Intuit Dome with his own money and has committed $100 million to projects in Inglewood, including affordable housing and youth programs. Last year, McKinner voted in favor of a bill that would make it easier for alcohol companies to sell advertising at Intuit Dome by creating a carve-out similar to other arenas in California.

A spokeswoman said McKinner was unavailable for an interview. In an earlier statement, McKinner praised her bill as “another recreational option” to complement Ballmer’s investments, adding that “Inglewood’s recovery is well underway.”

The politician had time at 1am on Tuesday to post photos on social media from his 60th birthday party at the resort of Tulum, Mexico, including shots of himself drinking red wine. It was.

I also reached out to Inglewood Mayor James Butts. He transformed the city into a sports and entertainment powerhouse, has publicly supported It’s a drinking extension for the Intuit Dome, but it still needs City Council approval.

We once had a testy exchange on a podcast about whether turning Inglewood into the world’s playground came at the expense of its residents. I wanted to put pressure on him again. No response.

If politicians can’t tell the press what they stand for, what else do they have to hide?

From left: Jillian Zucker, Clippers’ director of business operations. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Inglewood Mayor James Butts and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attended an event in January announcing that the 2026 NBA All-Star Game would be held at Intuit Dome.

(Irrfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Assembly Bill 3206 is why people hate Sacramento under Democratic rule.

In a state plagued by so many problems, McKinner’s bill should have been laughed out of Congress. In a state where the state’s blue supermajority has boasted of improving the lives of its poorest residents, making life easier for billionaires’ party rooms is, at worst, insane liberalism. .

The only silver lining I found in this terrible mess was a text message exchange with Lakewood City Council President Emeritus Anthony Rendon, whose term ends at the end of the year.

When asked why he supports McKinner’s bill, Rendon said he has always voted in favor of last-call extension bills, but that he believes those decisions should be made by local governments, not states. spoke.

“If it’s a carve-out, that’s pretty sneaky,” he said of Assembly Bill 3206. I told him that’s just the way it is.

The dot indicates that the iPhone user has stopped sending text messages for a while.

“Well, you’re wrong,” he finally wrote back. “Oh, I was careless and didn’t read carefully.”

What a concept, a politician admitting that he has made a huge mistake! I wish Newsom, McKinner, and everyone else would do the same.