Update: Biden praises Baylands, holds fundraisers

Update, 5 p.m., Monday, June 19 — President Biden arrived at Moffett Field this afternoon on Air Force One and went to the Baylands in Palo Alto to announce $575 million in spending on projects to stop climate change. He then attended campaign fundraisers in Los Gatos and Atherton.

At the Baylands, Biden and other officials emphasized how stopping climate change will result in new jobs.

“These wetlands act as a critical buffer between the rising tides and the communities at risk,” said Biden.

The president called the Baylands a “success story” in ongoing efforts to contain the damage from climate change.

In addition, Biden said California will get $67.4 million to improve the electrical grid, which has seen an increase in outages since 2019. Biden contends these outages are due to climate change.

At the first of two fundraisers yesterday, Biden said democracy itself was at stake in the 2024 election and said his administration had reinstilled “a sense of confidence in the Constitution.” The fundraiser at the home of Microsoft chief technology officer Kevin Scott was co-hosted by Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn.

Biden took aim at Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville for holding up military promotions because of a policy that ensures members of the military still have access to abortions, which were restricted in many states after a Supreme Court ruling last year. “It’s bizarre. I don’t remember it happening before and I’ve been around,” said Biden, 80, who added a joke about his age: “I know I don’t look like I’ve been around a long time.”

Also yesterday Biden attended a fundraiser at the Atherton home of former state controller Steve Westly. Tickets ranged up to $100,000 a person, according to an invitation to the event. — From staff and wire reports.

Noon, Monday, June 19 — Mid-Peninsula residents can expect unannounced road closures today when President Biden visits Palo Alto, Atherton and Los Gatos.

Air Force One was scheduled to arrive at 12:20 p.m., according to the White House.

This afternoon Biden is expected to visit the Palo Alto Baylands preserve to announce that the federal government will spend $575 million on projects to stop climate change. 

Then Biden is expected to attend two fundraising events for his re-election campaign. One will be in Los Gatos, hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Microsoft chief technology officer Kevin Scott. The second will be at the Atherton home of former state controller Steve Westly. 

Because exact times for the events haven’t been announced, the traffic closures caused by the presidential motorcade will not be known in advance. 

Although today is Juneteenth, Biden is not scheduled to honor the holiday today. 

The White House is hoping to shake off the criticism Biden got last week when he announced plans to build a railroad over the Indian Ocean and then came under fire for the way he touched actress Eva Longoria during a screening of her directorial debut “Flamin’ Hot.” Critics said he let his lands linger on her waist too long, and she had to push his hands back. 

Both the remarks about the railroad and the embrace of Longoria were caught on videotape and were widely discussed on social media and TV news. — From staff and wire reports