Governor Gavin Newsom: Coulda, Woulda Shoulda

When Gavin Newsom was sworn in as California’s 40th governor in January 2019, he made many promises. And few were about improving the cost of living, the cost of energy, the growing homeless crisis, gas prices, food prices, failing public schools, the ban on gas-powered cars, the war on the oil and gas industry, the war on Central Valley agriculture, the war on business owners… the list is long.

Starting with “inclusiveness” and “a decent standard of living for all,” Newsom quickly turned his attention to then-President Donald J. Trump, promising an administration that will be “an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House.”

Whoa. Pot, meet kettle.

“Our government will be progressive, principled and always on the side of the people,” Newsom said.

“Principled.” He could have said his government would be, decent, equitable, honest, honorable, moral, righteous, or virtuous – all synonyms of “principled,” and none of which describes Gavin Newsom or his administration.

Newsom’s administration has instead been unethical, unjust, base, cutthroat, ignoble, immoral, and unconscionable.

He also said on inauguration day:

“What we do today is even more consequential, because of what’s happening in our country,” Newsom said, speaking as if California is a sovereign nation. “People’s lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe — they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us, the future depends on us, and we will seize this moment,” he said.

Let’s examine this: People’s lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe — they all hang in the balance.” California has the cleanest air in the country, except for Hawaii, and they have the Tradewinds. The water in California is also some of the cleanest – well, except for the sewage spills in Tijuana, dirtying San Diego waters. Our freedom and security has never been more at risk under Gov. Newsom with escalating crime throughout the state, Communist Chinese infiltrators, and punishments to Republican Mayors and cities who dared to challenge Newsom’s housing and homeless mandates.

The city of Vallejo has been begging the Governor’s office for CHP to help with the city’s escalating crime. It’s been crickets from the governor’s office, despite daily and weekly requests.

Newsom had to send extra CHP to Oakland to assist with out-of-control crime. But Vallejo – apparently you’re on your own.

And he said this: “The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us, the future depends on us, and we will seize this moment.” Oh spare me. Newsom was laughable trying to sound like Barak Obama’s “this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal…” when he won the Democratic nomination for presidency.

The country was only watching California to see what level of crazy the state would ascend to under Newsom. He has not disappointed the rest of the country… they are mildly entertained by California, but us – we are very disappointed.

Newsom stressed California “is not going to have one house for the rich, or for the poor, but one house for California.”

Whoops – that’s exactly what did happen. The chasm between the very rich and the very poor became wider under Gavin Newsom, whose policies and new laws only helped to move more of the middle class and businesses out of the state. Small, medium and large businesses have been packing up and moving to business friendlier states for lower taxes, fewer regulations, and affordable housing for their employees. And they are moving because they are rewarded for being in business by other states – unlike California, which makes it as painful as possible to do business here.

In 2022, 817,000 Californians moved to other states. California also lost a net of 407,000 residents to other states between July 2021 and July 2022, including a greater share of those with a college degree and residents at all income levels than in the past.

In 2021 the state lost one congressional representative – under Gavin Newsom’s administration.

In 2023, California lost 239,575 domestic residents, while gaining 232,570 because of “net international migration” – non-citizens.

Newsom said, “Children should not be ripped away from their parents at the border… and millions for a wall that should not be built.”

Another whoops. Incoming Trump border Czar Tom Homan says there are 500,000 missing immigrant children. That wall would have saved them.

When he was elected, Gov. Newsom, in January 2019, promised the world and a bag of chips to Californians.

Newsom’s campaign promises included:

• Universal healthcare for everyone, regardless of ability to pay, including immigrants in the country illegally.
• A “Marshall Plan” for affordable housing production of 3.5 million housing units over the next decade
• A master plan for aging with dignity
• A middle-class workforce strategy
• A cradle-to-college promise
• Universal pre-school
• An all-hands approach to ending child poverty
• “Audacious” and “bold” action on the homelessness crisis

How did he do?

These were empty promises – other than socializing medicine and health care when Newsom expanded the state’s Medi-Cal low-income health system to include illegal immigrants.

Newsom is always on the wrong side of the most important issues. He hasn’t gotten one issue right. When he was elected he could have made himself a hero to the people of the state, had he addressed even a few of the crucial issues. We will be addressing these – what he could have done, what he should have done, and what needs to be done to return California to its greatness.

Newsom, who laughably refers to California’s “Golden Economy,” may be the worst governor in the country. He is clearly California’s worst governor and a legend in his own mind.

Here’s another visual of “California’s Golden economy:”