Greg from Contra Costa County
IN ADDITION TO his unequivocal support for the progressive/socialist agenda pervasive in Sacramento, and IN ADDITION TO the other points already raised by other contributors to this blog, Gov. Newsom has proven himself unfit to successfully address the evolving challenges facing California:
- The unprecedented wildfires throughout the state are causing billions of dollars in damage, killing citizens (both directly and through hazardous air quality), and destroying businesses. Despite years of obvious warning signs he has done precious little to improve the State’s proactive fire prevention activities and firefighting capabilities. The firefighters out there are doing heroic work but they are under staffed, under equipped, and under resourced. Gov. Newsom will say there’s no money to do more, but that’s not true! He simply did not prioritize additional wildfire safety above other state expenditures. The state is burning and it’s citizens choking, but I’m sure we all feel better knowing that precious state funding has been funneled to pet projects like high speed rail from Fresno to Bakersfield.
- The state has run out of power during peak periods, resulting in rolling blackouts. This is a travesty! California forced its major utilities to sell most of their power generation assets over 20 years ago. It’s now up to the CA ISO and the CPUC (both are state instrumentalities with boards appointed by the governor) to ensure a competitive power market and adequate power supply. They are both pointing the finger at each other, but either way this is a massive and embarrassing failure for Gov. Newsom.
- While Gov. Newsom is just the tip of an ugly iceberg in Sacramento, his refusal and inability to redirect the legislature’s focus to the pressing needs of the state is DANGEROUS to all Californians. Case in point: Saturday’s photo op for him is signing legislation requiring prison inmates to be characterized by the gender of their own choosing. Ok, that’s fine. And I’m sure he’s very proud of this accomplishment, but tens of thousands of citizens are fleeing for their lives right now.