Californians deserve better. On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom finally gave his State of the State address months after its original date in March, pre-recorded and posted online. Last year he merely submitted a letter to the Legislature. Technically, both followed the California Constitution’s requirement that he “report to the Legislature each calendar year.”
But the tradition has long been for the governor to address both houses of the Legislature. That indicates unity in the state, as the governor reports to the people’s direct representatives. Will next year the address be given by AI?
As to substance, much of it seemed like he was campaigning for national office. He began with an ominous warning about 1939, how “the world was on edge as fascism spread its hate and destruction through Europe.” He quoted Gov. Culbert Olson warning of “the destruction of democracy.”
But Newsom didn’t mention that Olson, as the United Press reported on March 6, 1942, “favored wholesale evacuation of Japanese from coastal California.” That is, although loyal Americans whose sons fought in the highly decorated 442nd Infantry Regiment and other U.S. military units, they were forced into Manzanar and other “relocation camps.” The governor needs to choose his historical analogies more carefully.
As to the state he actually governs, Newsom was highly defensive of his record. “For conservatives and delusional California bashers, their success depends on our failure,” he griped. “They want to impeach the very things that have made us successful, as a tactic to turn America toward a darker future.”
But that doesn’t come close to explaining why this gorgeous state’s population has declined for the first time in history under his watch. It dropped from 39.5 million in 2020 to 39 million in 2023 – a loss of 500,000.
“No state has done as much as California in addressing the pernicious problem of homelessness,” the governor insisted. And, objectively, no state has suffered as much failure. In April, State Auditor Grant Parks delivered a scathing report which was “unable to assess the cost-effectiveness” of three of five state homeless programs it reviewed, despite spending of $24 billion from 2018-19 to 2022-23 on more than 30 programs. The number of homeless rose 53% from 2013 to 2023, a staggering and tragic increase.
He was on more solid ground boasting about signing 32 bills reforming the California Environmental Quality Act. But comprehensive reform still is needed, which he certainly knows but still hasn’t been able to successfully lead on.
He also was right to stress that Republicans have exaggerated California’s crime problem, which actually is much lower in California than in many red states, especially Florida and Texas. But it’s also true that crime is a problem which demands effective responses. Can anyone seriously say that Newsom has been an effective leader against crime in California?
Let’s hope next year he takes a more measured approach in his State of State – and delivers it in person to the Legislature.