Gavin Newsom, presented as a shining example of governance for the rest of the nation, represents a contrasting reality. Undeniably, Newsom’s rule stands as an exemplar– a vivid demonstration of the damage that mismanagement, betrayal of vows, and ideological smugness can wreak on a prosperous region like California. The origins of this critique can be traced back to California’s enduring homeless problem.
Since 2005, California has consistently claimed the unfavorable title of the state with the highest per capita homelessness in the U.S. An alarming quarter of the nation’s homeless population resides within its borders. Regrettably, this is not a recent predicament. Seemingly, it was 2004 when then-Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, articulated his strategy for the next decade– to ‘boldly combat’ the homelessness crisis. Yet, the current picture post two-decades infuses cynicism.
Simply take a stroll through Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Sacramento; the reality is glaring– tents of the homeless and their agony prominently displayed. Twenty years marked by hollow rhetoric, media events and symbolic ceremonies have failed to yield significant change. The problem persists, seemingly untouched by well-spoken intentions.
Housing, another critical aspect, narrates a similar tale. Upon taking office, Newsom promised Californians 3.5 million new homes by 2025. Five years into the future, looking at the 2025 data, barely 650,000 homes have been sanctioned. This isn’t a minor miscalculation; it’s a colossal blunder of gross proportions.
Californians are strapped under the burden of excessive housing costs, spending over a quarter of their income to merely keep a roof over their heads– if they’re fortunate enough to discover a place at all. A chronic shortage of housing supply persists, while every solution proposed is devoured by bureaucratic obstacles, labor constraints, and environmental lawsuits.
Let’s look at another significant marker of citizen’s financial health– the gasoline prices. Here again, California holds the dubious honor of the nation’s highest prices. While the national average hovers around three dollars per gallon, Californians dig deeper into their pockets consistently. The reasons? The highest gas taxes in America, environmental regulations, Cap-and-Trade fees, and an exclusive fuel blend requirement escalating the refining costs.
In an ironic twist by next year, two of our refineries are slated to cease operations, eliminating a fifth of our gasoline supply. The most troubling part? California isn’t self-reliant for its oil needs– far from it. The state relies heavily on imports from foreign nations, undermining any claim to energy independence.
Moving to the fiscal front, California’s health under Newsom’s stewardship raises eyebrows again. For a continuous three year period, California has dragged its feet in deficit. The predicament this year escalates to an alarming $12 billion shortfall. The State’s Legislative Analyst’s Office sounds grim warnings of impending doom– a $10 to $20 billion deficit streak looming overhead, predicted to persist annually until 2028-29.
And Newsom’s response to the series of crises? It’s far from focused on remedial measures. The homeless crisis seems forgotten with housing costs skyrocketing. Instead, new problems have been magnified under his reign. Newsom supported the Biden administration’s initiative to open borders, triggering an influx of illegal entries.
Adding to the chaos, Newsom actively undermined law enforcement’s efforts, instead of tackling the issue head-on. Public funds were re-purposed fit his narrative and the blame game ensued. Over the past couple of years, he appears to have been consumed entirely by political aspirations, as opposed to governing a struggling state.
Newsom’s vision that the entire nation should emulate California’s model creates a daunting prospect. He advocates high gas prices for Oklahoma, a housing crisis for Kentucky, and troublesome, lawless streets for Ohio. It’s a wonder why he believes the ‘California model’ is a desirable export for the rest of the country.
It would seem that Newsom envisions the people of Arizona, Georgia, and Florida battling the quintessential Californian issues– soaring gas prices, housing scarcity, and streets peppered with homeless encampments. This is the future he aims to export confidently to the rest of America. However, his vision is far from reality. The people of California deserve a leadership that effectively addresses and resolves issues rather than utilizing failure as a stepping stone for wider political ambitions.
The post The Deception of Newsom’s California: Biden Should Take Note appeared first on Real News Now.
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