Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
Governor Gavin Newsom has finally said the quiet part out loud: he’s running for president. For anyone paying attention, this isn’t news, it’s confirmation. While he’s been busy building a national brand and rehearsing for debates that haven’t yet been scheduled, California has been left to manage the wreckage of his failed policies. The governor continues to tout the so-called “California Way” as a model for the nation. But let’s be honest. If this is the model, America should run the other way. Behind the glossy sound bites and slick campaign videos lies a state that’s increasingly unlivable for working families. Only 15% of Californians can afford to buy a home. If you can scrape together a down payment, good luck finding affordable insurance, as major insurers are fleeing the state. Gas prices remain the highest in the nation, electricity bills higher than nearly every other state, and more than 7,000 Californians lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses in 2023, more than in any other state. These are not signs of success. They’re signs of systemic failure. California was once the land of opportunity, the place where anyone could chase the American Dream. Today, millions of Californians are struggling to hang on. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.7% of residents live in poverty, the highest rate in the nation, tied with Louisiana. That’s roughly 7 million people, equivalent to the combined populations of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. A recent UCLA survey found that nearly one in five Californians worries about being able to pay rent or their mortgage. And while Gov. Newsom promised to build 3.5 million new homes by 2025, we’re not even close and housing construction has declined under his watch. At the gas pump, drivers feel the pain daily. California’s punishing taxes and costly regulations result in the nation’s highest gas tax. This is by design. Newsom and his allies want to make driving so expensive that you’ll give up your car. It’s a social experiment being conducted at your expense. Then there’s homelessness, the most visible and heartbreaking failure of this administration. The governor has spent $27 billion on homelessness since taking office, and the result? Homelessness has increased and California is home to one-quarter of the nation’s homeless population. Now, instead of taking responsibility, he’s pointing fingers at counties and launching a website to track them. Accountability theater at its worst. Our schools tell another grim story. State testing shows that 52% of students fail to meet basic English standards, 63% fail in math, and 67% fail in science. Rather than empower parents or promote proven reforms, this administration doubles down on bureaucracy and union politics. Children pay the price while Sacramento pats itself on the back. And what about fiscal responsibility? State revenues have doubled in the past decade, yet Californians are worse off. A Reason Foundation study found that California has twice the total debt of any other state — nearly $500 billion — and faces massive deficits fueled by overspending by the state. Despite these failures, the governor finds plenty of time to spar on social media and jet off for national interviews. He’s more interested in trolling the president than in fixing the state he was elected to lead. California doesn’t need another press conference, photo op or more spin. We need a course correction with policies that lower costs, restore safety, improve education, and make this state affordable again. Legislative Republicans have put forward practical, responsible proposals for years: lowering taxes, tackling crime, investing in water storage and wildfire prevention, expanding housing supply, and holding government accountable. Most have been ignored or voted down by the majority party. Gov. Newsom may be chasing the presidency, but leadership isn’t about ambition, it’s about results. And the results in California speak for themselves. Before asking America for a promotion, perhaps he should finish the job he was elected to do. California deserves a governor — not a presidential candidate. Suzette Martinez Valladares represents most of the Santa Clarita Valley in the state Senate.“Right, Here Right Now” appears Saturdays and rotates among local Republicans.
