Lanhee Chen: Governor Newsom Has Only Himself to Blame

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

In his State of the State address this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom argued that the effort to recall him from office is a “partisan power grab.” But the reasons why Newsom is under fire have very little to do with partisanship at all.

Many California public schools are still closed, even though the research overwhelmingly shows that schools can open safely, and now. Vaccine distribution has been uneven, and many counties are still facing shortages, leaving at-risk Californians without protection. And Newsom has overseen one of the biggest management failures in the state’s history—the state unemployment insurance fund paid up to $30 billion in fraudulent claims, including to people are sitting in state prison as we speak. And let’s not forget that Newsom ignored his own public health rules and dined with lobbyists at a fancy Napa Valley restaurant during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Newsom hasn’t been a failure because Republicans say so. No, his own actions are to blame for that.

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