As the world watches, California’s very own governor, Gavin Newsom, seems to have traded his role in running the state for a glamorous tour abroad. Just when Californians were eagerly looking for solutions to their many pressing problems, they instead find their governor gallivanting off to Davos, sporting knee pads and seeking out photo ops. Newsom’s recently bizarre antics on the global stage make one wonder if he is more interested in playing international celebrity rather than addressing the dire issues at home.
The folks in sunny California have witnessed their state struggle with endless hurdles under Newsom’s leadership. Let’s take a quick tour through the state of affairs back in California. Taxes, whether income, sales, or gas, are as high as the sky itself. The homeless population trails across the streets with no evident signs of the “‘better days”’ Newsom once promised. Despite all the campaign noise about tackling homelessness way back in 2014, it only seems to have gotten worse. All this while, the wheels of California’s economy are screeching under the weight of a budget deficit that seems to grow by the day.
Meanwhile, the citizen exodus from California is becoming a sight to behold. Whether it’s business giants or families seeking better opportunities, they are waving goodbye to Newsom’s sinking ship and heading to greener pastures. It’s a legend worthy of Greek tragedy: unbridled taxes, unchecked spending, and unsolved societal issues driving the Golden State’s citizens right out the door.
Yet, here we are, observing Newsom standing on the international stage, seemingly unaware or perhaps just unwilling to acknowledge the turbulence back home. One can’t help but imagine him prancing around as some glamour-seeking “Sparkle Beach Ken.” It’s almost as if he’s starring in a tragic-comedy play about a governor lost in his own ambitions—a play that coincidentally isn’t very popular back home.
And during all this, Newsom has also been busily engaging in a remote shadow-boxing match with former President Trump, instead of rolling up his sleeves to solve the unglamorous issues rooted deep within California. Priorities, right? For a state teetering on the edge of fiscal collapse and amidst a mass migration of its own people, perhaps a little less glow and a bit more practicality would do the trick. Unfortunately, Swan Lake’s sparkle may be alluring, but duty back at the state capital seems so passé.
