The Homeless Crisis: Billions Spent, Nothing Gained
Governor Gavin Newsom has positioned himself as the face of progressive governance in America, but beneath the polished exterior and presidential ambitions lies a record that should concern every American who values fiscal responsibility, public safety, and accountable leadership.
Let's start with the homeless crisis. Under Newsom's watch, California's homelessness has exploded to over 180,000 people, representing roughly 30% of the nation's homeless population in a state with just 12% of the country's residents. Despite spending tens of billions of dollars on the problem, tent cities line the streets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. The governor loves to tout his compassion, but compassion without results is just expensive virtue signaling. Meanwhile, working families can't let their children play in public parks littered with needles and human waste.
The Great California Exodus
Then there's the cost of living crisis. California has the highest income tax rate in the nation, some of the highest gas prices, and a regulatory environment so hostile to business that companies are fleeing to Texas, Florida, and Tennessee in droves. Oracle, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Tesla have all relocated their headquarters out of state. Even Newsom's own businesses benefited from loopholes and connections while ordinary Californians struggle under the weight of his policies. The French Laundry incident during COVID lockdowns wasn't just tone-deaf—it perfectly encapsulated the "rules for thee, but not for me" attitude that defines his governance.
COVID Tyranny and the French Laundry Hypocrisy
Speaking of COVID, Newsom's authoritarian response was a masterclass in government overreach. He shuttered small businesses while allowing big-box retailers to remain open, devastating Main Street while enriching corporate giants. He kept children out of school far longer than the science justified, setting back an entire generation's education. And when he got caught dining maskless indoors with lobbyists at one of California's most expensive restaurants while telling citizens to stay home? He offered a half-hearted apology and moved on, secure in the knowledge that California's one-party rule would protect him from real accountability.
Green Energy Fantasies Meet Grid Reality
The energy crisis deserves its own examination. California has some of the highest electricity rates in the continental United States, yet residents face regular brownouts and are asked to avoid charging electric vehicles during peak hours. This is the state that wants to ban gas-powered cars by 2035 but can't keep the lights on during a heat wave. Newsom's green energy mandates sound wonderful in press releases but have created an unreliable grid that fails Californians when they need it most.
Soft on Crime, Hard on Victims
Crime is another area where Newsom's soft-on-crime policies have failed spectacularly. Proposition 47, which he supported, reclassified many felonies as misdemeanors, leading to brazen smash-and-grab robberies and organized retail theft that has forced stores to lock up basic goods or close entirely. Law-abiding citizens watch criminals walk free while they're told to accept this as the new normal. His recent attempts to appear tough on crime ring hollow after years of supporting policies that emboldened criminals and demoralized law enforcement.
Presidential Ambitions Built on Failure
Yet despite this record of failure, Newsom clearly has his eyes on the White House. He's been shadow-campaigning for president, picking fights with Ron DeSantis and positioning himself as the anti-Trump. But exporting California's failed model to the rest of America would be catastrophic. We don't need a president who thinks the solution to every problem is higher taxes, more regulations, and less freedom.
California once represented the American Dream—opportunity, innovation, and prosperity. Under Gavin Newsom, it's become a cautionary tale of what happens when progressive ideology trumps practical governance. The emperor has no clothes, and it's time more people started saying so.