Gov. Gavin Newsom used his final \u201cstate of the state\u201d address to pitch California as a beacon for the future \u2014 a double-edged sword at best for the 2028 presidential hopeful. <\/p>\n
In the roughly hour-long speech<\/a> at the Capitol building in Sacramento, Newsom blasted<\/a> President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201ccarnival of chaos\u201d and painted a rosy picture of homelessness, public safety, affordability and education \u2014 all major pain points for Californians who face the highest home prices in the nation, low-ranking schools and rampant homeless encampments in many cities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a beacon. This state is providing a different narrative. An operational model, a policy blueprint for others to follow,\u201d Newsom said, in contrast to what he described as a corrupt and authoritarian White House.<\/p>\n Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201ccarnival of chaos\u201d while pitching California as a national model in his final State of the State address. AP<\/p>\n \u201cThis state, this people, this experiment in democracy, belongs not to the past, but to the future,\u201d Newsom boasted. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a \u201crisky strategy\u201d as the governor preps a likely presidential bid<\/a>, said Jim Ross, San Francisco-based political consultant.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s trying to run<\/a> on California as California \u2014 I just don\u2019t know if the rest of the country are going to see it the same way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of using his state-of-the-state to lie about the President in hopes of courting left wing voters ahead of his doomed-to-fail Presidential campaign, Newscum should\u2019ve talked about how he planned to undo the damage he\u2019s done to California,\u201d said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson in a statement. <\/p>\n Others blasted Newsom\u2019s speech as little more than spin. <\/p>\n \u201cThe only thing Gov. Gavin Newsom does well is he\u2019s a very accomplished liar,\u201d said Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio of San Diego. <\/p>\n The Economy<\/p>\n Newsom touted California\u2019s massive economy<\/a> \u2014 larger than most countries and driven by a booming Silicon Valley, Los Angeles\u2019 entertainment industries, and a large agriculture sector.<\/p>\n \u201cNo state in America contributes more \u2014 none \u2014 to American greatness,\u201d he said. \u201cNo state builds more ladders to success or sees around more corners.\u201d<\/p>\n Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers his final State of the State address, calling California \u201ca beacon\u201d and a blueprint for the nation\u2019s future. AP<\/p>\n A strong economy, according to Newsom, led to a surprise $42.3 billion windfall over three years that will help the state resolve massive budget deficits that could reach $35 billion, per projections released in November. But that will not solve the state\u2019s long-term fiscal problems as spending outstrips revenue.<\/p>\n Newsom didn\u2019t mention California unemployment rate \u2014 5.5% percent as of September<\/a>, the nation\u2019s highest, as residents struggle to cover costs in the infamously expensive state. Californians face some of the highest housing, gas and utilities prices in the country.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a real disconnect between Gavin Newsom and his California and the experience Californians are having on a day to day basis,\u201d Ross said. <\/p>\n \u201cHis speech reinforce many Californians\u2019 view that being governor \u2014 at least for the last few years \u2014 has been just a step to the next election.\u201d <\/p>\n Homelessness<\/p>\n Newsom announced that unsheltered homelessness<\/a> is dropping, citing \u201cearly data, just compiled.\u201d<\/p>\n The early data shows a 9% drop statewide in unsheltered homelessness, a 10.3% decline in Los Angeles, and drops of 19% and 34.8% in Riverside and Contra Costa County, according to Newsom. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing results, making streets safer for everyone, and fully recognizing that quality of life is at the core of people\u2019s frustrations in this state,\u201d Newsom said.<\/p>\n Newsom claimed the state\u2019s homelessness rate was dropping, though his office didn\u2019t immediately respond when asked for a source for the figures. Ringo Chiu for NY Post<\/p>\n But any drop in homelessness<\/a> would only offset the explosion in encampments and street sleepers during Newsom\u2019s time as governor.<\/p>\n According to federal point-in-time counts, the number of unsheltered individuals in California ballooned from about 85,300 in 2018 to more than 117,400 in 2023 \u2014 a jump of 38%, according to the most recent completed statewide counts<\/a> published by Housing and Urban Development department.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe California Post is coming soon. Sign up for updates.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet in early. Be the first to know about launch and home delivery.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Education<\/p>\n The governor said big changes are coming to education \u2014 including a re-org of the Department of Education under the executive branch, a reform long recommended by the Legislature. <\/p>\n While Newsom boasted of California\u2019s world-renowned University of California system, K-12 schools in the state haven\u2019t fared so well.<\/p>\n Follow The Post\u2019s coverage on California Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/p>\n Despite billions committed to public schools, California K-12 schools<\/a> consistently rank in the bottom half in terms of math, reading, and high school graduation rates. U.S. News and World report ranked California #43 in terms of college readiness<\/a>.<\/p>\n Newsom unveiled \u201cthe most significant investments in public education in California\u2019s history\u201d as part of his budget proposal.<\/p>\n That includes a \u201crecord-breaking $27,418 per student,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cThis budget will fully fund our universal [transitional kindergarten] program \u2014 and maintains our commitment to reduce class sizes to improve the quality of education for our youngest learners.\u201d<\/p>\n Housing<\/p>\n The cost of housing<\/a> is California\u2019s \u201coriginal sin,\u201d as Newsom put it in his speech.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s one that has grown markedly worse during his time as governor, despite a splashy promise eight years ago to built 3.5 million homes by 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n Burned and damaged homes underscore California\u2019s housing crisis, which Newsom called the state\u2019s \u201coriginal sin,\u201d as costs and insurance woes mount. NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cWe got to work in 2019, passing the strongest statewide renter protections in America,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cJust last year alone, I was proud to sign 61 housing reform bills, clearing regulatory thickets, forcing local governments \u2014 often resistant \u2014 to get in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n But so far, the reforms haven\u2019t meant much to the average buyer facing some of the highest housing costs in the country.<\/p>\n The median home price in California has grown from about $610,000 in 2019 to some $887,000 today \u2014 an increase of more than 40%. And insurance costs<\/a>, aggravated by major wildfires, have skyrocketed in many areas as insurance firms fled the state in recent years.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last few months, six insurance companies announced their commitment to remain in, or expand their coverage, here in California,\u201d Newsom said.<\/p>\n But, he acknowledged, \u201cWe have a lot more work to do to fully implement our sustainable insurance strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n Wildfires scorch California as Gov. Gavin Newsom touts the state\u2019s future while residents continue grappling with escalating crises. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Infrastructure <\/p>\n In the speech, Newsom did what he does best: rattle off statistics with precision. <\/p>\n