Gov. Gavin Newsom is hoping to to boost California\u2019s tarnished image on the national stage \u2014 so he\u2019s throwing millions in taxpayer money at a high-powered New York public relations firm to do it for him.<\/p>\n
The governor\u2019s Office of Business and Economic Development awarded PR powerhouse Edelman a contract worth up to $19 million to burnish the Golden State\u2019s reputation, KCRA reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n Overhead view of the Manhattan skyline on a cloudy day. REUTERS<\/p>\n Edelman \u2014 which also does work on behalf of mega-companies like Dove, Starbucks, eBay and Heineken \u2014 will be tasked with combating \u201cnegative narratives amplified online and in partisan media\u201d about California while promoting the state\u2019s economy and tourism.<\/p>\n The contract begins on April 6 and will run through then end of the year.<\/p>\n Governor Gavin Newsom speaking at a press conference in San Lorenzo, California. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n The Statue of Liberty in front of the Manhattan skyline with the Empire State Building. Getty Images<\/p>\n The Office of Business and Economic Development, known as GO-Biz, posted the request for proposals last month, stipulating that small businesses be considered first for the contract.<\/p>\n A spokesman for GO-Biz told KCRA that Edelman included several small businesses in its proposal.<\/p>\n The state agency previously told the outlet that the campaign wouldn\u2019t be about Newsom himself, but California.<\/p>\n California Gov. Gavin Newsom smiling on a red carpet. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cThe campaign will tell the California story, not the Gavin Newsom story,\u201d the agency said. \u201cThe effort is about California\u2019s success, not about politics.\u201d<\/p>\n News of the contract drew ample criticism.<\/p>\n \u201cGavin Newsom is giving 19 million California taxpayer dollars to a New York PR firm to promote California in a better light to the nation. Which does not at all sound like Gavin Newsom is making a presidential campaign ad for himself,\u201d Kevin Dalton, who ran for the\u00a0Los Angeles County\u00a0Board of\u00a0Supervisors, wrote on X.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCalifornians aren\u2019t being asked, they\u2019re being billed,\u201d added Republican congressional candidate Christine Bish. <\/p>\n \u201cAnother $19 million in taxpayer money, this time for a PR firm to \u2018improve California\u2019s image.\u2019 Let\u2019s call it what it is: government-funded spin while families struggle to afford the basics.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t
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