Blaming Newsom

Mayor Newsom harassed in 2007

Kevin Drum on Governor Newsom: Blame Gavin Newsom!

The 99 Cents Only chain is closing up shop. LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano headed out to talk to a few customers about it:

“I blame [Gavin] Newsom,” said Rick Juarez, 53, referencing the California governor as he entered the store to stock up on batteries. He had shopped at this location for “at least” 20 years. “Too many taxes, too high the minimum wage. These companies just can’t compete, and so they have to close. And it’s poor people like us who end up suffering.”

I know, I know: this is just one random guy. Who cares? But it's hard to get so many things wrong in such a short comment: California's corporate tax rate is 8.84% and hasn't changed in 30 years. Newsom temporarily lowered corporate taxes in 2021 and swatted down a proposed tax hike last year.

California's minimum wage is tied to inflation. Newsom has nothing to do with it. And anyway, 99 Cents Only operates all over the west, not just in California.

But sure, blame Newsom. Why not? Someone on the radio probably says everything is all his fault.

Later: Newsom does share the blame for the state's dumb high-speed rail project: Newsom on high-speed rail: Same old crap. So does President Biden.

Kevin Drum, on the other hand, has always been good on the issue: California’s train to nowhere is such a dumb waste of money.

Here in San Francisco, I've posted about Gavin Newsom for years. Mostly I supported him after he tackled the city's homeless problem that helped him become mayor in days of yore.

City progressives never forgave Newsom, a liberal Democrat, for successfully beating them to the punch on an issue on which city residents clearly wanted action from city hall.

Pictured above is a one of the more creative anti-Newsom demonstrations in 2007. 

One thing you can say about Newsom: he can take criticism, which he got a lot of here in Progressive Land, almost all of which came from the city's left.