Newsom's message to those leaving California

Summary

In a recent interview, California's Governor discusses the state's current challenges, including wildfires, blackouts, and air quality issues, which have led some residents to consider moving. Despite these concerns, the Governor highlights California's economic prosperity, innovation, and strong higher education system as reasons for optimism. He emphasizes the importance of inclusion and equity in the state's recovery efforts and addresses the new equity metric for reopening businesses and schools. The Governor also touches on the state's COVID-19 response, including his own testing practices and the state's low positivity rate, urging continued vigilance to maintain progress.

Takeaways

• 📈 Economic Prosperity: California has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, with an average GDP growth of 3.8% and 120 consecutive months of net job creation.
• 🔬 Innovation Hub: The state is home to numerous scientists, researchers, and Nobel laureates, highlighting its strong focus on innovation and research.
• 🏫 Higher Education: California boasts one of the finest systems of higher education in the world, contributing to its competitive edge.
• 🌳 Environmental Concerns: The governor acknowledges the challenges of wildfires and their impact on the state's residents, but emphasizes that these are not unique to California.
• 💪 Inclusive Growth: The administration is focused on ensuring that economic growth is inclusive, not leaving communities behind, and is introducing an equity metric to guide reopening plans.
• 📉 Pandemic Response: California has been proactive in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, with the governor emphasizing the importance of testing, wearing masks, and maintaining vigilance.
• 📉 Positive Trends: The state has seen a decline in transmission rates, with a 7-day positivity rate of 2.6% being the lowest since April.
• 🏰 Reopening Plans: The governor discusses the reopening plans for Disneyland and other theme parks, indicating that updates on the tiered status will be provided by health officials.
• 🗳️ Political Engagement: The governor has not been actively campaigning due to responsibilities related to governance and the pandemic, but acknowledges the importance of supporting endorsed initiatives and candidates.
• 🏥 COVID-19 Testing: The governor has been tested for COVID-19 on multiple occasions and has tested negative; any positive result would be disclosed to the public.
• 🤝 Collaboration: The governor mentions speaking with the governor of Colorado about their shared experiences with wildfires, emphasizing a collaborative approach to common challenges.

Q & A

What was the general perception of California a decade ago?

A decade ago, many people described California as ungovernable.

Why are some people considering leaving California?

Some people are considering leaving California due to worsening wildfires, rolling blackouts, and smoky days that affect their children's outdoor activities.

What does the governor say about California's economic growth in the last decade?

The governor highlights that California has enjoyed economic prosperity with 3.8 percent average GDP growth, 120 consecutive months of net job creation, record surpluses, and record reserves.

How does the governor respond to the criticism about California's current situation?

The governor acknowledges the challenges but emphasizes California's strengths, such as its economic growth, innovation, and high-quality education system, and expresses confidence in the state's ability to prosper.

What is the governor's reference to a 1994 Time Magazine edition regarding California?

The governor refers to a 1994 Time Magazine special edition that claimed California's best days were behind it, discussing issues like wildfires, mass exodus, and diversity challenges, to illustrate that the state has faced and overcome similar issues in the past.

What is the current situation with California's happiness index?

Despite current challenges, California remains one of the happiest states for individuals to live in, according to a recent happiness index.

What is the latest on the reopening plan for Disneyland and other theme parks?

The governor did not provide specific details on the reopening plan for Disneyland and other theme parks in the transcript.

Why is the equity metric being introduced in the state's reopening strategy?

The equity metric is being introduced to ensure inclusion and not to leave communities behind, aiming for a more comprehensive recovery that benefits all members of society.

How often is the governor tested for COVID-19?

The governor has been tested on multiple occasions and has tested negative each time. Testing occurs in accordance with established protocols, especially after highly vulnerable events or interactions.

What is the current positivity rate for COVID-19 in California?

The 7-day positivity rate is at 2.6%, which is the lowest recorded since April, indicating a positive trend in managing the disease spread.

How does the governor plan to balance campaigning with his responsibilities as the state's leader?

The governor's top priority is governing the state of California. While acknowledging the importance of campaigning, especially for causes and candidates that impact California, he has not yet made a determination on his campaign involvement.

What is the governor's stance on the current wildfire situation in California?

The governor recognizes the severity of the wildfire situation and is actively engaged in addressing it, highlighting that such challenges are not unique to California and are being faced by other states as well.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Governor's Optimism on California's Future

The governor addresses concerns about California being 'ungovernable' and 'unlivable,' citing personal anecdotes of people moving to other states due to issues like wildfires and blackouts. Despite these challenges, the governor remains confident in California's ability to prosper, highlighting the state's economic growth, job creation, and innovation. He emphasizes the importance of inclusion and the state's commitment to diverse communities, and mentions the state's past resilience in the face of adversity. The governor also discusses the state's reopening plan, the introduction of an equity metric, and the potential impact on economic recovery.

05:00

📢 Governor's Stance on Campaigning and COVID-19 Testing

The governor is asked about his plans to campaign for endorsed initiatives, congressional candidates, and the president. He states that his primary focus has been on governing California amidst the challenges of wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, and that campaigning has not been a priority. However, he acknowledges the importance of supporting causes that benefit the state. The governor also discusses his own COVID-19 testing practices, emphasizing the need to preserve tests for vulnerable populations and events. He confirms that he has been tested multiple times with negative results and would inform the public if he tested positive. The governor concludes by thanking the media for their work during the pandemic and urging continued vigilance to control transmission rates.

Keywords

💡Unlivable

The term 'unlivable' refers to conditions that make a place unfit for habitation or life. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the perception of California by some residents due to issues like wildfires, blackouts, and air quality concerns. The governor counters this by highlighting the state's economic prosperity and resilience.

💡Economic Prosperity

Economic prosperity indicates a state of economic strength, growth, and overall well-being. The governor mentions California's economic prosperity to argue against the notion that the state is 'ungovernable' or 'unlivable.' He cites figures like GDP growth, job creation, and business startups as evidence of the state's strong economy.

💡Wildfires

Wildfires are uncontrolled fires in wildland areas, which have become a significant issue in California. They are mentioned as one of the factors contributing to the perception of California as 'unlivable.' The governor acknowledges the challenges but emphasizes the state's efforts to overcome such adversities.

💡Rolling Blackouts

Rolling blackouts are temporary, scheduled power outages used to manage peak electricity demand or to prevent total system failure. They are cited in the script as a problem that has affected Californians' quality of life. However, the governor does not directly address this issue in his response.

💡Inclusion

Inclusion refers to the act of including or involving all members of a community or group, ensuring equal opportunity and representation. The governor discusses the importance of inclusion in the state's reopening plans, emphasizing that growth should not come at the expense of leaving certain communities behind.

💡Equity Metric

An equity metric is a measure used to assess fairness or justice in access to resources or opportunities. The governor's administration introduced an equity metric to ensure that the reopening of businesses and schools benefits all communities, not just some. It is a part of their strategy to address the diverse needs of California's population.

💡COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 testing involves the use of tests to identify current or past infection with the virus causing COVID-19. The governor discusses his own testing practices, emphasizing responsible behavior and the importance of testing in vulnerable situations or when potential exposure has occurred.

💡Positivity Rate

The positivity rate refers to the percentage of tests that come back positive for a disease. In the context of the video, the governor mentions California's 7-day positivity rate as the lowest since April, indicating progress in controlling the spread of the virus.

💡Vigilance

Vigilance means being carefully watchful or vigilant, especially to avoid potential dangers or problems. The governor urges Californians to remain vigilant in maintaining public health measures to continue reducing transmission rates of COVID-19.

💡Diversity

Diversity refers to the range of differences among people, including race, ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics. The governor highlights California's diversity as a strength and emphasizes the importance of considering all communities in policy-making and public health responses.

💡Reopening Plan

A reopening plan outlines the steps and conditions for lifting restrictions imposed due to a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor discusses the state's approach to reopening, including the use of an equity metric to ensure a fair and inclusive recovery.

Highlights

California was once described as ungovernable, but the governor argues that it has experienced significant economic prosperity in the last decade.

Despite challenges like wildfires and rolling blackouts, the state has seen 3.8 percent average GDP growth and 120 consecutive months of net job creation.

The governor emphasizes California's record surpluses, reserves, business startups, and innovation, as well as its leading system of higher education.

The state's competitive edge and international status are highlighted as reasons for confidence in its future prosperity.

The governor references a 1994 Time Magazine edition that declared California's best days were behind it, but the state recovered and continues to thrive.

California remains one of the happiest states to live in, according to a recent happiness index.

The governor acknowledges current challenges but emphasizes that decisions, not conditions, determine the state's fate and future.

The introduction of an equity metric in the state's reopening plan aims to ensure inclusion and not leave communities behind.

The equity metric may actually help some counties to reopen more quickly due to their efforts in testing and case rates.

The governor discusses the importance of campaigning for causes that benefit California, but prioritizes governing the state over political campaigning.

The president's positive COVID-19 test raises questions about the governor's own testing practices and protocols.

The governor has been tested multiple times with negative results and emphasizes the importance of following established testing protocols.

The state's 7-day positivity rate is the lowest since April, indicating progress in managing the pandemic.

Despite the encouraging positivity rate, there is a need for continued vigilance and adherence to health guidelines to prevent a resurgence.

The governor thanks the media and the public for their responsiveness and hard work during the pandemic.

The governor stresses the importance of maintaining the status quo to continue the progress made in reducing transmission rates.

Transcripts

kcbs

hi governor thanks um you know it was

only a decade ago that a lot of people

would describe california as

ungovernable and now

growing numbers say it's unlivable i

personally know

several people who have decided to move

to other states they've just had enough

of worsening wildfires rolling blackouts

and

smoky days when their kids can't go

outside and their ads airing on our

radio station now for

a company serving people who want to

leave the bay area what do you say to

the people who are

ready to give up on california i've

lived here

half a century i've heard this pretty

much every decade you referenced a

decade ago and

in this last decade we've been enjoying

uh economic prosperity the likes of

which few states have enjoyed last five

years 3.8 percent

average gdp growth 120 consecutive

months of net job creation record

surpluses record reserves record level

of business

startups innovation more scientists more

researchers more nobel laureates

in this state than any other state in

this nation all of that

remains finest system of higher

education anywhere

in the world the balance sheet of the

state is extraordinary

our competitiveness is second to none

the international status that we enjoy

as a brand and our capacity to compete

also

uh is best of class and so i'm very long

this state

very confident in our ability to

continue to prosper well into the future

and i would encourage you and many

others just to look back as an example

a proof point a point of reference to a

edition of time magazine that was done

in 1994

the entire special edition i was saying

california's best days are behind it

they talked about the mass exodus they

talked about wildfires in this state

they talked about other things that were

rather curious as it relates to

diversity

of our state at the time and some of the

xenophobia nativism

that was alive and well we recovered

as a state we worked through that as we

always do

i saw today there was a happiness index

put out

california remaining one of the happiest

states

for individuals to live in in the united

states of america so we're challenged

at this time as every state in this

country challenged at this time in

states that haven't had to struggle

through

this pandemic and the economic

consequences are beginning to struggle

through this

pandemic and its economic consequences i

was on the phone the other day

and listening in to the governor of

colorado

they were talking about historic

wildfires in their

majestic state it's not unique to

california

west coast the united states being

impacted

by these challenges by these conditions

but as i always say and

forgive me i'll say it yet again it's

our decisions

not conditions that determine our faith

and future and i have confidence in our

capacity to compete

to thrive not just survive in the next

number of years

and i would just encourage folks that

are leaving to consider

the fact that this state six seven

months ago

was dominating in so many different

sectors and those core tenants of the

state

remain still as alive and enlivened

as they ever have been despite some of

these situational challenges that we

face

thank you governor i have two questions

first of all what's the latest

on the reopening plan for disneyland and

other theme parks

and secondly when it relates to this new

equity metric

some county officials have voiced

concern that this metric might hold them

back from reopening businesses or

schools

at a time when reopening could bring an

economic boost to their communities

i'm just curious why your administration

is introducing this metric at this time

and if are you concerned at all that it

could slow economic recovery well we

introduced the construct of the metric

when we put out the tiered status in

fact it was part of the original

presentation

uh the original announcement so it's not

particularly new

but i would just say this if you believe

in growth and you don't believe in

inclusion

then we're going to leave a lot of

people behind and one of the things we

value as a state

is inclusion and we believe that we're

all better off when we're all

better off leaving communities behind

in order to gain your testing and your

case rates

i don't think is right and so our

approach

is about making sure that we are doing

justice

to our diverse communities and that

we're not just gaming a system

to paint a much more rosy picture that

may be for some

but not all members of a community

particularly

a specific county now as it relates to

your specific

frame that some counties are concerned

you'll hear tomorrow

uh dr galley will come out with the new

updates on the tiered

uh status in the movement uh and our

broad strokes belief think looks to be

in this frame meaning the equity measure

interestingly may help

advance the cost of reopening in some

states because some counties

are actually doing more in that respect

and that's being counted

in to their capacity to move more

expeditiously

through the tier so in fact it may be

something that advantages an economic

opening

but does so in a way that brings more

people

to light and more inclusion to bear and

so we believe that a core value

and we believe this framework is an

appropriate one jeremy white

politico hey governor uh thanks for

taking my question

uh gonna ask the thing that i think is

on everyone's minds which is who

you are picking to get to the world

series this year just kidding um

as you noted ballots have gone out

around the state today i know you've

been busy with bill signings and budget

stuff but i'm curious to know

can we expect to see you hitting the

trail for about initiatives you've

endorsed work for uh congressional

candidates for the president

um in the coming weeks no well i

appreciate that question and it's it's

one

that i've had a number of people have

asked me and we just haven't made the

determination so

i think you framed it and i appreciate

you framing it as you did as it relates

to

what we've had to address in terms of

bill signing

some of these wildfires addressing

trying to get the stability addressing

the issues

related transmission of kovids so

campaigning

politics has not been top of my mind

that said now that the ballots have

dropped now that we are moving into this

final sprint

in this last month i recognize the

imperative and importance of that

we'll make some assessment and

determination but my fundamental

responsibility my top priority

is my job governing the state of

california and not campaigning

for others to the extent campaigning for

causes that impact and benefit the state

of california

we certainly uh look forward to doing

more and saying more

in that space final question angela hart

kaiser health news

thank you governor um the president's

positive covid test has raised some

questions about your own covid testing

just wanted to ask you so previously on

a few occasions you said that you did

not want to get tested

to preserve those tests and then later

you were tested which turned out

negative so

um how many times have you been tested

in total

and what were the results are you

regularly tested

and i'm also wondering if you're

planning on perhaps changing your

thinking about this approach uh given uh

the president's

positive task yeah no we continue to

practice what we preach in terms of math

squaring and

relating to issues of highly vulnerable

events and communities visiting prisons

meeting with president himself a few

weeks back

those were appropriate places to be

tested protocols well established

so we'll continue to maintain our

vigilance we'll continue

not to send mixed messages as it relates

to importance and imperative of

wearing masks or minimize the impact

of this disease on people's health and

lives that are lost and will continue

to update people as it relates to the

health

of our state and health this economy

and as relates to my health we've been

tested on multiple occasions

tested negative and if i was tested

positive i would have the responsibility

and you would have the right

to know and that would be forthcoming

well with that let me thank all of you

uh for

uh your responsiveness to this pandemic

and the good work that all of you have

done 40 million of us strong

that have once again moved these

transmission rates down

i should just note in closing that the

2.6

7 day positivity rate is the lowest we

have recorded

in the state since april that's very

encouraging

but again we're seeing a plateauing

of the rate of decline and we're seeing

parts of the state that continue to

struggle as it relates they are

effective

and as it relates to the transmission of

this disease and that's why it's

incumbent upon all of us to be vigilant

and maintain the status of all the hard

work that you have advanced to continue

it

so we can get through this get to a

vaccine take care everybody