Staff Blog: Newsom Unbound

By Michael Bornstein, Executive Director

Thankfully, the recall was a bust. Governor Gavin Newsom now needs to take on California’s most important issue – educating our children. 

California voters rejected the recall by a 2-1 margin and Newsom is a lock for reelection next year.  But that does not mean that voters are happy with the status quo. Because we’re not. 

California once had the best schools in the nation, but now we are at the bottom. Covid exposed to everyone the harm caused by decades of underfunding schools and the growing inequities in education.  

The anti-government, anti-vax recall was funded by the same out-of-state landlords and financial institutions that make billions in California but don’t want to pay taxes. They spend millions every year in lobbying and political campaigns to spread their “Supply Side” and “Trickle Down” economic misinformation. 

California is the world’s 5th largest economy and a center for innovation. We have more billionaires than any place on Earth, but we have allowed our public schools to fall into disrepair and are failing an entire generation. New York spends nearly twice as much on K-12 education. If they can do it, so can we. 

The recall was a massive distraction and a waste of time and money. But it also proved that the right-wing, anti-government movement in California is all bark and no bite. 

The Governor was handed a massive mandate by the voters. It will take guts and determination to take on the entrenched special interests, but that is what we expect from great leaders. Gavin Newsom can be that great leader by taking on our most important responsibility – educating our children.