Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

10 hours ago

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

14 hours ago

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

14 hours ago

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

14 hours ago

Paramount Settles With Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview for $16 Million

14 hours ago

Republicans Tee up House Vote on Trump Bill, Outcome Uncertain

14 hours ago

What’s Next for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs After His Sex Trafficking Trial?

15 hours ago

Dalai Lama Says He Will Be Reincarnated, Trust Will Identify Successor

15 hours ago
Newsom Prepares 'Different Kind of Speech' for Tuesday's State of the State Address
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
March 9, 2021

Share

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will deliver his third State of the State address on Tuesday night, a speech timed to coincide with evening news broadcasts that will show the governor surrounded by 56,000 empty seats at Dodger Stadium, representing roughly all the people who have died from the coronavirus pandemic in the nation’s most populous sate.

California governors usually deliver their annual State of the State addresses in the morning during a joint session of the state Legislature in Sacramento, a scene that gives the speeches a heavy dose of policy and pomp.

This year, Newsom said his speech will highlight the “quiet heroes” of the pandemic while striking a sober tone to be “mindful of the lives that have been lost in this pandemic.”

“It’s a different kind of State of the State,” Newsom said Monday while touring a vaccination site in Earlimart, a small community in Tulare County.

Critical Moment for Newsom

The speech comes at an important moment for Newsom, who faces a likely recall election later this year fueled by widespread anger over Newsom’s handling of the pandemic, including the stop-and-start closures for businesses and strict rules on what people can and can’t do in public.

“We’ve got a governor in freefall,” said Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk. “I’m wondering if he’s doing this from Hollywood, because I think he’s got a script that probably doesn’t reflect reality, but I think (the speech) is the kickoff to his campaign to keep his job.”

The speech is also important for Newsom’s allies in the Legislature, who have joined forces with him in recent weeks to approve a $7.6 billion state stimulus package and another $6.6 billion designed to push public school districts to offer in-person learning by the end of March.

“The governor knows results are more important than rhetoric, but the right message can be helpful in bringing us together on the same page,” said Toni Atkins, the top Democrat in the state Senate. “That’s critical as we move closer to getting COVID-19 under control.”

California was the first state in the country to issue a statewide stay-at-home order last March, and many of those restrictions have lingered throughout the pandemic, placing limitations on businesses and public gatherings.

Restrictions Loosened in Nine Additional Counties Tuesday

But as cases and hospitalizations have dropped in recent weeks, more areas of the state are starting to open back up. The state loosened restrictions in nine additional counties on Tuesday.

Business and labor groups will be watching Newsom’s speech closely for clues on how he will approach reopening. A key piece of pending legislation would expand paid sick leave for workers who must miss work because of the coronavirus.

“We really hope he sends a message to essential workers that the state of California has your back,” said Steve Smith, spokesman for the California Labor Federation.

But the legislation is troubling to John Kabateck, director of the California chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business.

“The last thing we need are new laws and rules that are going to send small businesses and consumers into a flurry of uncertainty and fear,” he said.

Governor Focusing on Optimism

Last year, Newsom devoted his entire State of the State address to housing and homelessness, highlighting an issue that has plagued California for decades. The pandemic disrupted many of Newsom’s plans, although the state did invest heavily in a program to house the homeless in converted hotel rooms.

Mike Herald, legislative advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, said he understands Newsom will likely focus much of his speech on reopening the economy and resuming social gatherings. But he said he’s also hoping Newsom will commit to “further address the economic woes that many Californians are suffering through.” Specifically, he wants to see another round of stimulus payments and a pledge to use the latest federal relief money to help pay down unpaid rent.

“We really need to find ways to put cash in people’s pockets because they really need it,” he said.

Newsom did not tip his hand on Monday when speaking with reporters, other than to say he would talk “a little bit” about homelessness. Overall, Newsom said he hopes people come away from the speech “optimistic” about “a future that I have all the confidence in the world is extraordinarily bright, as long as it’s an inclusive future.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 8,300 Acres, Prompts Evacuations

DON'T MISS

SLO Deputies Fatally Shoot Man in Los Osos Weeks After US Marshal Impersonation Arrest

DON'T MISS

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

DON'T MISS

San Luis Obispo County Wildfire Burns More Than 3,000 Acres. No Containment Yet

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

DON'T MISS

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

DON'T MISS

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

DON'T MISS

Del Monte Files for Bankruptcy. Gets Nearly $1B to Keep Producing Through Process

DON'T MISS

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

UP NEXT

CHP Officer Dies in Line of Duty After Medical Emergency While on Patrol

UP NEXT

Downtown Housing Could Rise in Many California Cities, but Barriers Remain

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

UP NEXT

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

UP NEXT

California Republicans Send Message to Trump: Deport Criminals, Not Our Vital Workers

UP NEXT

CA Rolls Back Its Landmark Environmental Law to Speed Housing Construction

UP NEXT

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

UP NEXT

Buying a Home With Solar? Beware of CA Bill Written by Former Utility Co. Exec

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Sues Los Angeles Over Immigration Enforcement

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

8 hours ago

San Luis Obispo County Wildfire Burns More Than 3,000 Acres. No Containment Yet

8 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

8 hours ago

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

8 hours ago

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

9 hours ago

Del Monte Files for Bankruptcy. Gets Nearly $1B to Keep Producing Through Process

9 hours ago

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

10 hours ago

CIA Review Finds Flaws but Does Not Dispute Finding Putin Sought to Sway 2016 Vote to Trump

10 hours ago

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

10 hours ago

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

11 hours ago

House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

WASHINGTON – Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday struggled to pass President Donald Trump’s massive tax-cut...

7 hours ago

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to the press, as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2, 2025. (Reuters/Annabelle Gordon)
7 hours ago

House Republicans Say They Expect to Vote Tonight on Trump’s Tax-Cut Bill

The Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County has rapidly expanded to 8,396 acres with no containment, prompting evacuation orders and warnings near New Cuyama. (CalFire)
7 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 8,300 Acres, Prompts Evacuations

Andrew Biscay, 40, was arrested Friday, June 20, 2025, after deputies found him with a fake U.S. Marshal’s badge, homemade firearm, and law enforcement-style gear during a warrant arrest. (Madera County SO)
7 hours ago

SLO Deputies Fatally Shoot Man in Los Osos Weeks After US Marshal Impersonation Arrest

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, a Madera County sheriff’s deputy was injured while trying to arrest a wanted felon, Felix Adrian Nucamendi Carrasco, 40, who later fled and was captured near Raymond Road. (Madera County SO)
8 hours ago

Madera County Deputy Injured, Wanted Felon Arrested After Violent Struggle

A wildfire dubbed the Madre Fire has burned over 3,300 acres near New Cuyama with 0% containment, officials said Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (CalFire)
8 hours ago

San Luis Obispo County Wildfire Burns More Than 3,000 Acres. No Containment Yet

8 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

Jose Luna (left), 33, and Ralph Grajeda, 45, both of Visalia, have been sentenced for their roles in the 2020 shotgun killing of Robert Soto at a local motel. (Tulare County DA)
8 hours ago

Two Visalia Men Sentenced in 2021 Motel Killing

A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

Ex-Jan. 6 Defendant Gets Life in Prison for Plot to Kill FBI Agents

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend