LOS ANGELES — Update:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom urged an exhausted state to dream of brighter days ahead during his annual State of the State address.
Newsom spoke Tuesday evening from an empty Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, surrounded by 56,000 seats representing roughly the number of people who have died during the pandemic.
Newsom said his public health decisions — including the nation's first statewide shutdown order — saved lives. He acknowledged mistakes, though did not articulate them.
The speech comes at a critical time as Newsom will likely face a recall election later this year fueled by widespread anger over his handling of the pandemic.
Kevin Faulconer, a GOP Gubernatorial hopeful, criticized Newsom for not addressing EDD's problems of distributing unemployment benefits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"California families are still waiting for his incompetent administration to send an unemployment check," said Faulconer. "As more of our neighbors pack up and move out of state. It seems the only people thriving under Gavin Newsom are the folks who work at Uhaul."
Original Story:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will deliver his State of the State address from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The stadium has been transformed into one of the country's largest coronavirus vaccination sites. A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor chose the site because it embodies California’s spirit of service. Newsom is scheduled to deliver his third State of the State address Tuesday.
Newsom said Monday that he plans to use the speech to highlight the quiet heroes of the pandemic. The first-term governor has spent weeks laying the groundwork for an upbeat State of the State aimed at nearly 40 million people exhausted by a year of coronavirus restrictions.
Newsom will also likely focus his remarks on his recent work with the state Legislature to pass a $7.6 billion state stimulus package and a $6.6 billion plan aimed at pushing school districts to resume in-person classes by the end of March.
It comes as the Democratic governor faces a likely recall election later this year fueled by anger over his handling of the pandemic. The deadline nears for organizers of a recall campaign against him to finish submitting signatures. They say they've received more than the 1.5 million needed to force a vote likely later this year on whether Newsom should keep his job.
That makes Tuesday's speech critical to keeping voters on his side.
The State of the State address is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.
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