CalMatters
By Levi Sumagaysay, Calmatters
California’s Central Valley will be left behind no more, its leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom said today as the region became the first in the state to submit its 20-year economic development plan, which aims to boost its agricultural industry and prepare for a key role in the green economy.
The event in West Fresno builds on the governor’s initiative, which he introduced in March, to invest in economic and workforce development with a focus on 13 regions as the state tries to help create more opportunities outside of its traditional jobs centers, such as the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
“A thriving Sierra San Joaquin region is essential to California’s future,” said Ashley Swearengin, chief executive of the Central Valley Community Foundation, which helped bring together the counties in the region to create the 502-page plan, which was funded by the state. She handed a binder with the plan to Newsom during the press conference.
Among other things, the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare are asking for $58 billion in public and private investments in the region over the next couple of decades, according to a draft of the plan from August. The region, which produces 25% of the nation’s food supply, has an annual output of $70 billion, the plan says.
Despite its agricultural contributions and the major role it’s expected to play in helping generate the state’s renewable energy, 1 in 5 people in the region live below the poverty line, said Swearengin, a former Fresno mayor. “The challenges that confront this region’s families must always be present in our minds.”
The governor said he expects the other regions to submit their plans in January. The state has set aside $182 million so far in grants to follow through on the plans.
Newsom acknowledged what he called economic uneasiness among the state’s residents despite fairly low unemployment.
“This is about people feeling on edge,” the governor said, adding that he is “excited” to support grant applications from the region. “It’s not talking about macro conditions, but about micro lived reality.”
A common takeaway from this year’s elections is that voters made their decisions partly because of their economic concerns, at least according to exit polls.
Newsom, who is heading into his final two years as governor, says he’s responding to those concerns. Republicans continually criticize him for being out of touch with the daily struggles of many Californians. Even as his national stature has grown, the state’s voters are split on his performance as governor.
The governor made today’s announcement in Fresno County, where 51% of residents voted for Donald Trump and 46% voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, with all but 7,100 votes counted.
Fresno County, which has a per-capita income of about $50,000 a year, among the lowest in California, has also consistently had among the highest unemployment claims in the state, according to data from the Employment Development Department.
California’s unemployment rate inched up in October, to 5.4% from 5.3% the previous month. That’s the second-highest jobless rate in the nation, behind Nevada, while the U.S. unemployment rate is 4.1%.
This week, the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s office noted in its fiscal outlook for the next year: “Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half.”
This article was originally published by CalMatters.
This guy (Gavin) has done more damage to California during his time in office than one could imagine…
LOL he’s literally creating jobs and you’re still crying.
CA is great. Only problem is all thy
The pop ups and constant movement of ads here is getting nuts. I pressed Post while trying to type because it moves around…
Back to my comment:
The only problem is all the whiners who dedidcate their lives to complaining but doing nothing and refusing to leave.
The biggest complainers from Sacramento.
HATS – what are CA politicians complaining about? Doesn’t make sense.
I don’t like Newsom as a person but he’s lightyears ahead of your cult leader when it comes to policy and governing. LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, environmental protection, wage increases, job opportunities, etc. etc. California is a large state with room to improve, but it’s pretty unintelligent to say he’s dome “more damage than one could imagine.” You’re so dramatic.
Darn but for that one typi
Governor Newsom is certainly good for the majority of Californians. Not so much for those everyday “regular” folks who aren’t part of the coastal-edge elite in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, etc. It would be nice if he paid attention (like actually paid attention….not just “lip service”) to those in the Central/Northern/Eastern/Desert areas. He does not seem to have one bit of concern for those who don’t vote for him or donate massive amounts of money to his causes. The (R) party would not do a better job, but for goodness sakes, on a national level, what I’m calling the “regular” folks have been abandoned, forgotten, and taken for granted. It’s true….we need to, we have to, we must figure out where we lost the regular folks. Deep down I believe we all know why, so let’s do something about it rather than all of the finger pointing going on.
BEES – “It would be nice if he paid attention (like actually paid attention….not just “lip service”) to those in the Central/Northern/Eastern/Desert areas.”
Dude……this article on which you are commenting and that you clearly didn’t read is literally all about Newsom helping those people you think have been forgotten…… Come on.
But do tell please, how exactly has he “abandoned, forgotten, and taken for granted” those who live in the non-“elite” cities? Give an example. Does he deny them anything the “elite” Californians are given?
Sacjon: Nice try, but the article and comment are not about me….lol. It can be tough to think inwardly without coming to the conclusion that the problem is….of course…someone else (finger pointing). The sooner we get to work, the sooner we can get back to being where we thought we were going to be only a few weeks ago. Don’t have to agree, but must accept that things have changed drastically…. or should I say catastrophically. Even Rachel Maddow is coming around, similar to “Morning Joe” and his wife did when they went to Mar-a-Lago to play “kissy face” with the Orange Man. Sometimes people need to dig deep…then, dig even deeper. It starts with us as individuals. Good place to start is a visit to Crush Cakes, which is a safe place to meet these days.
BEES – uh….. nice complete and total dodge there LOL. Why didn’t you read the article?
And go ahead, give an example of this mistreatment of “‘regular’ folks” you talk of. You’ve had 2 chances now. Strike 3?
Sacjon: Let us all enjoy the peace. I would prefer to enjoy the rest of this day without getting bungled up or “shamed” into a dark negative space. Strike three I guess…whatever that means. Coach Fred would support my strike three in this case…maybe even make me player of the day.
Hooboy. Instead of composing an ode to defensiveness-with a tangent into idk-what, why couldn’t you simply expand on what you meant by “regular people”, and/or “abandonment”. It was an easy question. Are there no regular people in populated areas like Hollywood, or do they only live in rural areas? Are there no “elites” in the Central Valley? Might these concepts be merely media-created stereotypes?
Hey BEES, I’m simply asking for an example of the neglectyou complain of. YOU’RE the one dragging this on. You come here daily to complain about me posting but you’re no better. If you’re gonna spend the day complaining, at least make it count.
The majority of CA legislation is for “regular” people, especially when it comes to protecting unions, increasing minimum wage, increasing access to affordable housing, boosting jobs, and repairing infrastructure. That’s blue collar stuff. It seems like your comment is falling into the trap of echoing opinions from political pundits that tend to ignore the truth. Much like people who voted for trump because he’s going to fix the economy but those people have no understanding of basic economics, they simply fell for a marketing campaign. Just because we live on the coast and we’re informed on topics, doesn’t make us all “elites” or tech billionaires. “Regular folks” can critically think if they choose to.
ANON with a home run!
Bullroy. Gavin isn’t getting it done at all for middle class folks, starting with education of their kids.
Newsom creating jobs?
“This week, the state’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s office noted in its fiscal outlook for the next year: “Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half.”
“Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half.” Let that sink in
Last time I looked, Newsom was Governor for he past 1.5 years. Anyone can raise taxes and add government jobs- jobs that cost the rest of us money to fund. The hard part is facilitating an economy that grows jobs. Tried and true methods for job growth are low energy cost, accessible reliable energy delivery. We have the some of the most expensive energy costs in the nation. Our energy grid couldn’t power electric farm equipment
The Central Valley depends on agriculture- agriculture requires low cost, high volume of water, it also requires tons of cheap diesel fuel neither of which Newsom is able to deliver
Get ready those of you who commute within the State of California- Gavin Newsom’s CA Air Resources Board is going to be raising the gas tax (THEY, CARB SAYS) .47 cents more PER GAL starting in Jan 2025. Those of you who commute from Ventura, Lompoc and Santa Maria to change diapers of SB senior citizen homes, mow and blow yards in SB, Cook in SB restaurants and work in SB Hotels…. You know, THE WORKING CLASS- You will have a serious burden on your cost of living coming up thanks to an INSANE Green Agenda that is killing jobs and making people leave CA. I predict CA gas prices going up another $1.30 per gallon (Stanford Economic Professor’s ) more REALISTIC costs… Hold on.
COAST that’s a great argument for building affordable housing IN the SB area, not more hotels downtown and unaffordable housing in Goleta.
Petroleum fuels need to be taxed to at least 5 times their current price to reflect their true costs to society.
@ Anon- So you are all about increasing taxes… How are teachers, nurses, caregivers, laborers. students, and others all over the State of CA suppose to PAY for the already HIGHEST TAXED fuel in the Nation, increasing even more…? Pull your head out.
CA went from a $75 billion surplus to a $25 billion deficit in 12 months.
$24 billion in homeless funds were misplaced.
Where is the high speed rail? Where the money? He lost those funds as well
Where are the new water reservoirs that were approved years ago? Where’s that money?
How about EV charging stations?
I forgot, what has he actually delivered on again?
But heck he’s got a good smile and lies like the rest of the politicians.
Newsom woke up one day and says get rid of the homeless, he doesn’t provide solutions, just an order to ,see them gone.
He’s such an inspiring leader.
Locks you down , shuts down your business but goes out to fancy restaurants with strangers, people from the ca health department of all places.
He shut down our wineries, but kept his open.
His idea of an essential business is liquor stores and strip clubs. Such a family guy. Schools, nope, don’t care about them. Why would he, his kids are in private school.
You’re right, this guy is honest with integrity and has your best interest at heart, during an election year
Rather, he just wants your ballot.
Why did it take weeks to count votes in CA? I’m sure it’s a direct reflection on the worst education system in the country and not the cheating.
Yet Gavin has indeed left needy people in CA behind. As described in a current edhat article about flood victims.
“Floods Wrecked these Farmtowns. Nearly 2 Years Later, most California Aid hasn’t reached People”