As the governor blames national politics for soaring prices, Californians live with the consequences of the policies he chose to make more extreme…
[This is the first of a two part series. Below we focus on how much less affordable life is for Californians than for others in the lower 48 — and it’s not a pretty picture. In part two we will go over the specific policies put in place or kept in place by Gavin Newsom, that make him the “least affordable” candidate ever to run for President. Our morning columns are free for all subscribers!]
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On Gavin Newsom’s Watch, the Cost of Being a Californian Has Exploded
Governor Gavin Newsom wants voters to believe that California’s affordability crisis is simply the result of national politics and global inflation. In recent remarks, he has pointed fingers at Donald Trump and national Republicans to explain why so many Californians are struggling to make ends meet.
That claim falls apart the moment you look at the numbers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California’s Consumer Price Index is up a little over 20 percent since 2019, the year Newsom took office. Inflation has been national. But Californians were already paying among the highest baseline prices in the country before he became governor.
The sharpest spikes in California’s affordability crisis have come on Gavin Newsom’s watch.
For voters anywhere in the country watching his national political ascent, his handling of affordability in California is not a footnote. It is the résumé.
The Newsom Scorecard: What Changed Since 2019
Housing is the most straightforward way to see what his tenure has meant for ordinary Californians. According to California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, the monthly cost to carry a typical mid-tier home is now over $5,500 — roughly 75 to 80 percent higher than it was at the start of 2020. Even bottom-tier homes now require monthly payments well above $3,000. The income needed to buy even a modest starter home now exceeds the statewide median household income.
CalMatters reports that California’s median home price now runs more than twice the national median.
Click here to read the full article in Jon Fleishman’s Substack
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