Thank you, Madame Lt. Governor, for your kind introduction.
And good evening to those joining us virtually tonight – Speaker Rendon, Pro Tem Atkins, members of the California Legislature, and to all of the elected, and state officials.
And to my amazing wife Jennifer, the First Partner of California.
Thank you all for being here in the most 2021 way possible, remotely.
Tonight, we mark an unprecedented moment in California history.
To reflect on where we’ve been this past year, let’s consider where we are.
I’m speaking to you from Dodger Stadium, transformed from the home of last year’s World Series champions into a centerpiece of America’s mass vaccination campaign.
Instead of fans in stands, we see nurses in PPE, saving lives one injection at a time.
All because, one year ago a once-in-a-century pandemic arrived on our shores.
COVID was no one’s fault – but it quickly became everyone’s burden.
Forcing hard-working Californians into impossible choices – go to work and risk infection, or stay home and lose your job.
A recent UC San Francisco study found that deaths among California food and agricultural workers increased 39% during the pandemic compared to prior years. Still, ag and other industries have pushed back against California’s new COVID-19 workplace safety standards. — Jackie Botts
It magnified daily worries about feeding your kids, paying rent, and keeping loved ones safe.
An estimated 600,000 to 2.1 million people in California are at risk of eviction. — Nigel Duara
It made the unthinkable, commonplace.
COVID patients cared for by doctors, nurses, and paramedics who, despite the chaos and risks to themselves, paused to hold the hands of strangers in their final moments.
Too many forever goodbyes over FaceTime.
54,395 Californians we now mourn with broken hearts.
Nearly half of those deaths have been Latinos, who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The same is true among child cases, with Latino kids accounting for two-thirds of the cases and six of the 14 child deaths in the state. — Elizabeth Aguilera
That’s almost the same number of empty seats behind me, marking a silent tribute to loved ones who live forever in our memories.
54,395 Californians who will never be forgotten by family and friends – nor by the health care workers who bore witness to unimaginable tragedy.
But not every COVID hero wears scrubs.
From the grocery workers to custodians who get a fraction of the gratitude they deserve, to the parents who’ve juggled and struggled – moms especially – but kept charging ahead.
Union workers and suburban mothers are critical constituencies Newsom would want to keep on his side in a recall election. — Laurel Rosenhall
our quiet bravery has created light in the darkest of times.
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Only when it’s dark enough, can you see the stars.”
So tonight, under the lights of this stadium – even as we grieve – let’s allow ourselves to dream of brighter days ahead. Because we won’t be defined by this moment – we’ll be defined by what we do because of it.
On Sunday, the political campaign to oust Newsom announced it has gathered more than enough signatures to put a recall election on the ballot later this year. Assuming that’s right, Newsom had better hope he isn’t defined by this moment. — Ben Christopher
After all, we are California.
We don’t wait for someone else to show us the way forward. We go first, and we go boldly.
We led – on gay rights, gun safety, and criminal justice reform.
Past tense, apparently. This is the only mention of criminal justice reform — in one of the only states that doesn’t decertify police officers for misconduct and which still has some of the harshest sentencing laws in the country. — Robert Lewis
Many criminal justice advocates argue that the state completely botched the COVID-19 outbreaks, and fault Gov. Newsom for not releasing more people during the outbreaks. — Byrhonda Lyons
And now, we lead on combating COVID.
From the earliest days of the pandemic, California trusted in science and data.
We met the moment.
Mark your Newsom Lingo Bingo cards! — Ben Christopher
Last January, we welcomed Americans home, accepting repatriation flights from China.
And one year ago today, we brought to shore the Grand Princess, which was stranded off the coast of California, further opening our eyes to the seriousness of this disease.
CalMatters keeps a handy tick-tock of every key date of the pandemic’s stranglehold on California.
We were the first state to issue a stay-at-home order, which helped us avoid early spikes in cases.
Newsom earned major plaudits for his early, aggressive handling of the pandemic. That was before pandemic fatigue set in, mask-wearing became politicized, rafts of businesses started going under and Newsom was caught dining at one of the state’s fanciest restaurants contrary to the spirit of his own public health rules. Facing a recall, the governor wants us to remember when. — Ben Christopher
The top minds from our nation’s leading research institutions and life science companies immediately jumped into the development of groundbreaking treatments and vaccines.
While others competed to buy personal protective equipment at exorbitant prices, we quickly built our own pipeline, supplying critical gear to millions and millions of essential workers.
Early in the pandemic, California, like other states, scrambled to secure protective gear and other medical supplies. In a rush to acquire face masks, the state wired half a billion dollars to a three-day-old company, only to have the deal fall apart hours later. – Ana B. Ibarra
We sent ventilators and doctors to New York as well as other states that so desperately needed them.
We developed the most comprehensive COVID testing program in the country — including a first-in-the-nation state-run testing lab.
California opened a $25 million lab in October, after months of not being able to meet the demand for testing and growing public frustration over long waits for results. The lab helped boost the state’s testing capacity, but it didn’t come without issues — last month the state reported it had found “significant deficiencies” during a routine inspection. – Ana B. Ibarra
We enlisted additional health care workers to expand capacity and we readied our ICUs. Our advance planning and curve flattening meant our hospitals were ready for surges.
During summer and winter surges, hospitals were so inundated and short on staff that some had to send patients to facilities outside their county. In December, ICU capacity dipped below 15% in most parts of California, which prompted a regional stay-at-home order. — Ana B. Ibarra
All of which is why California’s death rate has remained one of the lowest per capita in the nation: 134 deaths per 100,000, compared to 158 nationally, 153 in Texas and 247 in New York.
Now, finally, vaccines are here. We were the first to launch these mass-vaccination sites in partnership with FEMA, now a model for other states all across the country.
Two mass vaccination sites co-run by the state and FEMA opened in Oakland and Los Angeles. Newsom promised a third to Fresno, but that is still pending. — Ana B. Ibarra
Vaccinations are also happening inside the state’s prisons. Around 40% of incarcerated Californians have received at least one dose of the vaccine. COVID-positive cases are the lowest they’ve been since early last year when the pandemic began. — Byrhonda Lyons
Today, we have the most robust vaccination program in America. Think about this: California now ranks sixth in the world for vaccine distribution, ahead of countries, not states, ahead of countries like Israel, Russia, Germany and France.
To date, California has administered 10.9 million vaccines, more than any other state. But it falls behind 37 states, including New York, Florida and Illinois in vaccines administered per capita. — Ana B. Ibarra
know our progress hasn’t always felt fast enough.
The slow and often confusing rollout of the state’s vaccine program in January and February was a real political liability for the governor. Now that production is ramping up and some of the administrative kinks have been worked out, it’s obvious why the governor might prefer to make this speech now rather than January. — Ben Christopher
And look, we’ve made mistakes. I’ve made mistakes. But we own them, learn from them, and we never stop trying.
One mistake Newsom acknowledged last year: attending a lobbyist friend’s birthday party at the French Laundry while the governor was telling Californians to stay home and avoid socializing to stem the spread of the coronavirus. — Laurel Rosenhall
After all, that’s the California spirit.
We are bent but not broken. Bloodied but unbowed. Resolved to make brighter days ahead — to not let the pain of last year deter the hopefulness of tomorrow.
The state of our state, it remains determined. I remain determined!
We won’t change course just because of a few nay-sayers and dooms-dayers.
So to the California critics out there, who are promoting partisan power grabs with outdated prejudices, and rejecting everything that makes California truly great, we say this: we will not be distracted from getting shots in arms and our economy booming again. This is a fight for California’s future.
Newsom has deflected questions about a potential recall election, but seems to be finally addressing the likelihood that it will be on the ballot this year. — Laurel Rosenhall
“Partisan power grab” isn’t going quite as far as California Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks, who likened the recall campaign to a “coup” back in January. But if Newsom can convince California’s mostly Democratic-supporting voters that the campaign is essentially a Republican effort, he’s very likely to survive. — Ben Christopher
You know, since this pandemic started, uncertainty has been the probably only thing we could be certain of.
But now, we are providing certainty.
Certainty that we are safely vaccinating Californians as quickly as possible.
Certainty that we are safely reopening our economy.
Certainty that we are safely getting our kids back into the classrooms.
All of which adds up to a brighter future for our state.
Because California we’re not gonna come crawling back. We will roar back.
When this pandemic ends – and it will end soon – we’re not going back to normal. Because I think we all agree Normal was never good enough. Normal accepts inequity.
It’s why Latinos are dying from COVID at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group, why essential workers’ wages aren’t enough for them to afford the essentials, and why mothers, mothers have been leaving the workforce in staggering numbers.
Back to that sobering UC San Francisco study: The death rate among working-age Latinos increased by 36% during the pandemic, compared to a 6% increase among white Californians. — Jackie Botts
Look, our eyes are wide open to what’s wrong.
So, our journey back must also be a path to close inequities. There is no economic recovery without economic justice.
Crazy-high court fines and fees are one place the state could look. But California has become so dependent on this regressive form of revenue, no one’s quite sure where this $1.4 billion in funding each year would come from if not from the wallets of drivers and criminal defendants. — Robert Lewis
With more compassion, more empathy, and more connection, we can write the next chapter in the California story.
After all, the answer to “what’s right” about our state is also readily available to us, so long as we stay focused on what makes California just so damn special.
You know, throughout this pandemic, we’ve been forced to find new ways to connect, new ways to collaborate, new ways to serve. New ways to grow, and new ways to innovate. And of course we have.
We have more scientists, engineers, researchers, and Nobel laureates than any other state. To keep this conveyor belt for talent moving, we will keep investing in our UCs, CSUs, and community colleges.
Last year’s state budget cut about $300 million each from the UC and CSU. but a deal last month between the governor and legislative leaders will restore those cuts this July. The governor in January also proposed new funding for both state college systems. — Mikhail Zinshteyn
California has the most innovation, venture capital, and small-business investment in this country. We will keep investing and fostering every small entrepreneur—the drivers of our GDP.
Our agricultural industry it feeds the nation, and California’s entertainment industry shapes global culture.
We build the future the rest of the world only dreams of. And I mean that, by the way, quite literally.
This year, we will invest $10 billion in the nuts and bolts of California – infrastructure like roads, rail, bridges and public transit – the biggest infrastructure package by the way since the great recession over a decade ago.
The state’s plan to close Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy this September will save the state about $180 million per year. It’s worth noting that the Legislative Analyst recommended the state close five state prisons by 2025 to save money. — Byrhonda Lyons
Building toward universal broadband, connecting all Californians equitably and affordably.
This is a perennial promise that politicians of all stripes love to make but which always seem to founder on budgetary reality. But this year there really is a legislative proposal in the works with plenty of early buy-in; Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has said it’s a top priority, so 2021 really could be the year. — Ben Christopher
And investing in our most important asset we have, our children — you know we propose to invest a record amount in K-14 education this year.
Community colleges last year had to make do with less after the final state budget left them with $1.5 billion in IOUs. Newsom’s January budget plans to replenish about $1.1 billion of that starting this summer, giving community colleges more wiggle room in their finances. — Mikhail Zinshteyn
Because, by planning ahead and through prudent fiscal management, California benefits this year from surpluses – not deficits. Record reserves, not cuts.
We started the year with a $15 billion surplus, and since then our revenues have been even stronger, allowing us to provide for a down payment on building our brighter future.
That much-discussed California exodus of wealthy taxpayers? So far it hasn’t happened, according to early data and higher-than-usual tax receipts from affluent individuals, which have left the state budget in a much better position than expected. — Lauren Hepler
The building blocks of our recovery really are in place. And now we are leading the way out of this pandemic.
Because we listened to the experts—and we were guided by evidence.
Today, the light at the end of this tunnel is brighter than ever.
From the peak in early January, just think about this, from the peak of early January we’ve gone from reporting 53,000 COVID cases per day to 2,600. The positivity rate is down from 14 percent to just 2.1 percent today. Hospitalizations are down more than 80 percent since their peak. ICUs are down 77 percent.
And tonight, I’m proud to report that California has administered nearly 11 million doses. That’s three million more doses of vaccine than any other state in America.
So now, we look ahead to better days with the California can-do spirit – with the energy and optimism that defines us – we’re gonna beat this virus and we’re gonna realize our dream of a California for All.
How’re we gonna do it? Equitable and plentiful vaccines, economic support for those who’ve struggled the most, and getting kids safely back into schools as soon as possible.
First, we will make sure every Californian who needs a vaccine can get one. In our state, your access to vaccine must not depend on who you know.
See we prioritize those who are at the greatest risk and with greatest exposure to the virus. We don’t just talk about vaccine equity — we designed our entire system around it, setting aside 40 percent of vaccines to the most impacted communities.
Increased vaccine supply will go to 446 low-income ZIP codes largely in Los Angeles County, the Inland Empire and the Central Valley. — Ana B. Ibarra
You know, vaccine equity is not just the right thing to do, it is also the fastest way through the pandemic.
Grocery workers prioritized. School staff prioritized. Farmworkers put to the front of the line.
Like 85-year-old Maria …I met her in Reedley…she came to this country from Mexico decades ago to find a job in our fields.
Maria said she was unsure – uncertain – about getting vaccinated, but after she received her shots, she’s now educating other farmworkers about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, helping them overcome similar anxieties.
The governor’s Twitter account highlighted Maria’s story in mid-February. Since then, he’s held a series press conferences in Central Valley communities, in an effort to both promote the vaccine and his own administration’s commitment to equity. — Jackie Botts
That’s the beauty of California. Leadership like Maria’s it isn’t ordained, it’s earned.
We’ve built a vaccination system where the only constraint now is manufactured supply.
Thanks to the Biden administration, those doses are on their way.
I’ve had the privilege over the last many weeks to travel the state and seen first-hand the strength of communities banding together in Coachella, Arvin, Camarillo, and Stockton, stepping up to vaccinate the most vulnerable and the too often overlooked.
Every Californian will have access to convenient shots – including those who are home-bound and those who don’t have transportation or the internet.
Now with greater supply, we’re starting to realize an old challenge starting to emerge, a challenge as old as vaccines themselves: hesitancy about whether to get it. Just ask Maria.
About 46,000 farmworkers in California have been infected with COVID-19, according to some estimates. And while there are concerns about vaccine hesitancy, local officials and advocates say the bigger issues continue to be supply and access. — Ana B. Ibarra
To address these concerns, we have a large network of trusted community partners. They are helping us spread the word, in many languages and across many different cultures.
Vaccines are safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines will save your life.
Allowing you to visit your parents again. Go to your daughter’s basketball game. Show up for shift work without fearing an infection.
It was a year ago, a year ago, we made the incredibly difficult decision to issue a stay home order to slow the spread. You know we agonized about it, we agonized about the sacrifices it would require.
Large-scale business shutdowns fueled a record spike in jobless claims, mass confusion about delayed unemployment benefits, panic about fraud and left some jobless Californians struggling to survive. — Lauren Hepler
But we made sure that science – not politics – drove our decisions.
And as experts like Dr. Fauci said, it was the right thing to do.
People are alive today because of the public health decisions we made – lives saved because of your sacrifice. Even so, even so I acknowledge it’s made life hard it’s made life unpredictable, and you’re exhausted with all of it.
For the millions of Californians pushed out of the workplace, pushed out of the workforce, force and essential workers with no choice but to keep showing up – you are the ones we fight for.
Whether workers pushed out of the workforce will get the skills they need to get hired again is an open question. Usually, community college enrollment goes up during recessions as workers seek new skills, but the pandemic has upended that traditional script. — Mikhail Zinshteyn
We continue to work to safely reopen our economy – guided by equity principles, accounting for vaccines, moving as fast as we can. But we are mindful that we can’t let down our guard, particularly with so many new variants.
As of today, 24 of our 58 counties are out of the most restrictive tier, and many more are poised to move next week.
And once California administers 2 million vaccines (and later 4 million) in those hard-hit ZIP codes, it will loosen its case rate metric, allowing counties to more easily move to less restrictive tiers and further reopen. — Ana B. Ibarra
As we safely re-open, we are also mindful that we need to do more to provide financial relief. A few weeks ago, we took action to bring immediate stimulus to millions and millions of Californians.
We just directed $7.6 billion back to hard-working Californians and small businesses hit hardest by COVID. We didn’t wait for Washington, we acted with urgency.
That included the Golden State Stimulus, which will put $600 directly into the pockets of millions of families, no matter by the way, what their immigration status is.
Newsom’s Golden State Stimulus proposal actually includes extra help — up to $1,200 — for low-income undocumented immigrants who file taxes, but have been left out of federal relief efforts. All told, roughly 5.7 million Californians are set to get the payments in the coming weeks and months.
