---
[ LA WATCHDOG ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog)
# Newsom Recall Election Is a Referendum on Sacramento
July 29 2021
Written by Jack Humphreville.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
LA WATCHDOG - A recent poll indicates that the September 14 special election to recall Governor Gavin Newsom is [essentially a tossup](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-27/likely-california-voters-now-almost-evenly-split-on-newsom-recall-poll-finds), with 50% of likely voters opposed to the recall while 47% are supportive.
This is a significant swing from last month when only 36% supported the recall, leading many to believe that California’s “rebellious voters” may be dissatisfied with Newsom, the Legislature, California politics, and the direction of the state.
But will it make a difference if Newsom is recalled? Probably not since the Democrats hold a super-super majority (75%) in the both the Assembly and Senate. This will allow the Legislature to override any veto of the new, lame duck, Republican Governor.
Many believe that Newsom should not be recalled despite his mediocre record. [George Skelton, ](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-12/skelton-newsom-grade-recall-election)a respected columnist of the Los Angeles Times, gives Newsom a C grade as governor. And while Newsom can be faulted for a variety of reasons, including his $1,000 a person dinner at The French Laundry, Skelton supports Newsom. After all, he is not a crook like Jose Huizar.
Many are upset that the recall will cost the State and county governments $276 million. And this does not include millions in campaign contributions that will buy thousands of annoying ads that will drive us to distraction over the next seven weeks.
On the other hand, many voters are viewing the recall as a referendum on Sacramento where they will be able to express their dissatisfaction on the efficiency of the State government and to question whether the State is headed in the right direction.
Without getting into the details, trouble spots include the incompetency of Department of Motor Vehicles.
There are the massive cost overruns associated with California’s High Speed Rail that expected to cost $100 billion, not the $33 billion our politicians promised in 2006 when promoting the $9 billion bond measure.
The Economic Development Department is responsible for $31 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims. Its Unemployment Insurance Fund has a deficit of over $25 billion.
We also have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
The State’s pension plans are underfunded by hundreds of billions of dollars, a liability that will be dumped on the next three or four generations of Californians.
We have the highest gas prices and utility rates in the continental United States.
The State is experiencing a severe drought, exacerbated by the State’s failure to build additional reservoirs.
At the same time, the State is being ravaged by wildfires, highlighting Newsom’s false claim that 90,000 acres were treated with fire breaks as opposed to the actual 11,000 acres.
Crime is rampant in the State as witnessed by the looting of stores in San Francisco and the increased shootings and homicides in Los Angeles.
The State has failed to adequately address the homeless crisis other than by throwing money at the problem. While there is lots of hot air, there is no real plan or competent management. And $530,000 a unit is unacceptable.
The same is true for affordable housing, although there are those in the Legislature (Scott Wiener and Tori Atkins) that are doing their best to destroy residential neighborhoods by eliminating local control of planning and zoning.
As for the virus and its resurgence, Newsom is in a no win situation, but his inconsistent approach and the resulting confusion results in a barely passing grade.
While the bookmakers overwhelmingly favor Newsom defeating the recall, will enough of California’s rebellious voters express their dissatisfaction with Sacramento by voting to recall Newsom?
*(Jack Humphreville writes LA Watchdog for CityWatch. He is the President of the DWP Advocacy Committee and is the Budget and DWP representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council. He is a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. He can be reached at: lajack@gmail.com.)*
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Message
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
### [Prosecutor, Democrat, City Attorney? McKinney Makes His Case to Los Angeles Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
ELECTION 2026 - The race for LA City Attorney has been laced with political accusations and allegations that when close…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
LA WATCHDOG - My recommendations are influenced by the need for truly balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, long ter…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
### [The Fools’ Blame Game](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
THE VIEW FROM HERE - Angelenos do not use elections to plot a wiser course of conduct for Los Angeles, but rather they…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
### [California Film Tax Credits Aren’t Enough. The Guilds Need to Change Too.](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
LONNIE’S VIEW - California used to be the center of the movie and television universe. If you wanted to make movies, yo…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an…
---
## [ LA WATCHDOG ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33621-ratepayers-are-mad-as-hell)### [Ratepayers Are Mad As Hell](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33621-ratepayers-are-mad-as-hell)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33403-kawhis-slap-on-the-wrist)### [Kawhi’s Slap on the Wrist](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33403-kawhis-slap-on-the-wrist)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33299-vote-no-on-charter-amendment-la)### [Vote NO on Charter Amendment LA](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33299-vote-no-on-charter-amendment-la)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33280-vote-no-on-the-highly-regressive-10-3-4-sales-tax)### [Vote NO on the Highly Regressive 10¾% Sales Tax](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33280-vote-no-on-the-highly-regressive-10-3-4-sales-tax)