Walters: Newsom’s climate warrior image is backsliding, environmental groups say
Gavin Newsom jetted off to New York this week to portray himself as the alternative to Donald Trump on context agenda During a speech to the United Nations during Setting Week NYC on Tuesday Trump declared anew that concerns about environment change are the greatest con job ever perpetrated in the world chiding other nations for efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases That set the stage for Newsom s appearance at a New York Times-sponsored forum Wednesday where he labeled Trump s assertions an abomination and doubling down on stupid Related Articles Newsom signs landmark bill creating AI safety measures Lower electricity bills Or more poisoning A new California law is sparking big debate Who s winning the fundraising battle in California s redistricting race California wellbeing leaders say Trump s insists linking Tylenol and autism are false and harmful Walters California lacks authority to enforce Newsom s ICE mask ban You don t have to believe in science Believe in your own damn eyes Newsom commented while portraying California as a global leader in reducing poisoning and shifting to a carbon-free commercial sector There s no Elon Musk there s no Tesla without California s regulatory framework Newsom mentioned His assertions drew pushback from Trump s potency secretary Chris Wright who noted California has saddled its consumers with high force bills If you re blue-collar you re working class that hurts your quality of life disclosed Wright who spoke at the forum after Newsom The exchanges inadvertently framed Newsom s efforts as he gears up for a likely White House run in to maintain the image of a progressive politician while appealing to voters outside his very blue state As Newsom was touting himself as a environment change warrior in New York back home in California a coalition of more than environmental groups was chastising him in a sharply worded letter for they declared backsliding on the issue As Governor Newsom touts his situation record on the national and international stage we must not let him forget that it takes more than words to be a weather leader Nicole Ghio executive director of Food Water Watch California mentioned in a announcement accompanying the letter He must stop caving to Big Oil interests and instead act to hold Big Oil accountable and advocate for the safety of our unique and beautiful climate and our vibrant communities As President Trump slashes environmental protections and walks in lockstep with Big Oil we need a leader now more than ever who will stand up for Californians and our context The letter listed pro-environment measures Newsom had taken during his administration then ticked off strategies he has lately shifted position such as decree to streamline approval of new oil and gas wells There s no question Newsom who had spent months excoriating refiners for gouging consumers on gasoline prices even calling a special legislative session to impose new regulations changed his tune after two refineries informed plans to shut down Those closures would sharply curtail supplies of fuel not only for California motorists but for those in Nevada and Arizona while threatening the ability of airlines and military installations to obtain fuel and apparently increasing prices that are already among the nation s highest The environmental coalition letter zeroes in on that aspect of the situation Your administration took the unprecedented step of searching for a buyer for the Valero refinery in Benicia which is slated for closure in using the tools and reputation of the state ruling body to tip the scales in favor of fossil fuels when region forces make operations unprofitable Reporting on expected M bailouts for the refinery are deeply concerning as that would set an unacceptable precedent for supporting failing industries on masses dollars So it goes The conflict between environmental protection and living costs is just one of numerous issues that Newsom must manage as he attempts to shift his image from California progressive to mainstream moderate in hopes of grabbing the political brass ring Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist
