California Governor Gavin Newsom delivers his state speech at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. | Photo by Mark J. Terrill / AP
OAKLAND – Governor Gavin Newsom relied on $ 80,000 from a donor-connected foundation, along with free use of Dodger Stadium, to deliver a State State speech this week, which offered a defense against a growing recall effort.
The Democratic governor departed from the convention by giving his annual speech not to elected officials at the state capitol, but in an empty Dodger Stadium under the lights. A Newsom representative said the Dodgers provided the site – a cash contribution whose value has not yet been specified – and that production costs were covered by the California State Protocol Foundation.
The California State Protocol Foundation has already paid for several official functions for California governors that go beyond what taxpayers can consider reasonable state expenses. He covered trips abroad for Newsom and former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example.
“The Protocol Foundation has long been paying for official state functions and ceremonies, such as dignitary receptions, the annual tree lighting ceremony and account signatures,” Newsom spokesman Erin Mellon said in an email.
Newsom’s inaugural fund itself has contributed $ 3.1 million to the foundation since 2019. The inaugural fund itself originally relied on considerable contributions from interest groups. The largest donors donated $ 200,000 each, including the California Teachers Association, the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and former San Diego Padres owner Jennifer Moores.
Blue Shield of California, which Newsom’s Department of Public Health recently commissioned to oversee the vaccine’s launch in California, gave $ 100,000. The same happened with the main unions and other tribes.
The State of the State of Newsom’s speech was read to many as a political speech, rather than a specific view of politics, with high production values that included video images illustrating their talking points. It was widely seen as the de facto launch of Newsom’s effort to repel a recall campaign. The governor defended his record on the coronavirus pandemic and projected better times to come, predicting likely campaign themes.
Reinforcing this interpretation, the governor on Friday tweeted a well-produced video featuring his speech. “We know that this year has not been easy. But the hope is here,” wrote Newsom.