California Governor Gavin Newsom has acknowledged that he is intensifying efforts to clean up San Francisco ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. However, critics suggest that this move is primarily driven by a desire to improve the city's image rather than addressing underlying issues.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has come under fire for his highly publicized cleanup efforts in San Francisco, with critics accusing him of prioritizing optics over addressing the city's deep-rooted problems.
In a video posted to Twitter, Newsom touted "record-breaking tourism numbers" in California and claimed to be "up here on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge" to highlight the state's beauty. However, online commenters quickly pointed out the ongoing issues plaguing California, such as homelessness, crime, and rising costs of living.
Newsom's critics argue that his focus on cleaning up San Francisco ahead of the APEC summit is a short-term solution that will not solve the city's systemic problems. They point to reports of increased police presence and arrests in certain areas, as well as the displacement of homeless individuals, as evidence of a superficial approach.
California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones accused Newsom of manipulating statistics to present a misleading picture of tourism revenue. He stated, "When adjusted for inflation, tourism spending would have to be a staggering $173 billion to beat the 2019 number."
California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher echoed Jones' concerns, describing Newsom's statistics as "phony" and claiming that "tourism is down 14% on his watch."
Despite the criticism, Newsom's office maintains that California's tourism industry is thriving. Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta stated, "California continues to be the largest, most diverse, and most resilient tourism economy in the United States."
According to Visit California, travel spending in the state reached a record high of $150.4 billion in 2023, generating $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. However, data shows a decline in tourism revenue in the Bay Area, particularly in San Francisco.
Despite Newsom's claims of a population increase, critics argue that many Californians are leaving the state due to affordability issues and concerns about the state's direction.
Newsom's cleanup efforts have drawn comparisons to similar actions taken by Mayor Eric Adams in New York City. Critics argue that such approaches prioritize aesthetics over addressing the root causes of homelessness and inequality.
As the APEC summit approaches, Newsom faces pressure to address the underlying issues that have plagued San Francisco for years. Critics contend that superficial cleanup efforts will not resolve the city's deep-seated problems and that long-term solutions are needed to improve the lives of all residents.
