Is California Really ‘Roaring Back’ or Limping Along? - California Globe

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“California continues to lead the nation’s economic recovery, adding 104,500 jobs in May, marking the fourth month in a row of six-figure job creation,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement Friday.

Wow! Shazam! Pow! Relief! Whew! The California economy is back according to Gov. Newsom. But he left out a few critical points: He locked down California ahead of the other 49 states forcing “non-essential” businesses to close and lay-off employees.

Yet now Gov. Newsom is taking credit for creating jobs? He’s got a short memory after killing off 40% of California businesses with his COVID lockdown orders in March 2020.

TUNE IN: As CA roars back, Governor @GavinNewsom & First Partner @JenSiebelNewsom will visit a fitness center to discuss the benefits of exercise for physical & mental health.

Watch live at 2pm
YT: https://t.co/EtdJokE9Ju
FB: https://t.co/aX3LLN2fum
Twitter: @CAgovernor pic.twitter.com/DlmgBYnw8i

— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) June 16, 2021

The governor and his marketing team are running ads claiming “California Roars back.”

The best comments on that Tweet were:

“Roaring back with a 8.3% unemployment rate…”

“We wouldn’t need to ‘roar back’ if you didn’t destroy it. #RecallNewsom“

“Our health-centric approach has saved lives, resulting in one of the lowest case rates and the most vaccinations in the country – now we’re leading the nation in health and economic outcomes,” Newsom said in the same statement.

Other states, which did not force such draconian lockdowns on businesses and residents, also have extremely low case rates, and did not force businesses to lay-off employees.

“We’ve regained more than half the jobs we lost over the past year, but there’s still a long way to go,” Newsom said, “– that’s why we’re making historic investments in small business tax cuts and grants, tax rebates for two-thirds of California families and rent relief for those hardest hit by the pandemic.”

“Investments in small business tax cuts and grants, and tax rebates,” not only would not be necessary had Gov. Newsom allowed businesses to remain open for business, the state “investing in small businesses” is never real. It’s taxpayers who are “investing in small businesses,” and not the governor or “the State.”

Then there was this Tweet from Gov. Newsom:

Just take it from @ArianaGrande, @MarissaJWinokur and @JKCorden — CA is back and fully reopen!! 🎶pic.twitter.com/SkmuHoar4d

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 16, 2021

What in fresh hell was that video?

Responses were all over the place on Gov. Newsom’s Twitter feed, and many made clear their frustration with the governor:

“CA is back and fully reopen thanks to the recall efforts.”

“How can a lot of businesses reopen when they’re already bankrupt??????”

“If it wasn’t for the recall, we’d be in lockdown until 2022.”

The California economy can’t roar back as long as Gov. Newsom pays people not to work.

The Globe has heard from many California employers who report that “hiring is an impossible task right now.”

One employer share this with the Globe about trying to hire:

“The benefits need to stop now. I advertised a month ago – paid more than $500 to each. Not one candidate.”

“I tried again with another service 2 weeks ago. Experience job opening got 3 candidates none of which will return phone call, Text or email. Beginning job opening- Got 3 candidates. Once does not answer one did not give valid phone number or email address and the 3rd one I was able to talk to but will see if he shows up for interview. I would not normally hire him but I need a body.”

An employer told the Globe:

“We have survived on savings and the fact we own the building—and we are blessed with a tenant who has scraped by with the help of PPP loans, and been able to pay rent.”

A restaurant owner said this:

I just got back from a trip driving around Nebraska and Colorado. Every business in every small town we drove thru had a Help-Wanted posting in the window. Many promised starting wages of $13/hr. This in places where the starting wages a year ago were probably $8 to $9/hr. Every restaurant we stopped at was running limited hours and had new and poorly trained staff.

Higher unemployment compensation DOES reduce the incentive to work. What a stunning reminder of how government can distort markets.
When a Quarter Pounder meal in Nebraska is running $8.45 you know labor and food costs are going crazy.

And finally, another business owner told the Globe this:

Just got done signing loan docs for additional EIDL loan money from the SBA. Since the new administration has taken over the SBA is a steaming pile of you know what. Had to go to my congress member’s office—took 3 tries and a personal appeal—to get anyone at SBA to even look at my file. And they contacted me originally!!

This is what happens when “the State” gets involved in businesses. Feeling the ROAR yet?

Business owners, send the Globe your stories about reopening – the good, the bad, and the ugly to katy@californiaglobe.com