Newsom Admits to Cleaning Up San Francisco Ahead of APEC

California Governor Gavin Newsom has acknowledged that the recent cleanup efforts in San Francisco are timed to coincide with the upcoming APEC summit. Conservative commentators have accused Newsom of prioritizing optics over addressing the city's persistent issues, such as crime and homelessness.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed that the recent cleanup efforts in San Francisco are intended to improve the city's appearance ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. In an interview with Fox News, Newsom admitted that the timing of the cleanup is related to the event.

Conservative commentators have criticized Newsom's emphasis on aesthetics, arguing that he is more concerned with public relations than with addressing the city's underlying problems. "The Rubin Report" host Dave Rubin suggested that Newsom's actions were motivated by a desire to distract from the state's numerous issues.

California has been grappling with a range of issues, including rampant crime, worsening homelessness, and soaring prices. Critics have accused Newsom of failing to effectively tackle these problems, despite the state's large budget and wealthy population.

Newsom's comments come amidst a period of economic recovery for California. The state has recently reported record-breaking tourism numbers, with visitors spending over $150 billion in 2023. However, some skeptics have questioned whether these figures accurately reflect the state's overall well-being.

California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones has argued that Newsom's tourism figures do not account for inflation. He claims that tourism spending would need to reach $173 billion to match the 2019 pre-pandemic level.

California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher has also criticized Newsom's tourism data, calling it "phony." He alleges that crime and homelessness have become synonymous with California and that the governor's attempts to spin the situation are futile.

Despite the political debate, industry experts from Visit California maintain that the state's tourism sector remains robust. CEO Caroline Beteta has emphasized the industry's resilience and its significant contribution to the state's economy.

Visit California's data indicates that the tourism industry created 64,900 new jobs in California in 2023 and generated $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. This suggests that tourism remains a vital source of employment and revenue for the state.

In addition to the tourism boom, Newsom has reported that California's population is increasing for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend may indicate that people are still attracted to the state despite its challenges.

Governor Newsom's acknowledgment that the San Francisco cleanup is timed to coincide with the APEC summit has sparked criticism from conservatives, who accuse him of prioritizing optics over substance. While California enjoys economic growth in the tourism sector, the state continues to face significant challenges, including crime, homelessness, and affordability. It remains to be seen whether Newsom's administration can effectively address these pressing issues while also managing the state's image.