Written by Vincent Cain
Late on Wednesday night, Governor Newsom’s press office announced that the Governor had left California for Spring Break and would not return until April 12.
The vacation was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Governor’s office and is the first international trip since November when Newsom and his family decided to spend Thanksgiving in Mexico. No additional details were provided by the office, citing security concerns.
Newsom decided to take a trip during a busy time at the Capitol. State lawmakers are expected to pass a bill last minute that would extend eviction protections, which will expire at midnight. The bill would extend the protections until June 30 for Californians applying for funds from the State’s COVID rent relief program which has been backlogged with applicants.
With Newsom gone for nearly two weeks, this all falls onto the Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, who will be serving as acting Governor during his absence. Newsom will be back before the Legislature returns from recess, which runs from April 7-18.
March 31 is also César Chávez Day. The Union group Chávez founded, United Farm Workers, called on Newsom to recognize the state holiday and meet to discuss a bill that would give farmworkers an option to vote by mail in union elections.
Union members are expected to hold rallies in 13 cities across the State to urge Newsom to meet with them. The president of the Union, Teresa Romero, said, “César Chávez’s life was all about helping farmworkers win respect and be treated as important human beings. It is disappointing that Gavin Newsom won’t show them the same respect by meeting with elected farmworker leaders on César Chávez’s birthday.” Last year, Newsom vetoed a similar measure that angered union members. In response, they marched to the French Laundry from the Central Valley, the upscale French restaurant in Napa County where Newsom was photographed without a mask during the COVID shutdowns.
With the primary elections set for June 7, the timing of Newsom’s vacation suggests that he is not worried about the June Primary.
Photo Cred: AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
