Why I'm voting `yes' on recall

To the Editor:

Our state has been declining for many years. Under Newsom, it's accelerating. Our education system is near the bottom nationwide. Our children have lost over a year of quality education.

He released prisoners in the middle of the pandemic. Crime and homelessness have increased dramatically. His lockdown orders caused many small businesses to close for good while allowing large corporate businesses to stay open. Remember the restaurant owner in Southern California who was shut down for serving people outside while right across the parking lot was a Hollywood movie set feeding their crew?

We have serious water storage issues, but no progress on additional reservoirs. He's pushing for more electric cars, but we still have power outages on a regular basis. The state mandates all new homes must have solar and electric car chargers driving up housing costs, attributing to the housing shortage. He's pushed affordable housing on cities and counties, which our county cannot afford.

So many people have moved out of California, we will have one less legislator in Congress. More than 50% of our state is on public assistance, and Newsom keeps adding more ”free benefits.” You can't keep increasing spending with fewer taxpayers — it's unsustainable.

If Newsom is doing such a great job, why is he worried? He's raised $62 million, compared with $8 million for his opponents combined. Big Tech, California Teachers Union, SEIU, Reed Hastings of Netflix, Democratic Governors Association and rich Hollywood elite have all contributed to his recall campaign. He and his wife have taken donations from PG&E in the past while saying he will crack down on PG&E. It's unethical.

Newsom only represents the wealthy, Big Tech and Hollywood. We need a governor who will represent all the people of California — not special interests. Deborah Shaw

Sonora