By Steve Williams
Governor Gavin Newsom wants you to believe that California becoming the “4th largest economy in the world” is a sign that everything is going right.
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Don’t buy the spin.
As a business owner in real estate and land use consulting, I work directly with the people trying to live, work, and invest in California. I also serve as a member of California’s 66th Assembly District Republican Central Committee, a California Republican Party delegate, and an Executive Board member of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. Every day, I watch the rigged system in action — the elites line their pockets while hardworking Californians drown in the cost of basics.
California’s GDP numbers hide an ugly truth: Prosperity isn’t reaching the people who need it most.
The Golden State has the highest poverty rate in the nation. Grocery bills are sky-high, gas prices are the highest in the country, and small businesses are being crushed by taxes and regulations. Meanwhile, wealthy individuals, powerful corporations, and influential political figures rake in billions. The so-called “growth” Governor Newsom is touting doesn’t put food on the table for working families or lower rent for seniors barely scraping by.
Worse yet, the homeless industrial complex continues to fail. Walk down the streets of any major city – Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego – and you’ll see tent encampments growing larger by the day. How does “the 4th largest economy” explain away 24 percent of America’s homeless population living right here in California?
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It can’t.
At the same time, many Californians are voting with their feet. In 2024 alone, 239,575 people left the state – families, entrepreneurs, and retirees seeking refuge in states where they can keep more of their hard-earned money, afford a home, and build a future free from the burdens of liberal progressivism.
GDP is a number, not a measure of the human experience. It doesn’t reflect whether your kids can afford to stay in the neighborhood they grew up in. It doesn’t tell you whether small businesses can survive ridiculous regulation and stifling taxes. It doesn’t account for the feeling of working harder every day, only to fall further behind.
As someone who ran against Congresswoman Maxine Waters in 2024 and finished in the top two, I spent countless hours listening to the residents of Compton, Watts, and other communities. Decades of failed leadership at every level of government have left these communities – and many others – abandoned, while career politicians cling to hollow statistics that distract from the harsh realities people face every day.
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California doesn’t need more headlines about GDP rankings. It needs leadership that focuses on making life affordable, safe, and sustainable for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.
If you have to spin “4th largest economy” as proof of success while millions are suffering in your state, you’re disgracefully out of touch.
It’s time to build a California that works for the people – not just the rich and powerful.
Steve Williams is a seasoned technology and real estate professional, land use consultant, and dedicated Republican leader committed to challenging the status quo. In 2024, he made waves in California politics by securing a top-two finish in his Congressional race against long-time political firebrand Maxine Waters.
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