Anthony Mills: Record times

This is the time when records are broken — record heat, record cold, record drought (though it is raining outside, thank goodness) record forest fires, record rain, record national and state deficit and debt, record taxes, record-high vehicle fees, record vehicle fuel prices that result with record-high retail prices, record-low church attendance and record Dollar Store business and record exodus from California.

Among the notables who have fled: Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officers, and corporations; Oracle, Hewlett Packard, Charles Schwab and McKesson. Not to mention the lesser companies, families, and individuals.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is not concerned about the California exodus. California has, as he noted to the news media, the fifth largest economy in the world, ahead of India and behind Germany. Last year, California’s economy grew by a staggering 20 percent. Be that as it may, a record amount of people departed the Golden State.

Since Gov. Newsom’s landslide recall victory, he has embarked on a spending spree to be paid by the taxpayers.   Part of the spree is Senate Bill 109 where $15 billion is allocated to combat climate change in various forms. Hmmm, why is it I can hear Cliff Edwards (alias Jimmy Crickets) sing: “When You Wish Upon A Star” as this is being written?

To benumb your brain as those who are in critical political positions spend money that is not there, California has sanctioned — and boasts — of its numerous Cannabis dispensaries. Recently Benicia opened its first cannabis dispensary, making local front-page headlines. Benica Mayor Steve Young was among other city representative at the dispensary to exhibit their support.

Despite California’s 2020, $75 billion budget surplus, the state has a record $152.8 billion debt. The total California debt hovers around $1 trillion, when county and municipal debts are included. Newsom fails to mention and address this dilemma. If the California economy is of the “bull,” mode, why is it that the governor (and/or the state Legislature)  does not lower taxes?

Have you noticed the petrol prices at the pumps? What is that all about?  Is the governor, whose estimated wealth is $20 million, noticed that?

In the meantime, the exodus from California continues.

— Anthony Mills/Vallejo