Global Courant 2023-04-20 18:42:09
California Governor Gavin Newsom was spotted walking the streets of San Francisco when a local man surprised him by asking what he was doing to solve the opioid epidemic.
A San Francisco resident who identified himself as “JJ Smith” shouted to Newsom, “Hey Gavin, tell me what I’m going to do about the fentanyl epidemic?”
Newsom responded by asking, “What should I do, JJ? Tell me what we should do. That’s why I’m here.” That’s what the governor told me a local outlet he was there for a private meeting with cabinet members to talk about “the state’s ongoing efforts to address the fentanyl crisis, homelessness and other critical issues”.
The Democrat was ridiculed after Smith shared the exchange on Twitter.
California Governor Gavin Newsom was swindled by critics for his response to the opioid crisis. (Dai Sugano/MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
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“Unbelievable, he walks around like he owns it because he knows the media will never paint him in a bad light,” one Twitter user commented.
San Francisco journalist Meaghan M. Mitchell sneered, “Like bro..why are you even here if you’re just going to fire people…” She also laughed at Newsom’s “weak” response.
Another local reporter was stunned at Newsom’s response.
“‘”You tell me what to do” erm sir, you are the governor!” tweeted Annie Gaus with a laughing emoji.
“‘I want you to tell me what to do’ as he walks away with no intention of listening to a real resident affected by the problem. Nice of him to go back to CA, he’s been on his way to other states from to swear for a while,” noted writer Jared Klickstein.
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom was ridiculed for his response to a man who asked how he was going to solve the fentanyl epidemic. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
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“Don’t tell me, the answer involved hair gel, right?” joked one Californian who said he was a former Democrat. “Let me guess. Vote for him for president in 2024 so he can show us what his plan is then?” mocked another Twitter account.
Michael Shellenberger, who ran against Newsom in the 2022 gubernatorial election, called out the governor for fueling the opioid crisis.
“Drug overdoses are skyrocketing because Gov.@GavinNewsom& SF Mayor@LondonBreed refuse to shut down the open air drug markets and mandate drug treatment. Instead, they let people repeatedly overdose and die on the streets and in homeless hotels. It’s grotesque & inhuman,” he tweeted.
Tents line the sidewalk of a San Francisco street. (Foxnews Digital / Jon Michael Raasch)
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Smith revealed that Newsom came back later and gave a different answer to the question. Newsom reportedly told Smith he was “here” in San Francisco “working on that (the opioid crisis) right now.”
That answer was also ripped by critics.
“That’s not an answer,” one Twitter user responded. Others reacted cynically, claiming that the governor was only coming back for “photo surgery” or to do “damage control”.
Smith explained to a Bay Area reporter that he wanted to hold the governor accountable because he was a San Francisco resident and taxpayer.
Newsom previously served as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011. Despite heavy criticism of his COVID-19 policies as governor, the Democrat managed to defeat a 2021 recall attempt.
Last week, Newsom was also ridiculed after an awkward video of the governor attending New College of Florida circulated on social media. Newsom has repeatedly targeted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, speculating he could run for president in 2024.
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However, Newsom has reportedly promised the White House that he is “all in” to support Biden as the Democratic nominee.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment, but has not yet received a response.
Kristine Parks is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Read more.
