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CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom has been widely criticized after reports emerged he has sent burner phones to 100 CEOs across the state.
Devices were first mailed out to execs in November but those close to the politician have been tight-lipped about who may have received them.
The idea was Newsom’s and his office have claimed the feedback to the initiative has been positive, as reported by the CW affiliate KCRA-TV.
He’s sent the cell phones out on a rolling basis, but his team have not published a list of recipients.
But, the Democrat has come under fire as voters and politicians demand answers regarding who is footing the bill.
“I mean nothing shows transparency and openness more than a burner phone,” James Gallagher, the Republican leader in the California Assembly, posted on X.
Critics described Newsom’s move as a “dumb stunt” while others joked that business leaders will receive messages asking for donations about a potential presidential campaign.
Newsom cannot run for re-election as California governor and is considered a frontrunner should he throw his hat into the ring for the Democratic presidential nomination ahead of the 2028 election.
Voters have called on the politician to be transparent.
“Who gets to pay for that?” one voter posted on Facebook.
Furious Americans have branded Newsom “more than a joke” while others have claimed the initiative is an example of wasteful spending.
Newsom’s initiative has been likened to the bat phone – the hotline shared between Commissioner James Gordon and Batman.
And, witty voters couldn’t resist the opportunity to hurl a jibe at Newsom.
“You aren’t Batman,” one said. “More like the joker.”
“The joker wants to be Batman,” another quipped.
“He’s a joker, he’s a midnight batman, come on man,” a third railed.
Newsom reportedly sent a note that told the execs he’s only a call away, per Politico.
The governor’s office confirmed the California Protocol Foundation is footing the bill.
It is a non-profit firm that has previously paid for Newsom’s trip to China in 2023, and Italy last year, according to The Sacramento Bee.
I mean nothing shows transparency and openness more than a burner phone.
James Gallagher
But, Newsom’s initiative comes against a backdrop of major companies leaving California.
In February, Realtor.com bosses confirmed the company is moving its headquarters from Santa Clara, California, to Austin, Texas.
CEO Damian Eales claimed there was “no better place” to relocate.
“Austin and Texas offer a strong and growing talent pool, a powerhouse economy with unparalleled housing growth, affordability of living only matched by its aspirational lifestyle, expansive tech and academic communities, and a dynamic and vibrant city at the heart of the thriving state of Texas,” he said in a statement.
In 2020, Oracle chiefs moved their headquarters from Redwood City to Austin.
And, in October 2021, it was announced that Tesla would move its headquarters to Austin.
Last summer, Elon Musk announced he would move SpaceX out of the state, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
And, Chevron chiefs unveiled plans to relocate its headquarters to Texas after 145 years in California.
Andy Walz, the president of Chevron Americas Products, described the Golden State as a “tough place” to do business.
He admitted that the company faced challenges in trying to convince workers, who live outside the state, to relocate.
“California’s a tough place to have a big employee base. It’s tough,” he said in August.
“Cost of living is expensive.”
Business experts have identified factors such as the state’s tax laws and corporate red tape as reasons why companies have relocated, per the Santa Clara Business Law Chronicle.
But, reputable names such as Apple and Netflix still have their headquarters in California.
