Staff Reports
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and self-proclaimed champion of business, has recently unveiled his latest initiative: gifting tech executives prepaid burner phones with his personal contact information preloaded. This peculiar move, reported by local journalist Ashley Zavala, raises eyebrows and questions about government transparency, fiscal responsibility, and just how far the governor is willing to go to cozy up to the business elite.
The backstory reveals that several esteemed tech leaders found themselves receiving these “gifts” — prepaid phones adorned with Newsom’s digits intended for direct communication. While some of these executives initially expressed skepticism and security concerns, one has to wonder if they were more taken aback by the sheer ridiculousness of the gift. Newsom’s office claims he’s been distributing these phones to the top 100 California companies since November, funded by the California Protocol Foundation — a nonprofit that seems to have a penchant for picking up the tab on Newsom’s extravagant pursuits, including his recent trip to China.
Move Over, Obama Phones: Newsom's Gifting CA's Biz Titans Burner Phones, With His Digits Preloaded https://t.co/gXYQ3wnJRG
— Deenie (@deenie7940) March 20, 2025
The accompanying letter from Newsom presented a friendly overture, suggesting that the governor is merely trying to enhance his communication with business leaders. His communications director, Izzy Gordon, insists that the move has resulted in “valuable interactions.” However, given Newsom’s history of selective transparency and bending rules, any savvy Californian might be rightly skeptical of the authenticity of these interactions. After all, is this any different from an extravagant campaign stunt, designed more to appease donors than to facilitate real dialogue?
What makes this situation particularly comical is the fact that these CEOs are already likely to have Newsom’s contact information tucked away in their mobile devices. So, what’s the point of the burner phones? Perhaps it’s some misguided attempt to create a perception of accessibility, akin to a celebrity handing out their private number to fans. But in the world of business, the mantra is clear: actions speak louder than words, and the last thing executives want is more empty gestures masking ineffective governance.
As if this overreach wasn’t enough, Newsom’s strategy could easily be interpreted as an attempt to sidestep public records laws. Despite assurances that communications on these burner phones are still subject to transparency requirements, trust is low. In a state where clarity around governmental actions is crucial, such maneuvers only serve to raise further suspicion. Californians have grown tired of political games, especially when their livelihoods are at stake.
In the end, while the governor might think he’s playing the role of the benevolent businessman, he is merely reinforcing a reputation for extravagant wastefulness. California’s business leaders, facing regulatory hurdles and economic challenges, need real support rather than gimmicky gestures shrouded in questionable intent. Newsom appears to be out of touch with the sentiments of the very people he claims to support, making one wonder if these burner phones are actually just the latest in a long line of nonsensical California initiatives that prioritize political optics over genuine leadership.
