may-jun-2019

ADVOCACY REPORT Governor Newsom Prioritizes Outreach to Rural Communities California agriculture has grown accustomed to the major metropolitan areas and the coastal communities garnering the vast majority of political and media attention from news outlets and elected officials. This has frustrated agriculture, as well as many others throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Infrastructure needs, housing and other issues naturally coalesce around the desires of the coastal and urban areas of our state – because frankly – that’s where the vast majority of voters reside. However, in an unexpected and unusual twist of events, we now have a governor from the Bay Area who is making an effort to visit our rural areas regularly, including reaching out to connect with the agricultural community. Governor Gavin Newsom first visited Paradise on a joint visit with President Donald Trump and former Governor Jerry Brown in the wake of the catastrophic fires. It was refreshing to see elected officials on the opposite ends of the political spectrum brought together, even if by tragedy. The visit was a welcome break from the daily political rhetoric between the state and federal leaders. What came next was very unexpected, though. Within a few days of taking office, Governor Newsom surprised his entire cabinet with a trip to a rural community in Ceres to highlight the safe drinking water 2 8 A L M O N D F A C T S