California's Big Talk: What's on the Table for the Governor's Speech?

Lawmakers in California have their eyes on what Governor Newsom might highlight in his upcoming State of the State address. They're hoping he'll tackle some big issues, like how taxpayer money is being used and how to make the state safer and more resilient. One senator, Tony Strickland, wants the governor to address what he sees as wasteful spending. He thinks pulling funds from the California High-Speed Rail project and redirecting them to other transportation needs could be a good move. Strickland also wants to see more money put towards enforcing Proposition 36, a measure aimed at treating drug-related crimes more seriously. He's not happy with how the governor handled this last year, saying it was a missed opportunity to make safety a priority.Another senator, Ben Allen, is interested in hearing about the state's energy plans. He wants to know what Newsom thinks about the energy grid, the Pathways initiative, and fusion development. Allen also expects the governor to talk about the recent devastating fires. With the first anniversary of the Palisades Fire coming up, it's likely the governor will address fire resilience and recovery. The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire were both incredibly destructive. They destroyed thousands of homes and took lives. These fires started on the same day last year, showing just how vulnerable the state is to wildfires. Allen hopes the governor will use this platform to talk about making California more resilient to climate change impacts. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Office isn't saying much about what to expect from the speech. They declined to comment, leaving everyone to wonder what Newsom will prioritize.