Whereas hardworking Californians wrestle with rising prices and financial uncertainty, Governor Gavin Newsom wastes taxpayer cash by shelling out $200,000 a 12 months to a celebrity photographer, showcasing how out of contact he’s with the actual points dealing with the state.
If your home was burned down by a homeless particular person and now looters are stealing no matter stays, you might be most likely dwelling in Gavin Newsom’s lawless California. pic.twitter.com/QFVN4fV0CZ
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) August 4, 2024
Charles Ommanney, a former photojournalist and warfare photographer who traveled with Newsom to China final fall as a freelancer, was available Thursday to seize Newsom in aviator sun shades, denims and work gloves, choosing up detritus left over from a recently-cleared homeless encampment in Los Angeles County. Late final month, he photographed the governor surveying the harm of the Borel Hearth in Kern County.
This week, standing on the sting of a steep river embankment in a bright-white shirt, he pointed his lens on the governor as he collected gadgets left behind within the San Fernando Valley encampment: a purchasing cart, skateboard, dirty blankets and tires.
The governor’s workplace about six months in the past named Ommanney its director of images, a title that comes with a $200,000 per 12 months wage. That makes him among the many high earners within the Newsom administration, in keeping with the state controller’s workplace. The governor, himself, drew a $234,101 wage final 12 months.
Whereas officers from Newsom’s workplace be aware different governors use Ommanney’s place, it is a new place for his workplace. The administration usually shares solely its new senior workers hires, so it didn’t include an announcement.
“Charles performs an instrumental position in speaking the work of state authorities throughout visible platforms — together with social media, serving to us meet Californians the place they’re at,” stated Izzy Gardon, a Newsom spokesperson, in a press release to POLITICO.
The job makes a sure type of sense for a governor with nationwide ambitions and an affinity for creating his personal media to tout his accomplishments. This 12 months, as a substitute of the standard State of the State deal with earlier than a stay viewers of lawmakers and journalists, Newsom’s workplace produced a slick video exhibiting photographs of the governor delivering his speech behind a podium minimize along with related pictures.
The speech, launched simply earlier than President Biden’s challenging June debate, targeted on nationwide points and appeared geared toward a broader viewers.
Nonetheless, the usage of Ommanney’s dear images within the video raises issues about prioritizing costly visuals over significant engagement with the actual points dealing with the nation.
In January, Governor Newsom transitioned the photographer to a full-time position after using him on a contract foundation the earlier 12 months.
BREAKING NEWS@GavinNewsom, the governor of the Golden State, has determined to take a web page out of Hollywood’s guide and rent a celeb photographer for a whopping $200,000 a 12 months.
That’s proper, people! Whereas California is drowning in a $73 billion deficit, Newsom is busy… pic.twitter.com/zLghwXPoXW
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) August 10, 2024
As Californians grapple with urgent challenges, it’s essential for leaders to prioritize real options over extravagant shows that distract from the state’s pressing wants.