Chairs were clustered around center court on the gymnasium floor of Cesar Chavez Elementary on 3rd Street last night, and Long Beach residents and public officials filled the floor and all eight rows of bleachers to hear San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom speak about his past accomplishments and vision for the future of California as the Democrat continues his campaign for Governor.
The event was #21 on Newsom’s tour of California cities – which his campaign has dubbed Conversations About California’s Future – and fittingly took place in one of Long Beach’s newest and most accomplished elementary schools, as Newsom spent significant time speaking about tactics that San Francisco has used to improve education during his five and-a-half years as Mayor. He also addressed healthcare, goods movement, gay marriage, social media and the state’s financial crisis.
Newsom spoke privately to the media before beginning the town hall, which he called, “…an opportunity for people to speak with me directly.” The gubernatorial candidate also addressed comments made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who recently spoke against demonstrators who have loudly dissented during town hall discussions on healthcare nationwide. Newsom responded that he has had town halls interrupted, and may be more used to such demonstrations because he grew up in a protest-heavy San Francisco atmosphere.
“It’s important that people dialogue on both sides of this debate,” he said. “We’ve had town halls that have been disrupted for other reasons and it’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the process.”
No such opposition was present at Cesar Chavez Elementary, however, as the crowd responded positively to Newsom’s messages and applauded regularly. Newsom has developed a strong following in Long Beach after his support of gay marriage and serving as Grand Marshal of the Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Pride parade in May.
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster introduced Newsom to the crowd, and several Long Beach Councilmembers were seated front row: Vice Mayor Val Lerch, Suja Lowenthal and Robert Garcia. Assemblymembers Bonnie Lowenthal and Warren Furutani were also seated front row, as was Signal Hill Councilmember Larry Forrester.
Among those running against Newsom are fellow Democrat Jerry Brown and Republicans Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner (expected) and Tom Campbell (expected).
Photo above by Adreana Langston
Click here to read our policy on covering the Long Beach City Council.
