California's 'Jobs First': A $600M Waste of Taxpayer Money

California Governor Gavin Newsom rolled out his latest grand vision with all the fanfare you’d expect from Sacramento’s showman-in-chief. The U.S. Economic Development Administration just greenlit all 13 of the state’s Jobs First regional plans, dubbing them Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies. Cue the applause, right? Newsom calls it a 'significant milestone,' claiming it’ll unlock federal dollars and spark economic growth from San Diego to Siskiyou. It sounds dazzling, a bottom-up revolution to make every corner of the Golden State thrive.

But let’s cut through the glitter. This isn’t a triumph of ingenuity; it’s a taxpayer-funded mirage. The state’s dumping millions into a scheme that’s more about centralized control than real prosperity. Sure, every city and county now has a federally recognized plan, but what’s the cost? A bureaucracy bloated beyond reason, drowning in red ink, and a governor who thinks more government is the answer to a problem government created. Californians deserve better than this recycled big-spending gospel.

The pitch is simple: these plans open the door to federal funding from the Economic Development Administration and beyond. Think infrastructure, workforce training, maybe even a few shiny new tech hubs. Newsom’s team brags about $5 million already funneled into each of the 13 regions back in 2022, building collaboratives with everyone from labor bosses to environmental activists. Now, with the feds on board, they’re eyeing more cash from philanthropists, private investors, and community banks. It’s a money grab dressed up as progress.

Here’s the rub. California’s economy isn’t hurting because it lacks federal grants; it’s choking under a regulatory stranglehold that’s driven businesses out faster than you can say 'tax hike.' Look at the numbers: the state’s fifth-largest economy in the world, yet it leads the nation in outbound migration of companies and jobs. Historical precedent backs this up. The Area Redevelopment Administration of the ’60s tried throwing money at distressed areas, only to see limited gains because it ignored market dynamics. Today’s EDA cash might build a bridge or two, but it won’t undo decades of anti-growth policies.

Then there’s the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint, a sprawling framework touting 10 strategic sectors like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and agtech. Sacramento claims it’s a decade-long roadmap to sustainable growth, built on input from 10,000 residents and regional experts. Dee Dee Myers, Newsom’s economic guru, crows about pivoting from planning to action. It’s a slick sales pitch, promising good-paying jobs and innovation out of thin air.

Reality tells a different story. This blueprint’s obsession with trendy sectors reeks of central planning, not free-market grit. Precision manufacturing and healthcare sound great, but who’s footing the bill? Taxpayers, again, with $125 million earmarked for projects and $92 million for apprenticeships. Meanwhile, the state’s hostile business climate, ranked dead last by CEOs in Chief Executive’s 2024 survey, keeps entrepreneurs at bay. Look back to the 1980s: Reagan’s tax cuts and deregulation unleashed a boom because they trusted markets, not mandarins. California’s betting on the opposite, and it’s a losing hand.

Newsom’s camp loves to tout the 'regions-up' angle, claiming these plans empower local communities. The Central Coast’s Uplift coalition, for instance, is pushing agtech and business services for underserved areas. Community engagement, they say, is the secret sauce, with residents shaping their economic future. It’s a feel-good line, and sure, involving locals beats faceless bureaucrats calling the shots from afar.

But don’t buy the hype. These collaboratives, stacked with hand-picked stakeholders, answer to Sacramento’s playbook. The $600 million kickstart from 2021’s ARPA funds came with strings, tying regions to state priorities like climate goals that often clash with local realities. Historical echoes ring loud here: the Economic Opportunity Act of ’64 aimed for community input, but federal oversight diluted the grassroots juice. True local control doesn’t need a governor’s blessing or a federal stamp; it thrives when government gets out of the way.

California’s not doomed, despite Newsom’s best efforts. The state’s got talent, resources, and a legacy of innovation that once made it a global powerhouse. But unlocking that potential doesn’t start with more government blueprints or federal handouts. It starts with slashing the red tape that’s strangling small businesses, cutting taxes that punish success, and letting markets, not meddlers, decide what thrives. Public-private partnerships, like those building housing in Alexandria, show how private capital can step up when government steps back.

Jobs First isn’t a milestone; it’s a millstone. Every dollar sunk into this top-heavy scheme is a dollar not fueling real growth. Look at Peru, where $70 billion in private-led projects transformed infrastructure without drowning taxpayers. California could learn a thing or two. The feds might love these plans, but families and firms need relief, not rhetoric.

The stakes are real for Californians tired of watching their state stumble. Jobs First promises opportunity but delivers a familiar trap: more spending, more control, less freedom. The evidence piles up, from historical flops to today’s exodus of talent and capital. Newsom’s vision might dazzle the conference rooms of Sacramento, but out here in the real world, it’s a dud.

Let’s demand better. Trust local know-how over state schemes. Back businesses with breathing room, not bureaucracy. California can reclaim its edge, but only if it ditches the big-government gospel and bets on the people who built it. That’s not a plan; it’s a principle worth fighting for.