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LBCC kicks off its celebration of Latinx Heritage Month with an opening ceremony

Illyanna Hendricks
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LBCC kicks off its celebration of Latinx Heritage Month with an opening ceremony

LBCC kicked off its celebration of Latinx Heritage Month with an online opening ceremony on Sept. 15 consisting of traditional blessings, poetry, and an exciting reveal of this year’s theme.

The meeting began with a traditional ceremony performed by an Indigenous group from Salinas, California, as a way to honor and harvest blessings from the ancestors. 

LBCC’s Dean of Student Equity, Sonia De La Torre revealed the theme for this year’s Latinx Heritage Month. 

“This year’s theme ‘Con Vivir: Communities Among us, between us, within us,’ is meant to capture the beauty of our diversity… as well as the connections that make us one people,” said De La Torre.

The theme also strives to emphasize the importance of appreciating the intersectionalities within the Latinx community and understanding that the term ‘Latinx’ has various meanings.

LBCC Interim-Superintendent President Mike Muñoz attended the event and told the virtual audience how important it is for students to have Latinx leaders to look up to.

“When I stepped foot in my community college … for the first time I had a counselor who was a Latino male and had a Masters Degree … it really started to transform the way I saw myself and what I was capable of achieving,” said Muñoz.

Muñoz revealed to the virtual audience that in 2020, LBCC received the Seal of Excelencia, a national certification awarded to colleges that have made it their mission to support, promote, and accelerate Latinx student success in higher education. 

LBCC is the first California community college to be rewarded this esteemed recognition.

Next to speak was LBCC Board of Trustees President Uduak-Joe Ntuk. He spoke about how proud he was of the school for representing minority students and the impact that it has.

“Events like this bring us together. Whether you’re Afro-Latino, Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, or multi-racial… this event is reaffirmation that everyone matters and this is an all-student agenda,” said Ntuk.

ASB President Ava Cross also made an appearance and read a poem by Janelle Pinetta called, “To Be a Latino Woman on a College Campus,” a reflection on how Latinx women often feel invisible. 

Though Cross does not identify as Latinx herself, she spoke about the importance of being an ally to Latinx students and all students of color who may face obstacles that she personally does not experience.

To close out the event, Board of Trustees Member Sonia Olmos revealed the various special events LBCC will offer this Latinx Heritage Month including a mental health panel, a traditional live cooking show, a celebration of Latin American art, and many more. 

Olmos also directed participants to the newly established Latinx Student Resource Guide: A place where students can find courses that reflect the Latinx experience along with many different resources. 

LBCC offers club activities during pandemic

Samantha Cortes
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LBCC offers club activities during pandemic

LBCC Club Day, a traditionally on-campus event, was once again held online for the second year in a row as a result of the pandemic. 

From September 9 to 10, the event consisted of a two hour slot per day, meant to encourage people to sign up for clubs on the LBCC Campus Labs site.

The experience was a lonely one, with no sales pitches or friendly faces; sign-ups consisted of a lone ‘join’ button and a club blurb. 

This is a stark difference from Club Days of the past, which have been characteristically loud and spirited outdoor events full of samples, performers, and public speaking to encourage students to mingle and join campus organizations.  

This impersonal online experience highlights the kinds of changes student organizations have had to face during the pandemic, including difficulties with meeting, recruiting members, or coordinating activities at all.

“We used to have between 20 to 30 members, easily,” said Damon Skinner of the Metal Fabrication and Welding Club. “Right now we have no idea how many members we still have since March 2020 because our online tools don’t say who’s graduated already.”

The crux of the issue, according to Skinner, is that the activity his club is inherently about is incompatible with an online only presence.

“We haven’t been allowed to meet in person until this Fall. … Our club meets so we can build things, so no one will show up to talk (online) if we can’t build,” said Skinner. 

It’s easy to imagine the many similar circumstances other clubs and organizations may find themselves in. 

The online tools, like the lone ‘join’ button we saw this Club Day are also not helping initiate interaction. The Dance Club has opted to hold video performance auditions, and culture clubs might be able to stream content as a group and hold online discussions. 

But, for clubs that necessitate the use of campus labs or resources, there is not much that can be done.

As a result, these club members might feel socially isolated, or that their hobbies or professional development have stagnated. Many new students in general might not even be aware that clubs and organizations exist, and may be losing out on important resources and opportunities.

Many clubs have also seen all time lows in participation, or lost important members that could help with club promotion and outreach. In fact, when Viking reporters reached out to various clubs, we had only a 23% success rate; that means we were unable to successfully contact 77% of the organizations we reached out to. 

All of this is pretty unfortunate when we look at how student-led campus organizations are a cornerstone of community development, and present opportunities to develop skills and network. 

They are vital to the social and emotional health of the student population; disruptions to the way clubs can organize or operate might stagnate personal growth and contribute to growing mental health concerns. 

However, some clubs appear to have been better equipped to deal with going fully online than others. For example, the Horticulture and Carpentry clubs might come across more difficulties than a language or coding club when it comes to organizing online activities. 

The LBCC Active Minds club, for one, has had a smooth transition into the ‘zoom-space’.

“Our members have been pretty steady,” said Camesha Maxwell, the Interim-President of the Active Minds club, in regards to membership and attendance. 

Active Minds is a student led organization committed to destigmatizing conversations about mental health, and providing mental health resources both on and off campus. 

Although they are mental health advocates, not clinicians, they have continued to keep in-touch online on a bi-weekly basis, providing a safe space for members of both the club and community to connect and process their experiences during the pandemic. 

“It would not be hard to find us; we are the only club on campus geared towards mental health and suicide prevention.” Maxwell said. “And it helps that we are alphabetically the second name on the list, since Active Minds starts with the letter ‘A’ as in Apple.” 

As a result the club continues to thrive despite only being founded two years ago. Club advisor Sergio Grimaldi said they usually number a steady 8 to 10 students, and that has not changed during the pandemic.

Operating virtually has also brought Active Minds members many new educational opportunities, as well as allowed them to share resources with the Office of Student Life. 

Some silver linings have included special Suicide Prevention presentations from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and a a Mental Health First Aid Training Certification with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), all free of charge.

These experiences serve as a comfort, as Active Minds, like most clubs, will continue to have the remainder of their sessions this semester on Zoom.

Still, not all hope is lost for the more technical clubs, like the Metal Fabrication and Welding Club. 

“We did have two people join using the online tool, and we just had someone email expressing interest.” Skinner said regarding this year’s Club Day recruitment. He hopes that as more people start filtering back to campus, and local communities re-open, there might be a chance they can get back to regular activities.

“I would like to see us get back to everything pre-pandemic, minus the masks,” Skinner said.

Photo Gallery: The U.S. Open of Surfing is back

jorge hernandez
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Photo Gallery: The U.S. Open of Surfing is back

The U.S. Open of Surfing finally made a return to Huntington Beach on September 20, 2021 for the first time in over a year. 

The event has been scaled down this year, with only surfing competitions being held. The BMX and skateboarding competitions that drew large crowds in the past are not scheduled for this year. 

Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and health guidelines, the 2020 U.S. Open of Surfing was cancelled. However, in September of 2021, it was announced that the event would return once again. 

Despite this, top competitors from around the world have traveled to Huntington Beach to compete in the 2021 U.S. Open of Surfing in hopes of becoming champion. 

LBCC sports provide guidelines for events

jorge hernandez
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LBCC sports provide guidelines for events

LBCC’s Athletics Department is now presenting a COVID-19 Spectator Policy for all LBCC home games during the fall semester and for any future sporting seasons. 

This fall semester will debut the following sports: Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Water polo, Swimming, Diving, and Soccer. 

The Spectator Policies were introduced for outdoor home games at LBCC to ensure the safety of LBCC’s players, staff, and spectators as we navigate through the pandemic. 

According to the LBCC Vikings website, spectators are able to attend home games outdoors on a first-come, first-served basis while keeping the capacity limit of 25%. 

Indoor events will not be allowed for any spectators until further notice. 

However, this new spectator policy has little effect on any sports team.

Eduardo Nunes, the head coach for the women’s soccer team, said, “It will not affect us at all.”

“We are lucky to have a huge stadium, so still a couple of thousands of fans can come to support us,” said Nunes. 

Spectators are also required to take the Viking Health Screening and screening stations are requiring individuals to show proof of a completed form to attend any outdoor sporting event.

With this new policy, Coach Nunes showed his optimism, “We are living in a difficult time and we are excited that we can play.”

For people who feel comfortable supporting the Vikings at home games, team schedules can be found on the website https://www.lbccvikings.com/composite

and more athletics contents are posted on instagram @lbccvikings. 

“Social media platforms are a great way to connect with our fanbase,” said Kaladon Stewart, the LBCC Interim Athletic Director. 

LBCC’s sports teams are slowly making a comeback after their hiatus from being allowed on campus due to COVID-19. 

LBCC Athletics Finally Return Since Spring 2020

jorge hernandez
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LBCC Athletics Finally Return Since Spring 2020

LBCC Vikings Sports are back this fall semester after a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cancelled the 2020-2021 season.

LBCC returned this fall semester with partial in-person classes and that included most sports teams returning to being active. 

Teams such as Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s Water Polo and Men’s Swimming and Diving were among the many LBCC teams that returned this semester with spectators being allowed at a limited capacity.

LBCC Interim Athletic Director Kaladon Stewart believes that there is a spirit of hope and excitement in the athletic department returning to campus.

“We’re happy to be providing services to the students, coaches and staff and we encourage to see people doing what they love to do,” said Stewart. 

One concern some of the coaches had with sports returning was giving the chance to play all their athletes at their first home game after more than 18 months of inactivity.

Students returned in good shape on April 12, 2021 in mid-spring semester. Students continue to put themselves through conditioning to better their game, and results coming in for LBCC Football and Soccer teams showed the work put in has been worth it. 

“We saw the student athletes start to work hard. They were not quite in athletic shape like they had been previously, it did take the spring and summer to get them back into condition, we are seeing the effect of the correct conditioning taking place from practice and in competition,” Director Stewart said.

Stewart’s number one goal for the athletics program is to operate as safely as possible during fall events, and number two is being champions in competition, classes and character. 

“I know that LBCC coaches are extremely competitive and are also encouraging of not just being champions of competition but in the classroom,” Stewart said.

Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach Chris Oeding said, “It has been and will continue to be a gradual progression towards pre-pandemic fitness and gameplay, but everyone is happy to be playing again”.   

Oeding explained that according to the LBCC Athletic Department, 25% of spectators will be allowed at their home games on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Oeding went on to add, “Spectators will be required to complete the LBCC Health Screening and have to wear a mask while sitting six feet apart”.

LBCC vaccine clinic urges students to get vaccinated

Veronica Towers
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LBCC vaccine clinic urges students to get vaccinated

Many LBCC students are getting their free COVID-19 vaccination shots at the mobile vaccine clinic located at the Liberal Arts Campus in parking lot I. 

The vaccine clinic currently offers the two-dose vaccines Pfizer and Moderna, as well as the one dose vaccine Johnson and Johnson. 

Individuals may choose to make an appointment to receive their vaccine and receive it 72 hours before the clinic opens to the public, but walk-ins are also being accepted at the vaccine clinic.

To make an appointment with the vaccine clinic at the LAC-campus, individuals must go to https://myturn.ca.gov

Jalesia Duran, the PR coordinator for the vaccination clinics said, “Since August, I’d say 40% of the vaccinators are students from LBCC”. 

Since the vaccinations are free to all students, Duran emphasized that students only need to show their government ID to receive the vaccine. 

A reason for students to receive their vaccination shots at the clinics is the incentive program offered by LBCC. 

The incentive program rewards students who get both of their vaccination shots with a voucher of $150 to spend at the LBCC bookstore. 

The voucher reward is only made available to students who become fully vaccinated between the dates of August 31 to September 30, and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

According to Duran, other students come to the clinics to receive their vaccine simply to avoid the weekly COVID testing that is mandatory in order to attend in-person classes.

Jasper Perry, LBCC art student, felt there was a necessity to get the vaccine, saying, “I want to lower the risk of spreading it (the virus).”

Even so, the incentives to receive the vaccine have not been enough to increase the amount of  students coming to the clinics as turnout has decreased recently. 

Choosing to stay anonymous, an Operation Lead at the mobile vaccination clinic said, “During my two-hour shift, I see around 20 to 30 people, and none of them are students”.  

“Most of the vaccinators are elders who are immunocompromised and they are here to receive their third shot,” they said. 

The vaccination clinic is urging more people to get vaccinated. “We’re sharing information to the nearby high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools,” said Duran. 

October vaccination dates are set to be released soon on https://www.lbcc.edu/vaccination-clinics.

Protesters demand the arrest of former President Bush

Veronica Towers
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Protesters demand the arrest of former President Bush

Protesters against Former President George W. Bush gathered outside of the Terrace Theater on September 20, 2021, where Bush spoke as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series of Southern California. 

The protest was organized by the ANSWER Coalition of Los Angeles. Protesters held signs that demanded for Bush’s arrest, and chanted sayings such as ‘Bush, Bush, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide’. 

Pat Alivso, a national coordinator for Military Families Speak Out, spoke to the crowd of protestors. 

“When I first heard that George Bush was coming to my town, I was just sickened. Shame on you Long Beach Terrace Theater and all your patrons who think that it’s okay to invite a man like George Bush, who has been responsible for all this death, to be a distinguished speaker in my town,” said Alviso. 

Iraq War veteran Mike Prysner and activist Jeb Sprague, who both interrupted Bush’s speeches at Distinguished Speaker events, also made appearances at the protest.

Sprague disrupted Bush’s speech that evening at the Terrace Theater, where he yelled, “Your war destroyed the life of my cousin. You made a nightmare for my family. He’s a shell of his former self. Tens of thousands of Americans and one million Iraqis, one million Iraqis have died from your war. You used white phosphorus in Fallujah, a chemical weapon. You should be in jail.”

In a video posted on Twitter of the interruption, Bush laughed and responded, “It’s okay. Here’s the thing in America, the good news is, in other countries the guy would end up in jail for yelling at a President. Here he’s allowed to express himself.”

Sprague said that afterward, he was briefly arrested by security but was eventually released. Sprague also wishes he would have resisted against security more and yelled for longer. 

Sprague paid for a ticket to attend the event, which ranged from $200 to $600 per person. 

“I had to pay to go, but it was worth it for me. I wanted to make all the people in there aware of this awful man that they paid money to come and see” said Sprague. “Bush was one of the worst. He took the sympathy that people had around the world for the country after September 11 and he turned it into wars.”

Prysner disrupted Bush during his appearance in Los Angeles on Sept. 19. A video on Twitter shows Prysner yelling at Bush to apologize for the deaths of Iraqis during the war while being removed from the venue by security. 

According to a tweet by Prysner, he also intended to read a list of names to Bush, including Iraqis killed and his friends who died of suicide after the Iraq War, but the paper was ripped up by security. 

Activists Jeb Sprague and Mike Prysner posing with an ‘Arrest Bush’ sign outside of the Terrace Theater in Long Beach on Sept. 20. Both Sprague and Prysner interrupted former President Bush’s speeches at Distinguished Speaker events. (Photo by Samantha Cortes)

Louis Raprager III of Veterans for Peace was a guest speaker at the protest, where he discussed the high rates of veteran suicide. Raprager is a Navy veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. 

Raprager recalled feeling conflicted after the United States withdrew troops from Afghanistan, ending the longest war in American history.  

“When Afghanistan closed down, it was 20 years too late. … To see it end is great, but to see that we’re not really helping isn’t good either. I really want to be able to spread the message that the UN needs to step in, give humanitarian aid, give the refugees the help that they need,” said Raprager. 

Raprager believes that 20 years later, it is still important to inform others about Bush’s actions in the Middle East. 

“Most people, especially young people, don’t understand what really happened. I’m here to say what really happened, and it was a complete war crime. He (Bush) needs to be held accountable,” said Raprager. 

Protester Chris Gambia was six years old when Bush took office as President, and developed his opinion on Bush after doing research during high school. 

“Bush is a war criminal and he needs to come out and see us,” said Gambia. 

Protestor and Long Beach resident Julien Minard said, “I’m 77 years old. There is nothing that can convince me that war is the way to settle things and wars of occupations are the worst…I’ve lived through so much of this. I know they could look for diplomatic situations if they tried,” said Minard. 

LBCC professors and students reflect on return to campus

savannah gomez
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LBCC professors and students reflect on return to campus

Long Beach City College returned to partial on-campus instruction for the fall semester of 2021, allowing students and professors to return to normalcy after being isolated at the start of COVID-19.  

Four weeks into the fall semester, both students and professors have had to adjust to a new environment as they navigate in-person instruction alongside LBCC’s new COVID-19 protocols. 

English 1 professor, Natalie Djabourian, is one of the professors who has made the transition from online instruction back to in-person instruction for the fall semester.

Djabourian still offers students the chance at remote instruction, but was enthusiastic about being allowed back on campus for the fall. She said, “ I am so happy to be back and to see all of the students.”  

Djabourian emphasized all of the safety measures being taken by LBCC to ensure professors would be properly trained in any new protocols being mandated for in-person instruction. 

“There was an adjunct orientation where Lee Douglas was the speaker and they talked about students needing to be vaccinated or wearing a sticker which proved they had been tested,” said Djabourian. 

Continuing on she said, “I feel very safe because of all the protocols – we’re in a different classroom to accommodate the safety protocols which allows students to remain six-feet apart for social distancing, and everyone wears a mask”.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, LBCC professors had to make adjustments to being online for both fall and spring semesters, leaving many professors needing to adapt to an environment that would not have been their first choice. 

Professor Djabourian however, has been able to see that there are upsides and downsides to both learning environments and believes neither one necessarily makes the better learning option. 

Djabourian said, “Online instruction can be more convenient because there isn’t a need for commuting but students don’t always have their screens turned on and we use breakout rooms for student discussions. Even so, that doesn’t replace in-person interaction”.

“They each have their own benefits and drawbacks but whatever feels necessary for the students or administrators,” said Djabourian. 

Students also shared professor Djabourian’s excitement at returning to campus for the fall semester, and biology student Patricia Aldama found in-person instruction to be her preferred learning environment. 

“Taking classes in person makes it so much easier to ask professors questions, which makes it easier for learning,” said Adalma.

Gaining the full college experience on campus was another reason Adalma preferred an in-person learning environment, saying, “You get to meet people and network. Networking is the key to success in any field.”

Although having similar opinions about being on campus, Kevin Galvez, who studies music theory and prefers an in-person learning environment to remote instruction, has noted that being back on campus is not like he once remembered it. 

Galvez said, “This is a brand new experience for me and there aren’t as many people so it feels empty,” regarding his experience being back on campus now in comparison to before the pandemic hit because there were “more activities and more students”. 

LBCC students and professors alike continue to study and work through the changes that have been caused by the pandemic and many are glad to be back on campus for the fall semester. 

LBCC Students don’t know what the superintendent-president does; here’s why they should.

Katherene Quiteno
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LBCC Students don’t know what the superintendent-president does; here’s why they should.

It’s often the case that students go unaware of not only who the superintendent-president is, but the impact that the position has on school affairs. Given that the role directly impacts financial and academic resources, this unawareness can be a liability to the success of the student body.    

On September 7, 2021, the LBCC Board of Trustees officially launched the nationwide search for a permanent superintendent-president. The search comes on the heels of a scandal involving the firing of ex-president Reagan Romali due to alleged misconduct and misuse of public resources in March 2020. 

However, despite the highly publicized scandal surrounding the firing, many students remain unaware it ever happened.

Logan Stepropoulos and Kathleen Vento, both English majors at LBCC, say they have never heard of Reagan Romali or the scandal.  Similarly, they have little to no idea who the newly appointed Interim Superintendent-president Dr. Mike Muñoz is.

 “I think I get emails sometimes from [Dr. Muñoz],” said Vento. “But I really have no idea what he does or who he is.” 

Dr. Muñoz was appointed by the Board of Trustees as a stand-in for the superintendent-president only this March, but students like Vento or Stepropoulos still have no idea what the superintendent-president and the Board of Trustees even do.

According to the official job description,“the superintendent-President serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the District and of the College itself.” That means they:

  • Report to the Governing Board and do all the “assessing, planning, organizing, and evaluating the resources, programs, and services of the District to meet the educational needs of the students and the community.” 
  • “Represent the District to community groups, business and industry, labor organizations, public school districts, the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges”, other public and private educational institutions like the University of California, and the city, county, and California legislature.

This description seems overwhelming, and maybe it should, because essentially it means the superintendent-president has a huge say in what departments and programs get funded, and the use of campus resources. 

They also determine what kind of relationships LBCC forges with the local community and organizations, as well as California lawmakers—and an overwhelming amount of the student population have no idea.

This is partly because the pandemic has exacerbated the number of students learning online exclusively, and thus widened the gap between students and campus related information. It’s likely that’s especially true regarding campus politics, which many students do not pay close attention to.

While student activism and involvement in American politics has been steadily on the rise since the 1960s, many students on college and university campuses nationwide may not bother to access information about decisions being made by their school government unless they are part of certain organizations. In fact, studies from education administration experts since 1999 have shown that student governance associations have more influence than individual students.

This is problematic because it means many students go uninformed about decision making that directly impacts program budgets, on campus policies about student services, facility usage, curriculum planning, and even college accreditation. 

A good example of that impact is an incident in 2013, when the Board of Trustees voted to cut the LBCC Trade Program to the anger of Long Beach students and alumni who felt that cutting the program and denying certifications for trades like welding also denied a working class community opportunities to economically flourish.  

The program was later rebooted in 2019 with an aviation/aerospace focus that relies heavily on industry partnerships, but the message was pretty clear: the superintendent-president and the individuals on the Board of Trustees have the power to both kill and reboot entire programs, and forge the professional connections students at LBCC utilize to start their careers.

In a city like Long Beach, where according to Data USA, the poverty rate was as high as 16.8% before the pandemic, cutting programs that could offer or expand career opportunities could contribute to gaps between socioeconomic classes and the gatekeeping of higher education. 

In a post-pandemic world community colleges like LBCC, which offer resources that are more accessible to students that struggle financially, are more important than ever. Making sure those college resources continue to benefit the community involves students making sure their interests are known and protected. 

With the economic effects of the Coronavirus pandemic in mind, LBCC students should pay close attention to the ongoing search for the new superintendent-president. They should be aware of the existence of a Search Committee, watch the broadcasted interviews, check in on the schedule of the Board of Trustees, and tune in to Trustee meetings via livestream.

Although LBCC is a school where students are typically enrolled for around two years, the Vice President of Human Resources, Loy Nashua, agrees that the selection for the next superintendent-president concerns all the student body, present and future. 

“I know that change takes time,” said VP Nashua. “But some things can be readily implemented so that even current students can reap the benefits immediately.”   

Voting is in full swing at CSULB on election day

Samantha Cortes
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Voting is in full swing at CSULB on election day

The election polls at California State University Long Beach saw dozens of citizens ready to cast their ballots in the gubernatorial recall election, yesterday afternoon on September 14, 2021. 

Tuesday was the final day that Californians could make their decision on whether or not to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom and Long Beach had a total of four voting centers that stayed open until 8 p.m.

At roughly 6 p.m. a line had formed outside of CSULB’s Walter Pyramid, where people like Connie Verma, a Long Beach resident, waited patiently to cast their ballot. Verma has never missed an election and claimed voting to be a responsibility.

On the ballot, voters were asked two questions: Should Newsom be recalled and if so, who should he be succeeded by? In general, recall supporters sustained that Newsom had mismanaged California’s response to COVID-19 and had unnecessarily raised taxes.  

“I don’t appreciate the way he treated small businesses during the pandemic,” said Vicky Pan, a manager at a Long Beach salon who came to vote after work. “I feel like we should’ve gotten more help but we didn’t … But that doesn’t mean I’m voting for Larry either.”

Larry Elder, a conservative radio talk show host, was a frontrunner in the campaign to replace Newsom. He gained support among conservative voters due to his opposition towards abortions, the vaccine, and mask mandates.  

On Monday night, at the “Stop the Recall” rally at Long Beach City College, Mayor Robert Garcia denounced Elder for his views on the pandemic, women’s rights, and social justice.

Even still, in addition to Pan, Long Beach residents Hector Ruiz and his partner, who chose not to state her name, voted yes to the recall. “California is a craphole,” said Ruiz, “but it wasn’t always like this.” 

He claimed that despite California’s high taxes, the state remains in the same condition. “There was a plan for a bullet train,” Ruiz recalled. “But where is it? Our taxes were raised but I don’t see a train. Do you?” 

His partner, a woman who works for the state, agreed. “I can tell you that none of that money is going to state workers,” she said. “… and I think it’s about time for a change.”  

However, by 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, Newsom had been announced as the projected winner and addressed the state from Sacramento, thanking 40 million Californians for rejecting the recall.

As of Wednesday night, about 26% of the ballots cast have yet to be counted, but Newsom’s win is already large enough to be unaffected by the results of the remaining ballots. 

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