California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent relocation to Marin County may come across as a luxurious indulgence, especially considering his push for Californians to reduce their carbon footprint. As the leader of the Golden State, Newsom expects citizens to curb their daily commutes by a whopping 30%, but conveniently neglects to lead by example himself.

At a recent gathering of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), comprised of elected representatives from six surrounding counties, frustration boiled over regarding Newsom’s ambitious yet unattainable targets. “Completely unrealistic” was the verdict rendered by Citrus Heights Councilman Tim Schaefer. Mayor Chris Bransicum of Marysville took aim squarely: “These are policies of ruination.”

Meanwhile, Supervisor Suzanne Jones astutely pointed out that selling these drastic changes to the general populace ought to take precedence: “I honestly think you need to market [these plans] to the public in California…[and] get them to buy-in first.” This sentiment echoes the crux of effective governance – genuine commitment begins atop the hierarchy.

Darwin Moosavi, Deputy Secretary for Environmental Policy and Housing Coordination within CALTRANS, parroted familiar platitudes about mitigating climate impact while unveiling an airy proposal aimed at slashing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by 20% come 2030 and 35% by 2045 compared to pre-2020 standards. However, concrete action remains scarce amidst lip service.

Closer examination reveals further disconnects; despite advocating reduced reliance upon automobiles statewide, CALTRANS inexplicably dismissed SACOG-backed blueprints calling for dual-express lane additions along I-50 & I-80 corridors spanning Sacramento-Davis-Solano County boundaries to ease traffic congestion. A stark incongruity lies exposed, particularly since both CARB and the CA State Transportation Agency lambasted CALTRAN’S emission calculations as spurious.

Genuine stewardship demands exemplarity, something glaringly absent under Newsomean rule. Conversely, previous administrations demonstrated humility through tangible actions like walking to office, underscoring accountability toward constituents’ concerns. Today, we bear witness instead to self-serving grandstanding juxtaposed alongside forced compliance expectations foisted onto ordinary Californians.

It falls then to stalwarts such as SACOG Exec Dir James Corless or veteran transport experts à la Celia McAdams (“Most of those [road projects aren’t going to happen]; you’re going to have to make some tough decisions”) to inject candor into conversations around practical realities versus lofty ambitions. Alas, until authentic dedication permeates every tier of government decision-making processess, the battle cry ‘Save-the-planet-or-bust!’ shall ring hollow indeed.