It’s always wonderful to hear how people respond to Yosemite for the first time and it was especially rewarding to hear Governor Gavin Newsom describe the reaction of his moody 9 year old son when he saw the park for the first time. The child was suddenly eager to set aside his video game and explore, describing Yosemite as “majestic”. Hear the Governor’s description of this precious moment below.
The reverence our Governor and his family have for Yosemite begs the question of how he feels about Hetch Hetchy and especially our campaign for restoration.
Along with colleagues from the Environmental Defense Fund, we met with Newsom in 2004 when he was Mayor of San Francisco. We had prepared a “briefing book” that outlined water and power improvements necessary to keep the City whole. He listened respectfully, asked good questions and seemed intrigued but cautious. We hoped for the City’s cooperation in further investigations. When those stalled at the Board of Supervisors, we found interest at the State level.
Shortly after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized the California Department of Water Resources to investigate the potential of restoring Hetch Hetchy, we received a copy of a letter from Newsom and Senator Dianne Feinstein. They had written to the Governor asking him to stop the investigation (an identical letter was sent to Secretary of Interior Gail Norton). The letter described us as “well-intentioned” and included a rather amusing error – asserting that Hetch Hetchy is in Yosemite Valley!
We chose to believe that the letter was written at the behest of Feinstein, a legendary defender of the status quo at Hetch Hetchy, and that Newsom was pressured to co-sign. Subsequent conversations with Newsom indicated a certain personal intrigue with restoring Hetch Hetchy. On the eve of his election as Governor, however, he noted to a group of environmental supporters that he would be unlikely to favor restoration.
Then Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom with Executive Director Spreck Rosekrans at the groundbreaking for Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove project in 2018.
Gavin Newsom is one of a number of politicians who have overtly or implicitly conveyed a personal interest in restoration. But few have publicly supported restoration. (Congressman John Garamendi is an exception. When he wrote “As we encourage economic growth in California, we should also make a commitment to cherish and sustain our natural heritage. I can think of no better way than restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley for our children and grandchildren”, he was quickly rebuked by Senator Feinstein.)
We continue to look for elected officials with the courage and vision to stand up for Hetch Hetchy and for all Yosemite, and we continue to build support to make it easier for them to do so. The prescient words of David Brower come to mind:
“Politicians are like weather vanes. Our job is to make the wind blow.”
Please help Restore Hetch Hetchy make the wind blow.