Contributor: California Democrats aren't just resisting; they're governing

"Gov. Gavin Newsom answering the Republican redistricting power-grab in Texas with a plan of his own is a powerful example of how Golden State Democrats are standing up to President Trump and firing up their base. But while the partisan fireworks draw attention, California Democrats are also quietly offering a different kind of model for the national party that may prove more meaningful in the long run. They're not just resisting Trump; they're actually governing."

"Just look at San Francisco, long seen as a dysfunctional emblem of failed progressive governance. The city's new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a nonprofit leader and philanthropist, has shaken off left-wing taboos and focused on delivering . Instead of defunding the police, he's hiring more officers and cracking down on shoplifting and drug crimes. Instead of demonizing the business community, he's partnering with them. He's also reforming zoning laws to make it easier to build more housing, which should ease the city's affordability crunch and the homelessness crisis. Lurie has been in office less than a year, but already crime is plummeting and his approval rate has reached ."

"For example, the Legislature recently reformed the California Environmental Quality Act, a well-intentioned 50-year-old law that had been twisted to obstruct construction projects, clean energy development and public transportation. This angered some powerful environmental activists, but it will ultimately help bring down costs for housing and energy."

California Democratic leaders are responding to Republican tactics while simultaneously governing with a pragmatic, results-oriented approach. Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed countermeasures to Republican redistricting efforts. Local leaders are moving toward the center and prioritizing measurable outcomes over ideological purity. San Francisco’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, has increased police hiring, cracked down on shoplifting and drug crimes, partnered with businesses, and pursued zoning reforms to expand housing supply. State legislators reformed the California Environmental Quality Act to reduce project obstructions and speed construction, a change intended to lower housing and energy costs despite environmentalist opposition.

Read at Los Angeles Times