'Enjoy it while it lasts': Gavin Newsom slammed for city cleanup for Xi Jinping but not its own citizens
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit of 2023 began on November 14, and dignitaries attending include Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is set to meet his US counterpart Joe Biden on November 15, 2023.
As a result of an international event of this magnitude taking place, the city has doubled down on cleanup and upkeep efforts, but many residents fear that this may be only temporary.
Blocks away from the hotel where President Biden is staying, struggling housing recipients had lined up to receive $5 in exchange for getting a Covid-19 nasal swab, reported the Daily Mail.
Struggling citizens say issues are not being fixed
Michael Crowfoot, 58, was among those getting housing help and brought in his paperwork to get the swab and the cash.
Speaking to the outlet, he said of the city's cleanup, "Here's what it is: You polish some brass and you set this ship right and you make everything look pretty for a moment. You're not plugging the bucket hole. You're just sticking a piece of cotton in it."
Crowfoot has had a hard life. A former drug user, he has tended bar, worked construction, and even caddied at the elite San Francisco Golf Club.
"You're not trying to fix the issue. You're just trying to cover s**t up, make it look pretty for TV," he continued, adding, "They don't want to hear what the f**k we got to say. They should be doing something besides building skate parks. That's all they're trying to do is make everything look pretty and like they've done something."
Sandra Case, who has been living in the city since 2019, shared Crowfoot's opinions.
"You come here, you swab, twice a week you get $5. Sure this is helping us out, but they're not targeting the real issues, bro," she said.
In early November, a new skateboarding park was opened in the middle of United Nations Plaza by the city officials.
In that regard, Case stated, "The real issue – look around. The real issue is the homeless. The real issue are these babies. The real issue are these young kids that are in here being sex slaves. That's the real issue. The real issue is not skate parks ... it's the elderly that are out here. The children that are out here. That's the real issue. And people just don't even look at that."
Gavin Newsom slammed online
The California governor was present at the San Francisco International Airport on the afternoon of November 14 to receive Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Posting footage of the interaction online, conservative political commentator Liz Wheeler bashed Newsom on X and wrote, "A reminder that San Francisco cleaned up the poop, needles & crime for Chinese commie Xi Jinping who is genociding the Uigher Muslims… But San Francisco refused to clean up for YOU because they hate you. Look at Newsom mugging for the commie. 🤮"
A reminder that San Francisco cleaned up the poop, needles & crime for Chinese commie Xi Jinping who is genociding the Uigher Muslims…
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) November 14, 2023
But San Francisco refused to clean up for YOU because they hate you.
Look at Newsom mugging for the commie. 🤮
pic.twitter.com/pxOTNVTJDW
Many X users voiced their support of Wheeler's take as the following tweets demonstrate.
"Newsom only cleans up for his chinese overlords," one user said.
"You always clean the house before selling," one social media user said.
"Papa Ping is home!!! Clean the poop," one user wrote.
Memes such as the following also did the rounds on the platform.