As the state nears 55,000 deaths from complications related to COVID-19, the governor will virtually deliver his annual "State of the State" address Tuesday night from an empty stadium with virtually the same capacity.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s remarks will be delivered at 6 p.m. from Dodger Stadium, home of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
"This is an inflection point, a moment in her gubernatorial career and really the apex of his political career so far, where he has to have some humility about how they have dealt with the pandemic," said David McCuan, chair of the political science department at Sonoma State University.
McCuan called it "a high stakes speech" for the governor.
The ballpark, usually raucous with the sound of baseball fans, has been unusually quiet since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the onset of prohibitive health guidelines.
It's now the site of a COVID-19 mass vaccination site.
"Dodger Stadium represents California’s spirit of service," said Sahar Robertson, a spokesperson for the governor. "Once filled with dedicated fans, it is now filled with dedicated health care providers, doing their part to vaccinate some of the most vulnerable Californians against COVID-19. It represents the partnership, innovation and resilience that embodies the spirit of California."
There will be no in-person attendance. The stadium holds 56,000 seats.
Gov. Newsom's speech comes as the governor faces a possible recall, one that he’s unlikely to mention.
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