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Salesforce, Google, Facebook. How Big Tech Undermines California’s Public Health System
California has also undercut its already struggling public health system and missed an opportunity to invest in it.
By Angela Hart
SACRAMENTO, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has embraced Silicon Valley tech companies and health care industry titans in response to the covid-19 pandemic like no other governor in America routinely outsourcing life-or-death public health duties to his allies in the private sector.
Newsom s reliance on Big Tech in pandemic undermines public health system, critics say
Angela Hart
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FILE - In this March 17, 2020, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives an update to the state s response to the coronavirus, at the Governor s Office of Emergency Services in Rancho Cordova Calif. At right is California Health and Human Services Agency Director Dr. Mark Ghaly. In November 2020, California is reaching an unwelcome coronavirus record: its 1 millionth positive test. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool, File)Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press 2020
SACRAMENTO Gov. Gavin Newsom has embraced Silicon Valley tech companies and health care industry titans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic like no other governor in America routinely outsourcing life-or-death public health duties to his allies in the private sector.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has embraced Silicon Valley tech companies and healthcare industry titans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic like no other governor in America routinely outsourcing life-or-death public health duties to his allies in the private sector.
At least 30 tech and healthcare companies have received lucrative, no-bid government contracts, or helped fund and carry out critical public health activities during the state’s battle against the coronavirus, a KHN analysis has found. The vast majority are Newsom supporters and donors who have contributed more than $113 million to his political campaigns and charitable causes, or to fund his policy initiatives, since his first run for statewide office in 2010.
Salesforce, Google, Facebook. How big tech undermines California’s public health system.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has embraced Silicon Valley tech companies and health care industry titans in response to the covid-19 pandemic like no other governor in America routinely outsourcing life-or-death public health duties to his allies in the private sector.
At least 30 tech and health care companies have received lucrative, no-bid government contracts, or helped fund and carry out critical public health activities during the state s battle against the coronavirus, a KHN analysis has found. The vast majority are Newsom supporters and donors who have contributed more than $113 million to his political campaigns and charitable causes, or to fund his policy initiatives, since his first run for statewide office in 2010.
There is no limit on how much a company or individual can donate on behalf of an elected official. Newsom helped secure $226 million last year.
More than $43 million in behested payments was earmarked in 2020 for the governor’s office, including $500,000 from YouTube, $300,000 from TikTok and $227,000 from Netflix, with those donations used for public health ads. COVID-19 vaccine maker Pfizer Inc. gave $250,000 on behalf of the governor to a nonprofit providing trailers to house families in need of shelter during the pandemic.
Paramount Pictures, Amazon, T-Mobile and Bank of America Corp. were among the more than 100 donors that gave on behalf of Newsom last year.