Politics > California

Gavin Newsom: The ‘Not-So-Friend’ Of American Natives

From destroying the environment with the destruction of dams, to shielding the cartel members engaging in narco-slavery, Newsom really is leaving a legacy of chaos.

Richard Blakley | April 9, 2026

Part of Gavin Newsom’s claim to fame is his role in the destruction of the truly renewable energy provided by hydroelectric dams.  While Newsom has been involved in the destruction of many dams, let’s focus on just one labeled the “largest dam removal project in U.S. history,” which is the removal of four dams on the Klamath River.  Newsom stated, “This is a monumental achievement—not just for the Klamath River but for our entire state, nation and planet.  By taking down these outdated dams, we are giving salmon and other species a chance to thrive once again while also restoring an essential lifeline for tribal communities who have long depended on the health of the river.”

It seems odd when someone considers destruction of a truly renewable energy source a “monumental achievement.”  Newsom forgot to mention that these dams were built in the 1910s and 1920s.  I’ll bet that since then, the fish are either long gone, or they have figured out some new way to survive.  Also, I bet “the essential lifeline for tribal communities,” has changed in 100 years.  Does Newsom plan to reintroduce the buffalo so the tribes can return to nomadic ways and follow the herd?

What’s worse than destroying a renewable energy source for the community and the beautiful lakes where people (native Americans) have their homes, is the fact that while dam removal sounded good on paper to the bureaucrats agitating it, according to local officials, “it’s an environmental disaster.”  Siskiyou County Supervisor Ray Haupt stated, “I have been around natural disasters all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like this.  The river is essentially dead, as is everything in it.”  The problem is that when the dams were destroyed, there was a hundred years of sediment buildup behind the dams, turning the water extremely muddy the “color and consistency of chocolate cake batter.”  Haupt stated that the sediment plume extended two miles into the ocean.  He also stated that he and local residents were witnessing “a massive salmon extinction event.”  They said the mud is black and thick, with mud and heavy sediment covering every bit of gravel needed for spawning.  They stated that even the deer are dying as they get caught in the muck and cannot escape.  Experts say that this “massive sediment poisoning” will cause the extinction of numerous species.

While Newsom and environmental groups claimed the removal of the dams was essential for fish health, locals are asking, “Does this water look like a better habitat for the fish?”

Don’t worry, after killing off hundreds of thousands of salmon and fish, Gov. Newsom is getting federal money to restore “impacted fisheries.”

Some have suggested that the first annual “River of Death” award should go to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) and its CEO Mark Bransom, for “it takes a lot to kill-off an entire aquatic ecosystem.”  This project was pushed through with Newsom’s backing even though 78% of the local citizens who knew the lakes and rivers of the area, voted in a referendum on removing the Klamath River Dams and said, “no dam removal.”  It is stated that KRRC gave the locals “the middle finger.”

Apparently, the science had already been done and showed that the over 15 million metric yards of sediments on the lake bottoms were a serious problem and needed to be removed and relocated out of the watershed.  Also, the water was supposed to be released over a period of several months, but instead they dumped all of it in just a few days (cheap route).  Because of the continued erosion of the clay on the lake bottoms, the sediments, toxins, and heavy metals will cause the river to remain polluted for decades into the future.

Just to mention, the wells of local residents are drying up because the water table has dropped.

A nonprofit organization, American Rivers, is also involved with dam removals all across the U.S., with 101 removals in 2017, 109 removals in 2018, and 106 removals in 2019.  This organization sits on the board of KRRC, and is based out of Washington, D.C., making tens of millions of dollars a year, being a recipient of federal grants, and “receives donations from numerous private foundations and many left-of-center groups.”  Since its founding in 1973, the organization has received $1.2 billion in federal grants funding various projects.  While there are several left-of-center groups funding American Rivers, the New York Times called one of them, New Venture Fund, “a dark money organization.”

You’d think that this level of “friendship” extended from Newsom to Native Americans couldn’t get any worse, but then it does.  Apparently, California policies that shield illegal aliens have allowed Mexican drug cartels to “swoop in on tribal lands” of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Mendocino County, CA.  The valley is known for growing illegal marijuana crops on tribal lands.  Sheriff Matt Kendal says that 80% of the illegal marijuana grown in his county is grown in Round Valley by the forced labor of illegals.  

There is also the problem of women being kidnapped.  Their faces are plastered on banners on burnt out buildings throughout the valley.

The Sheriff stated that because of state law, he is not legally able to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  The cartels have marked their areas with spray paint throughout the valley.  The sheriff said that shootouts are common between the rival gang members involving AK-47s, AR-15s and M-16s.  

The sheriff said that “somebody’s putting up the money for this” and he believes it is coming from south of the border.  He stated illegals who couldn’t pay the full fare to Mexican cartels to cross the border are paying off their debt by working in the marijuana fields.  The sheriff said, “It’s sex trafficking, it’s labor trafficking, it’s narco-slavery.”  The workers are “scared to death of the cartels.”

Sheriff Kendal says that he has repeatedly called California Gov. Gavin Newsom, but the governor won’t return his calls.

So, all of this is happening on tribal land in the U.S.

While Gavin Newsom likes to portray himself as the “friend” to the Native American, the old cliché comes to mind, “With friends like this, who needs enemies?”

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