When a friend asked if Tom Steyer could stop by my wife Delilah's restaurant in downtown Santa Ana, I had to explain who he was.
It's not political indifference in my honey. He has recently become exhausted from running his small business, Alta Baja Market, in these times of inflation. He is one of the 16% undecided voters in the recent polls of the California Democratic Party – the party that may decide which of the two gubernatorial candidates face the general election.
Delilah agreed that Steyer could visit on Saturday after I told her that many of our friends support the millionaire's growing platform.
“Campaigns is your job, not mine,” he joked as we drove to Alta Baja and I named some of the candidates. The only ones he had heard of were Antonio Villaraigosa (“I loved him as mayor, but he had to wear his pants,” referring to his extramarital affair) and Katie Porter (“Some of my employees love him, but I don't know what he did”). He may be the last person left in the Golden State who hasn't seen any of Steyer's television and YouTube commercials.
His campaign seems to have stalled in the elections as he has spent more than $150 million of his money at a time when there are doubts among some voters whether they want a billionaire to lead the state.
So visiting Santa Ana, the center of Latino Orange County, was a good move. In Alta Baja, he could talk to my Mexican-American wife and other blue-collar Latinos.
When his rival Xavier Becerra arrived in OC a few weeks ago, on the other hand, he appeared in a private gathering attended mostly by professional Latinos.
“I want someone who will tell us where our taxes go and treat this country like a business, so we don't waste money,” said Delila. He's a socially liberal and fiscally conservative Democrat who's particularly angered by President Trump's deluge of deportations, which left downtown Santa Ana's streets empty for months last summer. “Because right now, our government is a hot mess.”
I asked what questions he had about Steyer.
“So the insurance had to take care of all the disasters that happened with fires,” answered Delilah. “Then why should everyone else pay for it? indeed will you help the state?”
He was silent for a while. “Tom is a Democrat, isn't he?”
Delilah prepared Steyer's stop at noon as if it happened another day. He has satisfied the likes of Sen. Alex Padilla, Orange County Dist. He said. Todd Spitzer and former Speaker of the House Anthony Rendon. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is a fan of Alta Baja's green cornbread; Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee held a rally when she ran for president two years ago.
“Do you know who should ask the questions?” Delilah said after she had placed the farm for the day. “Angela.”
That would be 19-year-old Alta Baja worker Angela Nino, who will be voting in her first election.
He will always tell me, 'Did you see the debate? And I always say, 'No, I'm tired of watching.'”
Nino quickly entered.
“Guess who's coming, Angela?” Delilah said before looking at me. “Is his name Tim or Tom?”
“It's like I agree with some of his things, but he's a millionaire,” said the Orange Coast College student who is a resident of Santa Ana when I asked about Steyer. “His answers in the interviews have been very comprehensive so far.”
Delilah smiled.
“You are the future, girl, so ask her anything.”
Almost everyone who came in while we waited for Steyer was a campaign worker or volunteer. Former state governor Betty Yee, who ended her campaign for governor last month and endorsed Steyer, was sitting at the table with her husband. Orange County Executive Vicente Sarmiento, who kicked off Steyer's visit to Santa Ana, thanked Delilah for the opportunity. He has known him since he began his political career on the Santa Ana City Council nearly 20 years ago,
“This is a city where our citizens have been criminalized because of ICE, our city has suffered because of construction, and all of this is following an epidemic,” he told me. “These are the people Tom needs to listen to.”
Sarmiento's employee noticed. Steyer was here.
The candidate came in with a videographer and a photographer. He was wearing his usual billionaire attire – white and red Nikes, jeans, a checkered shirt with rolled up sleeves and a cloth belt in the colors of the Southwest.
Steyer walked over to the counter.
“Is it you are you running for governor?” he broke down when he shook Delilah's hand.
“I don't want to,” he replied.
“I knew you were a smart woman!”
He listened with wide eyes and a stern face as Delilah complained about a multi-year rail project in front of Alta Baja that was “worse for business here than COVID.” Insurance rates have increased 30% in the past year alone, he said.
“Well, look, that's all I've got,” replied Steyer in his low, deep voice. “I'm willing to take on the big companies that are defrauding California. And they're all spending a lot of money against me.”
It was the Steyer I've heard in so many commercials: naughty, sympathetic but churning out a lot of boilerplate. Delilah smiled weakly.
“I appreciate that,” he said. “And we need more of that.”
Then he waved to Nino. Usually shy, the construction manager has now given Lesley Stahl an insider.
“Why do you have to be a governor to do something when you have billions of dollars?” he said.
Steyer was undeterred as he explained how he has funded ballot proposals and non-profit initiatives to fight for an equal California.
“So I was able to do something, but what I see in California – and what Delila and I have been talking about – is the big corporations that actually run the state,” he said.
“That's true,” Nino agreed.
“You have to deal with big companies that abuse everyone. And you can only do that as a manager,” continued Steyer.
“You want to charge billionaires, right?” Nino asked next, and Steyer nodded. “How about others [campaign disclosure] forms, it shows that your billions are different [countries] outside the US?”
The candidate shook his head vigorously.
“I may invest outside the United States, but I don't do anything to avoid paying – I pay full California and American taxes on everything, I promise. There are many ways I can avoid taxes, but I don't. So, anything I do overseas is not tax avoidance. … I promise.”
More from Nino!
“And how can people trust billions when right now we are so disappointed in ourselves?”
“I understand why people are skeptical,” Steyer replied. “They couldn't doubt it more than me.”
He pointed out that some officials “support every candidate. Those people hatred me — like, they think I stand for something really bad, which makes them pay their fair share,” referring to a proposed November ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires like Steyer (he supports the measure).
“And they're right,” concluded Steyer. “And it's like, they hate me, and that's okay.”
Nino was silent. Delilah thanked Steyer, who went to visit some local businesses that are friends of ours. He bought a bottle of rosé, took pictures with Delilah and Sarmiento and left — but not before an employee adjusted the back of his collar.
Delilah and Nino returned to preparing lunch orders. What did they think of Steyer?
“To be honest, I'm very skeptical,” said Nino. “I don't think he has enough information like the other candidates, and I feel like he could have explained his goals more.”
What about you, dear?
“He is kind, kind and not arrogant, which is what I would expect from many politicians,” said Delila. “I like that you heard about Angela – that's important [that] politicians listen to the next generation, and I think everyone should. But I was not satisfied with my insurance question.”
“And we don't know if this is a game,” added Nino, taking a breath from Delilah. “We have seen, like, all these years, many political people come in, as usual [businesses] to make it seem like, 'Oh, we're related to people. We know your problems.'”
“Really?” Delilah answered.
Nino frowned.
They might be doing a camera show, he said.
