Guest: Steve Westly - Founder, 21st Century Alliance & Former CA State ControllerGuest BioSteve Westly is a business leader, investor, and former California State Controller who has spent decades working to make state government more efficient and accountable. A longtime supporter of education and economic innovation, Steve brings both private-sector and public-sector experience to bear on some of California’s most stubborn challenges. His expertise spans budgets, accountability, public education, and housing policy, making him a leading voice for reform-minded solutions in the Golden State.Show SummaryCalifornia is the world’s 4th largest economy — so why does the state struggle with massive budget deficits? In this thoughtful conversation, Steve Westly joins Jon to break down what’s gone wrong with the state budget, why education keeps failing students, and how outdated policies have fueled California’s housing crisis.From the rise of unsustainable spending to the need for a more accountable state workforce, Steve lays out hard truths about what really holds California back. He also shares an optimistic vision for how voters, civic leaders, and the next generation of policymakers can turn things around. Whether you’re frustrated by fraud and waste or still hopeful about California’s potential, this episode offers a clear look at how we might rebuild the California Dream.Chapters00:00 – California’s Success: The Bigger Picture02:00 – Public Education’s Broken Promises04:30 – The Science of Reading and Reform06:30 – The Real Role of Teachers’ Unions08:30 – Budget Bloat and California’s Spending Problem11:00 – Where to Start Cutting Costs13:00 – Holding State Agencies Accountable15:00 – Fraud, Waste, and Missed Oversight17:00 – The Housing Affordability Nightmare19:30 – Fixing CEQA and Building Faster22:00 – Why He Still Believes in California23:30 – 2026 Elections: Can Real Change Happen?25:30 – Who Can Lead California Forward?27:00 – Rapid Fire: Best California Leaders29:00 – What Outsiders Get Wrong About California30:00 – What Gives Steve Hope for California’s FutureConnect with SteveX: https://x.com/SteveWestlyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevewestly/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevewestly/Website: https://westlygroup.com/steve-westly/Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcastConnect with State of Gold X: https://x.com/realjonslavet Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en Website: www.stateofgold.com

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