By Sumit Jangir
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom faced sharp criticism this week after a terse exchange with a reporter over his state’s Capitol Annex Project, a controversial $1.1 billion renovation that has drawn scrutiny for secrecy and skyrocketing costs.
During a press conference Tuesday, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta were asked by KCRA reporter Ashley Zavala about the lack of transparency surrounding the project. Zavala noted that it has been three years since the state legislature provided the public with an updated cost estimate and accused officials of violating the Legislative Open Records Act by withholding documents.
Zavala asked whether it was appropriate for California to continue withholding records about one of the most expensive government buildings in the United States. Newsom, appearing irritated, turned to Bonta and said, “You’re my attorney.” He then addressed the question directly, saying, “By the way, I don’t think it’s appropriate. They should provide the information, period full stop.”
However, the governor went on to criticize the reporter for comparing the California project to President Donald Trump’s controversial White House Ballroom renovations, calling the comparison unfair. “For you to conflate or compare and contrast is, with all due respect, I think that I would separate a ballroom and what Donald Trump just did in desecration,” Newsom said, adding that the former president’s handling of federal funds was “curious.”
The California Capitol Annex Project, launched in 2018, was initially estimated to cost over $500 million. But a number of media outlets report the price tag has now ballooned to at least $1.1 billion.
The project aims to modernize the Capitol’s east wing, providing new offices and meeting spaces for lawmakers. Yet the process has been marked by secrecy and controversy. KCRA reported that more than 2,000 people involved in the project have signed non-disclosure agreements, blocking details from public view.
Among the revelations that have surfaced are unusual expenditures, such as $5.2 million spent to ship decorative rocks to Italy and back for finishing. The project also reportedly includes “secret hallways” designed to give lawmakers private routes away from public areas — a detail that has fueled criticism about government accountability.
Zavala said she has requested interviews with project officials for more than a year, but no one has agreed to provide an update. Critics argue that withholding the cost breakdown and construction details undermines public trust in the state government.
Newsom’s brief acknowledgment that officials “should provide the information” offered little comfort to transparency advocates. Many say the governor’s dismissive tone only reinforced concerns about his commitment to openness.
The controversy highlights a growing divide between California officials and journalists demanding answers about how taxpayer money is being spent. As costs continue to rise and questions remain unanswered, pressure is mounting for state leaders to release full records on the Capitol Annex Project.
