Newsom Looks To Lock In His Water Agenda

Gov. Gavin Newsom is putting his stamp on the powerful agency overseeing California’s biggest water fights — and racing to get his pet projects across the finish line before his term ends.

Jared Blumenfeld, Newsom’s former CalEPA secretary, took his seat for the first time Tuesday on the five-member State Water Resources Control Board days after Newsom appointed him to replace Laurel Firestone, the environmental justice advocate who stepped down last month to “pursue other opportunities” in water.