Steyer for Governor also releases 10-point plan, industry-centric ad
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and climate advocate Tom Steyer hosted a roundtable featuring workers in the entertainment industry, including Executive Director of the Costume Designers Guild – Local 892 Brigitta Romanov and IATSE Local 44 Business Agent Tobey Bays. The roundtable brought together industry professionals — including writers, producers, and a workforce development expert. Just this week, Steyer was endorsed by the 170,000 member International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union, representing behind-the-scenes workers in the U.S. and Canada.
The roundtable featured a robust conversation, including discussions on the threat of AI, tax incentives, and the importance of the next governor supporting the entertainment industry on day one.
Steyer’s ambitious 10-point plan focuses on making California affordable for creative professionals through lowering housing costs, expanding renter tax credits, and delivering a single-payer healthcare system. Steyer also pledges to stand up to corporate mega-mergers like the Warner Bros.-Paramount deal and protect workers and creatives from AI job displacement.
The plan also calls for expanding film tax credits, cutting permitting red tape, and investing in job training to keep production and talent in-state. The plan also supports public arts funding, independent venues, and stronger consumer protections against ticket price gouging, while promoting California’s entertainment around the globe.
Steyer on why he supports the industry:
“This is a critical industry that supplies good-paying jobs for tens of thousands of people. And let me say this industry was invented in Los Angeles. It does what California does, which is imagine the future and then create that future in terms of business, but also never getting away from the creative side, never getting away from that imagination.”
On vehemently opposing corporate mega-mergers and vowing to take on monopoly power as governor:
“Do I believe in business? Sure I do. [...] Do I believe in monopolies? Sure I don't. They're terrible. You know, they're about themselves. They're not about producing good shows, because it's like, if you don't like it, what are you going to do? There's no second choice. That's why they're monopolies. “
On supporting single-payer because it is the only option for Californians in the industry:
“I'm for single payer because it's the only way we can afford health care in this state. It's the only way. And for all the people who say it's a huge pain in the ass to get it all of which is true, I'm aware of that. But so what? We don't have a choice, so we have to go through the pain in the ass because there is no choice.”
Today, Steyer also released an ad called “We Work Here,” featuring union workers who underscore why they need a governor who understands the importance of uplifting the entertainment industry and prioritizing bringing production back to Los Angeles:
WATCH: “We Work Here”
The transcript for “We Work Here” is as follows:
They told us “survive til ‘25.”
Now, it’s 2026, and we just try to exist?
We used to be able to make a life here, but now the monopolies are taking our jobs overseas.
Once the industry is gone, it’s not coming back.
Tom gets that.
Tom has a plan to bring production back to LA.
And pass single-payer health care, so I can see the doctor in between gigs.
We need a governor who sees a crisis in front of us and knows how to help.
That’s Tom.
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