A Sacramento salon owner moved out of Sacramento because of the mounting problems she faced due to homeless people excreting on her business’ doorstep and breaking windows, but she was not going down quietly; she made a video that went viral that slammed California governor Gavin Newsom for his inaction.
Elizabeth Novak stated in the video, “This video is for Gavin Newsom. I’ve had a business in downtown Sacramento for 15 years. I just want to tell you what happens when I get to work. I have to clean up the poop and the pee off of my doorstep. I have to politely ask the people who I care for — I care for these people that are homeless — to move their tents. So I want to know what you’re going to do for us?”
Appearing on Fox & Friends Monday morning, Novak was asked why she made the video instead of trying to communicate directly with Newsom. Novak answered, “I think it’s an SOS for all small business owners, and not just for business owners but employees in the downtown area. You know, it is disheartening, and I’m angry about it as well. I wouldn’t be relocating if it wasn’t for this issue … When I come into work, I’m never sure what I am going to walk into. I’ve been broken into; I’ve had my glass broken; I clean up human excrement off of my doorstep every week, cups of urine, things like that. I do have compassion for these people but you know they’re sleeping in front of your door, and they’re leaving trash and they’re turning over garbage cans and I can’t do that anymore.”
Novak added, “A lot of people are saying it’s a housing issue. It’s a drug issue.”
Host Ainsley Earhardt noted that she had heard Newsom wanted to offer “safe spaces” for people to do their drugs, prompting Novak to reply, “I’ve spoken with a lot of law enforcement in my area and they all have the same answers. Their hands are tied, they can’t arrest them, and a lot of people think that arresting won’t do much and it definitely will,”
Earhardt said she loved that Novak had said she had compassion for the homeless people. Novak said she was a “recovering woman,” adding, “By the grace of Jesus Christ I’m sober today.”
When Earhardt noted that the video had triggered some praise but also some incredibly nasty remarks, Novak said, “It’s to be expected. You know, in this political climate, when you attack any sort of liberal legislation, you’re going to get those responses, and that’s okay. I forgive you and I forgive all the people that said some really interesting things that I didn’t know about myself.”