California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom met with students and community members Wednesday at Grossmont College in El Cajon — part of his campaign for governor.
Newsom held a small roundtable discussion addressing topics ranging from education, wages and housing affordability.
Last week Newsom inserted himself into a heated San Diego debate about gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Newsom sent the fairground's board a letter asking them to discontinue gun shows.
RELATED: Del Mar Fairgrounds Board To Look At Future Of Gun Shows
"I’m not ideologically opposed to people owning weapons," Newsom said. "I just think comprehensive background checks make sense and keeping them out of the hands of criminals. I think this a cultural movement not just a political moment across this country and this state, particularly with our youth."
RELATED: Thousands Of Petitions To Repeal California Gas Tax Filed In San Diego
Newsom also answered questions about a possible repeal of SB 1 — also known as the gas tax. The tax increase was passed last year to help raise money for road repairs. A San Diego-based group said it has enough signatures to put a repeal measure on this November’s ballot.
RELATED: Gubernatorial Debate Takes Center Stage In San Diego
"They’ll take $52 billion off the table," Newsom said. "All the jobs that are created, all the projects that could be completed and they offer nothing except rhetoric. That somehow magically the general fund will manifest all those dollars to replace it ... I reject this notion of repealing the gas tax."
The San Diego County Registrar of Voters said Wednesday it is still working to count and verify those repeal signatures.
