Jerry Brown's Bargain-Basement Travel Style

A giggly San Francisco Chronicle reporter caught up with Governor Brown at the Sacramento airport as he boarded his Southwest flight solo. Her shaky camera style video (by the Chronicle's aptly-named Shaky Hand Productions) shows the Governor answering in all seriousness when the reporter laughs, "are you really going to fly Southwest by yourself?"

Brown explains that he doesn't have a private jet (unlike his predecessor) and as for his lack of entourage, he replies, "I feel that the people of California are good seatmates." We're guessing Brown wasn't exactly sure why it was so funny, and we're apt to agree with the LA Times' nod to his strategic frugality: his "populist flare could also be an important weapon for Brown as he tries to persuade voters to support billions of dollars in extended taxes. As he begins taking his message to voters around the state, he may be doing it one Southwest flight at a time."

The governor flew to Los Angeles today to give the keynote speech at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Dinner. He will address the California budget crisis, explaining the need to cut and streamline the budget while raising taxes to make up the shortfall. LAist reports that the $500-per-plate fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce "is recognized as the premier business and civic leadership event in Los Angeles."

Comments

[Mustang00]

03:04 PM on 02/23/2011

Nice PR stunt...really means nothing. He thinks it will give him an opportunity to criticize Arnold.
So, Jerry Brown is now back to fix the mess that began with him.

[mendodnem]

08:31 PM on 03/09/2011

I don't think of this as a publicity stunt. Several years ago I was on the same Southwest flight as Jerry. No special accommodation for him. I have also seen him in the Southwest
terminal.

[Max Imus]

06:12 PM on 02/13/2011

add this to the list of things Meg Whitman is incapable of.

[mobut]

05:29 AM on 02/13/2011

good for him

[DeeEmm1]

10:30 PM on 02/12/2011

Looks like I cast a winning vote for once.

[LAJoe]

04:11 AM on 02/12/2011

Go Jerry...awesome!

[LibertyRoy]

04:11 AM on 02/12/2011

blah

[jerryfromcalifornia]

07:49 PM on 02/11/2011

And thats why I voted for him. A practical man.

[Sergeant]

08:04 PM on 02/11/2011

He is practical. And frugal. Not always consistent with liberal philosophy.

[stargazer13]

02:19 PM on 02/12/2011

I see some one,s been lying to you again !!

[norepublicanleftbehind]

05:00 PM on 02/11/2011

I don't agree with Brown on everything but he has integrity.

It's nice to have a lead by example person in the Governor's office instead of the parade we have become so used to.

[WhereBeTheOilBeezys]

04:34 PM on 02/11/2011

Good for Brown, though I have a bit of a pessimistic voice in the back of my head mentioning how this could be a great PR move on his part. Side-affect from seeing politicians use the media for their own gain in these "chance" encounters.

[KickstandCat]

05:09 PM on 02/11/2011

Don't worry. He's always been like this, even the 1st time around.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

07:51 PM on 02/11/2011

If it was PR there would have a large group of reporters not just one.

[blukazoo]

04:12 PM on 02/11/2011

Good for him! He probably saves the state tens of thousands of dollars each time he does it.

[SgtLucifer]

03:42 PM on 02/11/2011

I hope he gets a transfer ticket on the # 10 bus to be on time for the $500 a plate dinner.
- Unnecessar­y frugality is unimpressi­ve and somewhat shallow.
- Jerry Brown is a millionair­e, and I am sure the State of California is not so broke that the state legislatur­e would not commit a security detail and an executive plane for the state's governor.
- as a voter (of course not in California­), I am not fooled by the Jerry's show as "man of the people"
- Jerry definitely believes in sacrificin­g valuable time to save a pittance.
Good work, Jerry... but we are not impressed.

[koalaholik]

05:51 PM on 02/11/2011

This is how Jerry Brown really is. His family has a long history of public service inCalifornia. He was the same way when he was governor 30 years ago. It is hard to recognize, but the man really has integrity.

[dyannne]

06:00 PM on 02/11/2011

You may not be impressed Sgt. (and no doubt a Republican probably not even a Californian), but there are a helluva lot of us who are.

[planetmondo]

02:56 PM on 02/11/2011

just a point of clarity -to people who are concerned about the Governors safety ; The Gov was dropped off at the terminal entrance once inside he (as are all passengers) is protected by TSA air marshals, and airport security. If he is in danger during the time he is in the airport or plane then we are spending billions of dollars for nothing.
As Mayor Jerry would take walks sometimes un-accompanied in downtown Oakland.We knew Gov Brown was frugal and leads by example so we should not be surprised by this.
If California wants a insulated private jet flying King that only listens to his private group of yes people then we elected the wrong man.

[spilkus]

02:05 PM on 02/11/2011

I think the best part of his biography is that he was a priest and got the pope to let him out of his vows. He has the character to realize when something is a bad idea and change course.

[planetmondo]

03:00 PM on 02/11/2011

how about the years he spent with Mother Theresa working hospice in the slums of Calcutta India.Governor brown is a truly amazing person . Ca -we done good!:)

[Jazz88105]

03:35 PM on 02/11/2011

The Governor left the Novitiate prior to taking final vows, no need for the Pope to become involved.

[spilkus]

05:06 PM on 02/13/2011

Yeah, I might be conflating two people's bios. I didn't mean to spread false info. I read of some one I greatly admire who appealed to the pope and was excused maybe from his wedding vows. Mea Culpa.

[mea25]

01:35 PM on 02/11/2011

The rest of the country looks to California to lead the way (whether or not they are willing to admit it). We led the way for the world way back in the 90's when we started the ball rolling with banning smoking in public places. We go our own way with regard to environmental issues and energy, and I hope we will take the lead for the nation when it comes to turning away from continuing to put all our American eggs in the petroleum basket. We must get serious, committed and disciplined about alternative energy sources and essential research/development if we are ever to break the vicious cycle of oil dependence. Also, the world looks to California in the areas of stem cell research and high tech. My point is: if all of us tighten our belts, we can hopefully get California back on course. The world is watching. Jerry Brown is the right man to lead us forward. He certainly has his work cut out for him.

[zizizzi]

06:36 PM on 02/11/2011

Agreed, and add single payer health care to the list.

[NamithaSF]

07:36 PM on 02/13/2011

California is now leading the way with record state deficit spending and unemployment.

Yeah, the world is getting an eyeful.

[mea25]

10:57 PM on 02/13/2011

Why so snarky Namitha? I realize you're bummed that your gal Meg spent somewhere North of $170 million to buy the governorship and still self imploded but hey.... Nevada has the highest unemployment rate. Regrettably, Ahnuld Schwarz, the movie star Repub who's overseen things for the past seven years has left the state in a nightmare mess. You will note that I state in my post that California has always led the way in our nation--we are the innovative state where visionaries choose to live and prosper. We, as a nation, have indeed fallen upon hard and challenging times. But California WILL rise again. Unlike people like you, a majority of Americans root for us and have an irrational exuberance and love for California. We and New York are the two favored vacation stops year after year after year. But you go ahead: kick us while we're down.

[mamacat]

01:29 PM on 02/11/2011

Good for him!

[clutchkill]

01:26 PM on 02/11/2011

Lets see more Govs doing the same thing! I gaurentee my gov, Christie the Hut, wouldn't be caught dead flying solo on Southwest.