Newsom: Cities, counties must visibly reduce homelessness or lose state funds

[KARAH RUCKER]

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SAYS HE WILL START REALLOCATING FUNDS FROM CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT FAIL TO SHOW CLEAR PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.

NEWSOM WANTS TO SEE PROGRESS TO A PROBLEM THE STATE HAS STRUGGLED TO ADDRESS – A BOOMING HOMELESS POPULATION.

THIS LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT BEING A REPERCUSSION FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES HE SAYS ARE NOT DOING THEIR PART – AND NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT NEWSOM CALLS “AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES” AVAILABLE.

CALIFORNIA HAS THE LARGEST HOMELESS POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY –

180 THOUSAND OF THE 653 THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS NATIONWIDE RESIDE IN THE GOLDEN STATE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR –

NEWSOM SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO REMOVE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS FROM STATE-OWNED LAND AND URGED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO THE SAME. 

THIS WEEK NEWSOM TOOK THE MATTER INTO HIS OWN HANDS –

ASSISTING WORKERS IN CLEARING A HOMELESS CAMP IN LOS ANGELES –

AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARPLY CRITICIZE **LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR NOT UTILIZING STATE RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS.

[GAVIN NEWSOM]

“I want to see results, i don’t want to read about them, I don’t want to see the data. I want to see it by believing it by seeing people back up on their feet and gets those streets cleaned, tents off the streets.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

NEWSOM SHARING THE DESIRES OF MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS –

TO SEE TANGIBLE RESULTS.

AND NOW – IF THE RESULTS AREN’T VISIBLE IN LOCAL CITIES –

THEIR STATE FUNDING COULD SUFFER FOR IT.

NEWSOM SAYING MONEY COULD BE REDIRECTED ELSEWHERE AS EARLY AS JANUARY WHEN THE STATE REVIEWS ITS BUDGET.

WHILE MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT THERE SHOULDN’T BE SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS –

**HOW TO ACCOMPLISH SOLVING HOMELESSNESS IS OFTEN A POINT OF CONTENTION.

SOME MUNICIPALITIES PUSHED BACK AGAINST NEWSOM –

SAYING FORCING THE REMOVAL OF ENCAMPMENTS WILL LEAD TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED BY POLICE.

BUT NEWSOM RESPONDED SAYING HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CITATIONS OR CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS.

[GAVIN NEWSOM]

“This is not about criminalization. What’s criminal, is neglecting people who are struggling and suffering and dying on our watch. That’s criminal.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

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