California’s auditor general has raised concerns about Governor Gavin Newsom’s initiative to invest millions in youth volunteer programs. The auditor contends that Newsom hasn’t sufficiently justified the need for a “belonging movement” during a significant budget crisis.
In a recent emotional press conference, Newsom unveiled a plan to recruit 10,000 new members for the California Service Corps, a statewide project that places volunteers in diverse roles, including teaching, disaster response, and environmental efforts.
“I’m sorry, this is embarrassing,” Newsom admitted, visibly emotional. “Just turn off all the noise. Listen to this. This is what it’s really about.”
The initiative focuses primarily on encouraging more young men to engage in community service, with the aim of fostering career growth and social connection. “Too many boys feel isolated and aimless,” the governor stated, describing this initiative as a broader effort to tackle rising unemployment and declining mental health issues among youth.
During his State of the State speech in January, he highlighted alarming statistics regarding youth challenges.
However, a report from the California Office of Legislative Analysis questions the rationale behind these efforts, particularly regarding the collaborations with external organizations, especially given the current state budget constraints.
“One in seven men has no friends, and half of young men have never even asked a woman out,” he remarked, emphasizing that boys and young men are facing significant struggles.
Newsom is advocating for a one-time allocation of $5 million from the general fund to promote outreach related to the state’s programs, aiming to cultivate an “enhanced sense of belonging” among Californians.
The auditors, however, recommended that the Legislature should reject the proposal, citing a lack of clarity regarding the issues the initiative intends to address, the necessity for public relations efforts, the intended use of the funds, and how success will be evaluated.
A report has pointed out that states were developing their own staffing and management systems to support volunteer programs, raising concerns about monitoring, coordination, and overall effectiveness.
The $5 million proposed for the Belonging Campaign is intended to be managed by the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, known as GO-SERVE.
Auditors flagged the funding request, arguing that without clear understanding of the issues at hand, and with the limited resources available, the campaign should not be prioritized.
In the 2025-26 budget proposal, $225 million has been allocated for GO-SERVE, of which $184 million would come from the general fund.
The governor’s office has not yet commented on the criticisms of Newsom’s initiative.
