Governor Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, has instructed cities to clear out homeless encampments from public areas following a Supreme Court ruling that relaxed enforcement rules.
Newsom had been against making homelessness a criminal issue, but after a major setback for Democrats in recent elections, he appears to be shifting toward a more centrist stance.
“Local leaders sought resources. We provided the biggest national investment in history.”
This past Monday, Newsom announced a framework that gives cities the authority to remove homeless tents from sidewalks, bike paths, parks, and other public properties.
He stated, “There’s no better excuse. Local leaders sought resources—we provided the biggest national investment in history. They sought legal clarity—the courts delivered. Now we can create a model where they can efficiently address this issue, relocate camps, and connect people with shelter and care.”
Newsom highlighted the Supreme Court’s decision allowing cities to enforce laws on public homeless encampments, regardless of the availability of shelter beds. He had previously commended the ruling.
In 2024, it was revealed that around 187,000 homeless individuals were living in California.
Predictably, advocates for the homeless expressed outrage over this directive.
Jesse Rabinowitz from the National Center for Homelessness Law remarked, “Unfortunately, Newsom and Trump are using the same ineffective approach. We see through this deceptive strategy and will continue to advocate for genuine solutions like housing and services.”
Model ordinances can be found on YouTube from KTLA-TV.
