California Senate Republicans are accusing Governor Gavin Newsom of a “public relations stunt” after he announced a new plan to remove homeless camps across the state by executive order. Republicans blasted Newsom in a press release after he announced the plan Thursday. The governor’s office said the governor has “ordered state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies to urgently address homeless camps while respecting the dignity and well-being of people across California.”
“Finally! Allowing people to live and die on our streets and in our parks is dangerous and unhealthy,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego). “Earlier this year, I introduced a proposal that would have provided a more effective and more immediate solution. I am cautiously optimistic that the Governor has finally recognized the urgency of this problem, but it is years behind schedule. Californians need a government that is for the people, not a PR blitz.”
Governor Newsom orders demolition of homeless camps across California: ‘No more excuses’
On the left is Governor Gavin Newsom, and on the right are people at a homeless camp in California. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
Senate Bill 1011The bill, introduced in February by Jones and all Republican senators, was a bipartisan effort to do more to remove homeless camps, but was killed by Democrats on the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Senate Republicans have introduced several bills in recent years to address California’s widespread and growing homelessness problem, but they have largely faced resistance from Governor Newsom and Democratic lawmakers.
“Homelessness is one of the greatest challenges facing us today, and we urgently need swift, decisive and effective action to address it,” said Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks). “This executive order is a good step, but it will require significant follow-through to ensure its effectiveness.”
According to a statement from Governor Newsom’s office, the executive order “directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies for responding to emergency encampments on state lands, including taking necessary and prudent steps to notify and assist residents before removing an encampment.”
The governor said this initiative Supreme Court ruling Last month, in Grants Pass v. Johnson, the court ruled that laws restricting sleeping in public places do not violate constitutional limits on “cruel and unusual punishment.”
California’s mega-housing tower offers private rooms, gym, cafe, and other amenities to the homeless
“Our state has worked hard to address this crisis on our streets,” said Governor Newsom. “There are no longer any excuses. Now is the time for everyone to do their part.”
This command: Tens of thousands homeless in California They set up long-term encampments, using drugs in the open and taking over entire city blocks.
“Big promises. No action. Blame locals. No coverage. Repeat,” Republican state Assembly Leader James Gallagher posted on X in response to Gov. Newsom’s order.
California Republican leaders demand accountability, say state fails to account for $24 billion spent on homelessness
A homeless encampment spreads out on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Some California Democrats are questioning why Gov. Gavin Newsom’s homeless task force has failed to track whether the billions of dollars spent on curbing homelessness over the past five years have been effective. (Toby Canham for Fox News Digital)
In April, California Republican leaders called for more accountability after an audit found the state had spent about $24 billion on homelessness over the past five years but had not consistently tracked whether the huge expenditures of public funds actually helped improve the problem.
The state auditor’s report found that despite spending about $24 billion on homelessness and housing assistance programs between 2018 and 2023, the problem has not improved in many cities.
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According to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California: 2023 Point in Time (PIT) Count A report released in December estimated the number of people experiencing homelessness in California to be more than 180,000, a 6% increase since the previous count.
Fox News Digital’s Timothy Nerozzi and Bradford Betts contributed to this report.
