Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing California officials to dismantle homeless camps across the state.
Newsom announced the plan on Thursday, with his office saying he has “directed state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address the issue of homeless camps while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.”
“This executive order directs state agencies to act urgently to address unsafe encampments and provide support and assistance to the people who live there, and provides guidance to cities and counties to do the same,” Governor Newsom said in a statement.
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A homeless encampment can be seen on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. (Toby Canham for Fox News Digital)
“The state government has worked hard to address the crisis in our city,” he added. “There are no more excuses. Now is the time for everyone to play their part.”
The order is expected to affect tens of thousands of California’s homeless who set up long-term encampments, use drugs outdoors and take over entire city blocks.
The governor’s office emphasized that individuals who live in affected campsites will be notified in advance.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom campaigned for President Biden at a county Democratic Party event in South Haven, Michigan. (Chris Dumond/Shutterstock)
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 argues that his efforts were spurred by the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass v. Johnson decision last month, which found that laws restricting sleeping in public places do not violate constitutional restrictions against “cruel and unusual punishment.”
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Homeless encampments line the streets of Oakland, California. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
The decision, which is expected to spur other anti-encampment policies in cities across the country, was made by a 6-3 vote along ideological lines.
Newsom had urged the Supreme Court to consider the case, saying court decisions barring governments from punishing vagrants who occupy public spaces create “insurmountable obstacles” to addressing the crisis.
