California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom As the state grapples with a severe budget deficit while also focusing on achieving climate change equity goals, it has proposed deep cuts to the budget for public safety, including prisons and law enforcement.
The California Democrat released a budget in May that called for “difficult decisions” to address an estimated $27.6 billion deficit expected to continue for the next few years. The budget proposal included $97 million in cuts to court operations, $10 million to the Department of Law Enforcement and more than $80 million to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
A spokesperson for Governor Newsom initially told Fox News Digital that there would be “no cuts to law enforcement.”
“The budget proposes many ways to make government more efficient and reduce the burden on taxpayers, including reducing spending on prisoners. Since Governor Newsom took office in 2019, the state has made record investments in law enforcement, including $1.1 billion to fight crime, support police and hold criminals accountable,” the spokesperson said.
“I view what’s happening in California as the greatest disrespect for taxpayer resources in the history of the United States,” Florida’s chief financial officer told Fox News Digital. (Fox News Digital | Getty)
But Treasury officials acknowledged that the state Department of Justice’s overall budget proposal was cut by 1.6 percent.
“What’s going on in California is the greatest disregard for taxpayer assets in the history of the United States,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy T. Patronis told Fox News Digital. “They’re panicking. They’re taking a nosedive. They’re looking for money to make up for this huge budget deficit that they have right now.”
Mr. Patronis argued that population exodus from California was contributing to the growing budget deficit, after a United Van Lines study released earlier this year found that the state had the largest net loss of one-way travelers.
What’s more, California’s green energy policies have led to the stagnation and decline of blue-collar businesses, according to a Chapman University study published in April, which found that California’s skyrocketing housing prices, exacerbated by environmental regulations, are also driving an exodus of the state’s historically white middle class.
Nevertheless, Governor Newsom has proposed shifting funds from the General Fund to allocate $1.7 billion to climate change goals, specifically related to “equity programs.”
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Patronis also said California’s budget deficit was partly caused by businesses fleeing the state due to high crime rates, and added that Newsom’s proposed cuts to law enforcement would only exacerbate the “vicious cycle.” Florida, meanwhile, has a budget surplus.
“Ultimately, it’s a vicious cycle of weakening the prison system” that leads to “weakening incarceration,” and “that’s kind of the story coming out of California right now,” Patronis said. “San Francisco is kind of a textbook example of corporations fleeing a once-thriving city.”
San Francisco has had 8,686 thefts so far this year, excluding 1,962 burglaries and 2,298 auto thefts. Latest Crime Statistics.
This year alone, retailers including Aldo, J. Crew and Madewell have announced they will close stores at the San Francisco center, following a trend of big box stores pulling out of Northern California cities and leaving large vacant storefronts in shopping malls. ReportedlyThe North Face and Macy’s are also set to close in early 2024, with Zara expected to follow suit in 2025.
Governor’s Office pointed Violent and property crimes decreased in the first quarter of this year compared to last year.
Homeless encampments line the streets of Oakland, California, on Friday, March 15, 2024. The city continues to struggle with a homeless problem as nearby businesses close due to safety concerns. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
The $80 million cut from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is intended to eliminate 4,600 beds in 13 prisons. Governor Newsom also proposed making significant cuts to law enforcement training and cutting $4.4 million from county probation departments.
Meanwhile, California lawmakers are opposed to some of the proposed cuts to the public safety budget, specifically a $15 million cut from the Department of Justice, H.D. Palmer, deputy director of external affairs at the Treasury Department, told Fox News Digital.
“These proposed cuts are unallocated cuts and it is up to departments to decide how to implement them,” Palmer said.
Parliament has until June 15 to approve the budget, which is due to take effect in July.
Patronis said Florida’s economic success is due in part to Governor Newsom’s failure to keep Californians safe.
“Gavin Newsom is the one who needs to be held accountable,” he said. “If you create a safe environment, people will want to relocate their businesses.”
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“You created the environment [in California] “There … they’re cutting budgets for police and law enforcement. So in the state of Florida, we’ve taken advantage of their poor governance,” Patronis continued. “We offered incentive bonuses. We actually recruited law enforcement officers from the state of Florida with a $5,000 recruiting bonus. And we brought in law enforcement officers from all 50 states.”
One worker was injured and another was killed after a truck veered onto the shoulder of a Southern California highway. (Fox News)
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Patronis also has concerns about Newsom’s future ambitions.
“I think he wants to be president one day… He can lie on camera as easily as anybody,” he said. “I’m not happy to see someone with that kind of willful mindset in charge of our economy.”
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Fox News’ Hannah Panrec and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
