California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) plans to cut funding to cities and counties that aren’t working to solve their homelessness problems, warning Thursday that he will redirect the money to cities that are working to solve the problem.
The threat follows the president’s executive order last month calling on local governments to “urgently address homeless encampments.” He called on cities and counties to “do their jobs.”
“We’re going to send that money to counties that are delivering results.”
Governor Newsom argued that his decision to implement the measure was due to a Supreme Court ruling in June that found laws restricting sleeping in public are not unconstitutional.
At the time Governor Newsom issued the executive order, he said that solving homelessness in California was one of his top concerns, but under his leadership the homelessness problem has only gotten worse.
According to Cal Matters, there are roughly 181,000 homeless people in the state, but only 71,000 emergency shelter beds.
Newsom said Thursday that local governments that don’t comply with his recent executive orders will have state funding cut off, CNN reported. ReportedHe said he expects cities and counties to “adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state lands” that will produce “tangible results.”
Newsom asserted that local governments are receiving “unprecedented funding” from the state.
“There are no more excuses. You have the money, you have the flexibility, you have the go-ahead, you have state support, and the public is demanding it,” he said. “I’m here representing 40 million Californians who are fed up. I’m here because I am one of them. I want to see results.”
Governor Newsom insisted that the executive order “is not about criminalization.”
“It is a crime to ignore the people who are struggling and suffering and dying under our watch,” he continued. “It is our belief that local governments need to act. This is a crisis, and they should act as such.”
According to the governor, the state is “redirecting[ing] The government will begin drafting the budget in January and will inject some “money”.
“I’m a taxpayer, I’m not the governor. It’s not complicated,” Newsom said. said“We’re going to send that money to counties that are delivering results.”
Last month, Governor Newsom vetoed a Assembly bill that would have required the Governor to submit an annual assessment of the funding the state provides for homeless housing, assistance and prevention programs.
Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher slammed Newsom for rejecting the bill, saying, “Gavin likes spending money. Oversight? Not so much.”
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