On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom sent a stern message to local governments, including Los Angeles County, saying that they are not acting quickly enough to remove homeless encampments.
Newsom made a strong statement while standing in front of a cleared homeless encampment in L.A. He stated that the state would begin withholding funding from cities and counties that are not taking adequate action to evacuate people from encampments and shelter them. The implementation of this strict measure could take place as early as January.
According to Newsom, there are no more excuses when it comes to addressing homelessness in California. He stated, “We’re done with the excuses. The last big excuse was, ‘Well, the courts are saying we can’t do anything.’ Well, that’s no longer the case, so we had a simple executive order: Do your job.” He emphasized that there is no longer any reason to delay action, as the money, flexibility, green light, and support from the state are all available. Moreover, the public is demanding action on this pressing issue.
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As part of his intensified efforts to encourage local governments to take action against encampments, Governor Newsom announced on Thursday. In the previous month, Newsom had directed state agencies to initiate the removal of encampments on state land. He also urged local governments to do the same, although he lacks the legal authority to enforce such action.
Following a lower court ruling that stated individuals could not be compelled to vacate encampments if no shelter beds were available, the executive order was issued by the U.S. Supreme Court. The state administration of Newsom supported the cities’ claims that previous judgments had prevented the state from resolving a major problem, including one that prohibited San Francisco from clearing encampments.
Governor Newsom commended Los Angeles and Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program. However, he disputed L.A. County’s assertion that the executive order turns homelessness into a criminal offense. The governor clarified that the order outlines a plan for providing services and support to the homeless population.
On Friday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger spoke with Eyewitness News, stating that pointing fingers won’t solve the homeless crisis. Although most L.A. County supervisors are currently in Paris for the Olympics, Barger emphasized the importance of finding effective solutions to address this pressing issue.
“I would be more than happy to explain to the governor our approach, as we are working towards the same goal,” she expressed. “I do not intend to criticize his directive, as I fully endorse his intentions. I aim to ensure that we are all working together towards a common objective. Clearing the encampment may seem like a solution, but without proper coordination with other relevant authorities, the issue will only resurface elsewhere.”
According to Barger, Pathway Home was designed based on the model of Inside Safe. She believes the executive order is effective even though it requires more time than the 48-hour notice that Caltrans requires for encampments.
According to Barger, “We are all on the same team here. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to work together to bring our state back to its former glory. This is not a matter of him versus us or us versus him.”
To accommodate patients who need locked facilities while undergoing involuntary treatment, L.A. County released a statement stating that new bed capacity is necessary. The statement emphasizes the importance of taking such steps before moving people off the streets for their health and safety, as it would otherwise fail. However, LA County is not idle in this regard and has already moved hundreds of people indoors through its Pathway Home encampment resolution program. Additionally, the county has extended extensive support to the City of LA’s Inside Safe program, which has provided shelter to thousands of other individuals.
According to the county, outreach teams funded by them had previously visited the Pacoima encampment, which was cleared with the assistance of the governor on Thursday, and offered housing to the residents.
Approximately one-third of the United States’ homeless population resides in California, a pressing issue that Governor Newsom has been grappling with since he assumed office. Across the state, freeways are lined with thousands of tents and makeshift shelters, while public parks and parking lots are filled with them.
According to Newsom, the state has spent about $24 billion during his leadership to address the issue of homelessness. This includes grants worth at least $3.2 billion given to local governments to construct shelters, eliminate encampments, and provide support services to homeless individuals.
He stated that the state has made unprecedented investments, but his administration will begin redirecting those funds in 2025.
Governor Newsom emphasized that the issue at hand is not about criminalizing individuals. Instead, he highlighted the importance of acknowledging and addressing the struggles and suffering of those who are experiencing hardship and loss. As he stated, neglecting to provide support and aid to those in need is what truly constitutes a criminal act.
Governor Newsom has made it clear that he is committed to addressing the issue of homelessness and has taken action in the past to ensure that local governments are doing their part. He previously threatened to withhold $1 billion in homelessness spending from cities and counties in 2022 due to the lack of progress. Recently, he even clawed back a $10-million grant that was intended for San Diego to build tiny homes because the county did not act fast enough. This demonstrates his determination to hold local officials accountable for their efforts to combat homelessness.
The mayor of San Francisco has recently implemented a more assertive approach to address the issue of encampments.
The California State Association of Counties, a representative body for all 58 counties in the state, has chosen to remain silent on the governor’s recent announcement. When asked for comment, a spokesperson referred to a statement released in response to Newsom’s previous order, which indicated that the counties will continue to collaborate with the governor and support his efforts to address urgent issues.
