California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a stern ultimatum to local governments: address homelessness encampments now or forfeit state funding in the next fiscal year. Speaking from a recently cleared encampment in Los Angeles, Newsom emphasized his demand for tangible outcomes rather than mere data, stating, "I want to see results. I don't want to read about them."
This announcement marks an intensification of Newsom's campaign to mandate local actions on homelessness. Although the California governor lacks legal authority to compel local governments, he has directed state agencies to clear encampments on state land and urged localities to follow suit. Newsom's call for action follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that governments can dismantle encampments even without available shelter beds—a significant pivot in policy.
Under Newsom's leadership, California has allocated about $24 billion to combat homelessness, including $3.2 billion in direct grants for local initiatives. However, frustration with perceived inefficacy has led to threats of financial repercussions for noncompliance. Despite efforts lauded in certain areas—such as those by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass—Newsom's impatience lies mainly with county-level inaction. The California State Association of Counties remains neutral on Newsom's latest directive. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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