GOP mocks Gavin Newsom’s ‘brag’ over modest increase in homelessness hike
California Republican leaders have taken aim at Governor Gavin Newsom’s response to a critical analysis of his handling of the state’s homelessness crisis. State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones criticized Newsom, pointing to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s year-end Homelessness Assessment Report as evidence of his failure to address the issue effectively.
Jones highlighted that California topped the list for homelessness, with a 3% increase to 187,000 individuals experiencing homelessness. He called out Newsom for allegedly losing track of the $27 billion allocated to address the crisis. Jones emphasized that any increase in homelessness is not a sign of progress and slammed Newsom’s spending as exacerbating the problem.
The report also noted alarming increases in family homelessness in states like Illinois, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Colorado. Despite these statistics, Newsom’s office defended his administration’s efforts, pointing to various initiatives aimed at addressing systemic issues contributing to homelessness, such as Prop 1, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, and the BH-Connect waiver.
The California State Assembly Republican caucus echoed Jones’ criticisms, emphasizing that a 20% increase in homelessness is far from progress. They highlighted Newsom’s response to recent criticism, where he emphasized the need for urgency and results at the local level. Newsom’s office also pointed out that the rate of unsheltered homelessness grew slower during his administration compared to the previous five years under Gov. Jerry Brown.
Assembly Republicans underscored the importance of holding local officials accountable and implementing effective solutions to combat homelessness. Jones, the Senate minority leader, co-sponsored bipartisan legislation focused on compassionate enforcement of encampment violations. One proposal aimed to address disorderly conduct related to unauthorized lodging in public or private places by providing a 72-hour notice before any indictment.
Despite these efforts, critics argue that Newsom’s response to the homelessness crisis has been insufficient, with the issue likely to be a focal point for his potential Democratic presidential primary challengers in 2028. As the debate continues, it remains clear that addressing California’s homelessness crisis will require comprehensive and effective solutions from state leadership.
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