California Governor Gavin Newsom was seen apparently avoiding the limelight as he was spotted clearing out a homeless encampment in Los Angeles.
The Democrat, 56, stepped out on Thursday to personally tackle his state’s homeless epidemic, days after he ordered California agencies to step up their efforts to combat the issue.
Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, Newsom was seen in a clip shared by a FOX Los Angeles reporter throwing away junk around an encampment in Mission Hills.
Earlier this week, the governor warned local California governments they would lose out on state funding next year if they didn’t clean up homelessness plaguing the Golden State.
California Governor Gavin Newsom dressed down as he cleared a homeless encampment in Los Angeles on Thursday
The Democrat got his hands dirty days after threatening to withhold state funding if local California authorities didn’t step up clearing homeless encampments
Newsom’s warning over state funding follows a June 25 executive order he signed that mandated state agencies and communities to remove homeless encampments.
In the executive order, Newsom cited the staggering levels of homelessness in California, with official estimates placing the number of rough sleepers in the state in 2023 at 180,000 people.
Newsom said in a statement at the time that it is ‘imperative to act with urgency’ to tackle the ‘dangerous’ homeless encampments.
‘(The encampments) subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use,’ he said.
‘Harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources.’
Although the executive order intended to clear the encampments, Newsom insisted that the move would also ‘assist individuals living in them.’
‘The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part,’ he said.
Last month, Newsom issued an executive order that mandated state agencies and communities to remove homeless encampments, an issue that has plagued his time in office
Homeless people are seen on the streets of San Francisco on July 31, 2024, shortly after Newsom issued his executive order to clear the encampments
The California governor has threatened to withhold state funding from counties that fail to clear homelessness, seen in San Francisco last month
After his apparent attempt to get his hands dirty clearing the area on Thursday, Newsom vowed to strip state funding from local authorities that he felt are not pulling their weight.
‘I want to see results,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to read about them. I don’t want to see the data. I want to see it.’
The executive order came after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that said governments could not force people to leave encampments if there weren’t any shelter beds available.
Newsom’s administration wrote in support of cities’ arguments that previous rulings, including one that barred San Francisco from clearing encampments, have prevented the state from solving a critical problem.
California is home to roughly one-third of the nation’s population of homeless people, a problem that has dogged Newsom since he took office.
There are thousands of tents and makeshift shelters across the state that line freeways, and fill parking lots and public parks.
The state has spent roughly $24 billion under Newsom’s leadership to clean up streets and house people.
That includes at least $3.2 billion in grants given to local government to build shelters, clear encampments and connect homeless people to services as they see fit, Newsom said.
According to Newsom’s office, roughly 180,000 people are homeless in California, making up over a third of the entire nation’s homeless population
California has spent roughly $24 billion under Newsom’s leadership to clean up streets and house people, but the governor said the issue is still rife across the state
As he issued his call for action, Newsom said he ‘wants to see results’, adding: ‘I don’t want to read about them. I don’t want to see the data. I want to see it’
Those have been unprecedented investments from the state, he added, but his administration will start redirecting that money in January.
‘This is not about criminalization,’ Newsom said. ‘What’s criminal is neglecting people that are struggling and suffering and dying on our watch.’
It’s not the first time Newsom has vowed to cut funding over what he sees as the lackluster efforts from local governments to address homelessness.
In 2022, he threatened to withhold $1 billion in homelessness spending from cities and counties over the lack of progress.
Last month, his office clawed back a $10-million grant sent to San Diego to build tiny homes because the county didn’t act fast enough.
San Francisco’s mayor has taken more aggressive action in clearing encampments, but others, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and LA County officials, have pushed back, saying the governor’s approach won’t work.
Newsom on Thursday praised Bass’ work at successfully reducing the number of people sleeping outside in Los Angeles, adding his frustration is mostly directed toward counties.
California State Association of Counties, which represents 58 counties in California, said it won’t weigh in on the governor’s announcement Thursday.
A spokesperson instead pointed to a statement in response to Newsom’s order last month that the counties ‘will continue to work together with the Governor and share his sense of urgency.’