NE Sacramento News

Governor Newsom has issued an executive order directing state agencies to begin clearing homeless encampments from state lands and urging local governments to do the same. This move is reminiscent of previous efforts by California Republican legislators on the issue over recent years.

“It’s about damn time! Letting people live and die on the streets or in our parks is unsafe and unsanitary,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego). “I introduced a proposal earlier this year that would have provided even greater and more immediate solutions. While I am cautiously optimistic that the governor has finally taken note of the urgency of this problem, albeit many years later than needed, Californians deserve government for the people, not the PR hits.”

Senate Bill 1011, introduced by Jones and all Senate Republicans in February, was a bipartisan effort aimed at compassionately clearing homeless encampments but was rejected by Democrats in the Senate Committee on Public Safety. Senate Republicans have introduced numerous bills in recent years to address California's growing homelessness crisis but have faced resistance from Newsom and legislative Democrats.

“Homelessness is one of the biggest challenges we face today, and it is imperative we take swift, decisive, and effective action to address it,” said Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks). “This executive order is a good step but it will require significant follow through to ensure its effectiveness.”