California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing cities to clear homeless encampments, a move applauded by state Sen. Catherine Blakespear, who recently co-authored a bill aimed at doing the same. The order requires state agencies to clear camps on state property and encourages local governments to do the same on city and county land.
San Diego’s “Unsafe Camping Ordinance” has been modeled after Blakespear and Jones’ bill, but the ban on camping has shifted homeless encampments to other areas. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria praised Newsom’s order, emphasizing alignment between state and city efforts to address homelessness.
The 2nd Annual Ending Homelessness Summit brought together local officials to discuss solutions to the ongoing crisis, highlighting California’s housing shortage as a key driver of homelessness. Despite spending billions of dollars on homeless programs, the state faces challenges in reducing homelessness as the majority of individuals served are not placed in permanent housing.
Advocates at the summit called for measures to prevent homelessness, build more homes, and provide housing assistance. Additionally, several bills sponsored by San Diego lawmakers to address fentanyl-related deaths have been passed in California this year.
The California Coastal Commission released a draft guide on Sea Level Rise Policy, highlighting the challenges coastal communities face due to rising sea levels. The report provides guidelines for addressing these risks, emphasizing the importance of protecting existing structures and conserving natural ecosystems. Public comments on the report will be accepted until Sept. 23.
Source
Photo credit voiceofsandiego.org
