California Gov. Gavin Newsom discussed advancements in reproductive health protections and addressing homelessness last month during the State of the State address.
“People across the globe look to California to see what’s possible and how we can live together, advance together, and prosper together across every conceivable and imaginable difference,” Newsom said.
The California way of life, however, is under attack as conservatives and “delusional California bashers” have attempted to roll back social, racial, and economic justice, Newsom said. For decades, Newsom has championed women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, while expanding civil rights, he said. He discussed the state’s work on protecting reproductive freedom.
“For our detractors, the distorted prism of political pandering means cutting healthcare benefits, and telling a woman she’s not in charge of her own body. When it comes to reproductive rights, their lies are designed to control. Their draconian policies are driving women to flee across state lines as fugitives from laws written by men more than 100 years ago. Some even go so far as to force victims of assault to give birth to their rapist’s babies,” Newsom said.
Newsom said politicians in other states are stripping reproductive rights, but California stands as a beacon of self-determination, and has passed some of the strongest laws in the nation to protect the health of birthing people, Medi-Cal providers, doctors, and healthcare facilities.
“We will never turn our backs on women or threaten their freedom to travel.”
— Newsom
Newsom spoke briefly about the border crisis, and said a vast majority of fentanyl seized at the border came from port entries, which is why he deployed the National Guard to counter the flow of the drug.
“These operations have resulted in the seizure of over 62,000 pounds of fentanyl in 2023—a 1,066 percent increase since 2021,” Newsom said.
In the first five months of this year, an estimated 5.8 million pills containing fentanyl were seized, according to Newsom.
One of the biggest issues California continues to face is rising rates of homelessness. Newsom said one of his administration’s recent successes was clearing thousands of dangerous encampments, and then housing tens of thousands of people.
“California has now provided shelter for more than 71,000 people. While the causes of homelessness are indeed complex, the solution is rather simple: housing and supportive services,” Newsom said.
Newsom said reforms are specifically focused on housing and supportive services, and now all cities and counties are required to account for how they spend taxpayer dollars aiming to connect people to supportive housing. Earlier this year, Newsom announced the availability of approximately $200 million in state funds allocated for encampment cleanups and sheltering those in need.
This funding was part of the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) and is supporting 20 projects in 17 different communities to assist people with transitioning from experiencing homelessness to housing. This project aims to support about 3,600 people, with 2,200 of them receiving permanent housing. Newsom said this new measure will include and increase oversight of state homelessness funding to ensure accountability of local jurisdictions. Newsom said local governments must ensure this funding is being utilized on the ground. ERF has yet to publish resources related to reporting and compliance.
Newsom discussed California’s CARE Court treatment and housing program, which assists those with serious mental illness, noting it has been critical for exhausted and financially distressed families. Newsom said CARE Court will be up and running in every county in the state by the end of the year.
Readers interested in learning more about California health policy can register to attend the 2024 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference on Sept. 11 at the Westin Pasadena Hotel. A “Looking Forward: The Legislative Health Policy Landscape in California” panel will be held at 2:15 p.m.