SACRAMENTO, California – California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies on Thursday to begin removing homeless encampments on state land, in his boldest move yet, following a Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to impose the ban on sleeping outdoors in public spaces.
This executive order directs state agencies “to act urgently to address dangerous encampments while also supporting and assisting the individuals living in them.” It also provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same, which applies pressure on them even though they are not legally bound to the order.
California is home to approximately one third of the country’s homeless population, a problem that has dogged Newsom since he took office. There are thousands of tents and makeshift shelters across the state that line highways and fill parking lots and public parks.
Under Newsom’s direction, state agencies — including state parks and the transportation department — would be required to prioritize cleaning up campsites that pose safety risks, such as those along waterways. Authorities must give homeless people “reasonable” advance notice, offer to connect them to local services and help store their belongings for at least 60 days. Local cities and counties are urged to adopt similar protocols.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court knocked down a lower court ruling that said governments could not force people to leave camps if there were no beds available. The case was the most significant on the issue to come before the high court in decades. Cities across the country have been grappling with the politically fraught task of how to deal with growing numbers of people without a permanent place to live and public frustration over health and safety issues.
Newsom Administration wrote in support of the cities’ arguments that previous decisions, including one that banned San Francisco from cleaning up campsto have prevented the state from solving a critical problem.
“There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part,” Newsom said in a statement Thursday.
Newsom’s decision drew praise from some local elected officials and business groups, who said they had no options for dealing with homeless encampments before the Supreme Court ruling. San Francisco Mayor London Breed recently said the city will begin an “aggressive” campaign to clear encampments across the city in August. His office noted that the governor’s order does not affect city operations.
“I applaud Governor Newsom’s emphasis on urgency,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Kathryn Barger said in a statement. “He rightly points out that the local government remains in charge of removing homeless camps. Cities have an obligation to develop housing and shelter solutions in conjunction with the support services provided by county government.”
Even Republican lawmakers, who have repeatedly criticized Newsom for his handling of the crisis, are supporting the order Thursday.
“It’s about time! Allowing people to live and die on the streets or in our parks is unsafe and unsanitary,” Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said in a statement. He added: “I am cautiously optimistic that the governor has finally realized the urgency of this problem, albeit many years later than necessary.”
Homeless people and advocates say sweeps are cruel and a waste of taxpayer money. They say the answer is more housing, not repression.
“You clear your highway exit ramp for just a moment,” Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee said on social media. “Without meaningful services and housing, all sweeps do is make prominent inequality less visible.”
While Newsom cannot order local officials to act, his administration can exert pressure by withholding money for counties and cities. In 2022, he threatened retain US$1 billion in spending on homelessness by local governments due to lack of progress.
Newsom touted that his administration has spent about $24 billion cleaning streets and housing people, but acknowledged the persistent problem. Newsom’s administration also came under fire recently after a state audit found that the state did not track consistently whether the huge amount of public money spent on this issue has actually improved the situation.
Earlier this year, Newsom threw his full political weight behind a ballot measure to allow the state to borrow nearly $6.4 billion to build 4,350 housing units, which passed with approval razor-thin margin.
The order comes as Republicans step up their criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris — a former California district attorney, attorney general and senator who has just launched her presidential campaign. Harris entered the race over the weekend after President Joe Biden announced she would not seek re-election.
Newsom himself has presidential ambitions, although he has said he would not run against Harris or Biden. He has long been a key Biden campaign surrogate.
The timing of the executive order is “curious” given recent developments in the 2024 presidential race, said California political analyst Brian Sobel. He doubts, however, that Newsom’s move will have much impact on Harris’ campaign.
“Harris’ problem is not in California, because California is a done deal,” he said. “Where she needs to do well on issues like this is in the swing states.”
Instead, the order is a logical step for Newsom, who calls himself the state’s “homeless czar,” said Wesley Hussey, a political science professor at California State University, Sacramento.
“I don’t think it’s driven as much by the presidential race, but it’s definitely something Newsom cares a lot about,” Hussey said. “If you put this in the political context of the election, it doesn’t magically solve the problem.”
