The Golden State boasts as much as 50% of the nation’s homeless population and has spent a whopping $24 billion to address the problem.
Six gubernatorial candidates faced off on a debate stage in San Francisco on Wednesday night and offered A-F grades on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of the issue.
Here’s what they said:
Katie Porter: ‘B‘
“I’m a notoriously tough grader, but I would probably give him a B on homelessness,” said Democrat Katie Porter, stating her view that the homelessness crisis in California is due to a “housing problem.”
“We’re not going to solve homelessness without bringing down the cost of housing,” she said.
Porter pledged to “fund homelessness prevention,” saying an “interim housing or shelter situation” is the solution.
“For every person we put into permanent supportive housing, somebody else loses their home and takes their place. That’s why Californians feel like we’re not making progress despite spending significant money,” Porter said.
Xavier Becerra: ‘A’
Xavier Becerra, a Democrat and former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, stated Newsom’s efforts have been sincere.
“We’ve seen him come down to Los Angeles — actually go down and try to clean the streets. On effort, I would give him an A,” he said.
However, Becerra added that he would “focus on accountability.”
“I would make sure if we’re sending billions of dollars down to the local community store [in] our cities and our counties, that we would demand accountability from the dollar that we’re going to give them. We need to see results, and results are what you see on the streets.”
Becerra also stated his intention to offer a “zero interest loan” to anyone struggling to pay rent, as a means of preventing homelessness.
Tom Steyer: ‘B-’
“So, I give the governor a B- on this,” the Democrat billionaire said. “No one gets well on the street. What I would do is make sure to keep as many people off the street, and if they’re on the street, to get them off as fast as possible.”
Tom Steyer’s plan includes giving Californians “emergency interim housing,” with few restrictions.
“Getting people into one room with a key, shared laundry, and food. You don’t have to be clean, and you can bring your animal,” Steyer said. “… The point about emergency interim housing is this: people want to go to it.”
Matt Mahan: ‘B’
Matt Mahan said the solution to homelessness lies in the “basic dignified shelter,” a concept he implemented as mayor of San Jose. Mahan, a Democrat, said the shelters reduced homelessness in the city by one-third.
“We required that people come indoors — that’s why trust in San Jose has increased. …That’s part of the reason our streets are safer and cleaner,” he said.
Despite giving Newsom a B grade, Mahan believes the “implementation” is what Democrats have done wrong.
“I’m going to give us all a D on implementation. San Jose has led the way … but we have not delivered the results people deserve.”
Chad Bianco: ‘F’
In stark contrast to the Democrats, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, called Newsom’s record on homelessness a “dismal failure,” arguing that the issue is caused by drugs and mental health issues, not the lack of affordable housing.
“It has nothing to do with homes. This is drug-and-alcohol-induced psychosis or mental illness causing the other,” Bianco said. “… We would’ve fixed this problem already had the Democrats in California, in the state Legislature and our governor, funded Proposition 36.”
Proposition 36opens in a new tab, which took effect in December 2024, targets repeat drug offenders and mandates treatment for individuals with drug-related felonies.
Concluding his response, Bianco shared his plan for his first day in office, if elected.
“Every single bit of money going to nonprofits and NGOs for the homeless ends the day I take over,” he said. “A small portion of that will go to the drug-and-alcohol treatment centers that they need, the mental health centers that they need, and more importantly, the combination of those two.”
Steve Hilton: ‘F’
“It shames our state — the situation with homelessness. We have around 10% of the nation’s population but about 50% of the country’s homeless population,” Republican Steve Hilton said.
Regarding the governor’s participation in physically cleaning up streets, Hilton argued it was all a “photo-op.”
“Gavin Newsom literally did that three times in a row and nothing changed. And nothing will change if we keep these Democrats in power,” Hilton said.
Hilton shared his “common sense 3-point plan” for addressing homelessness: It is illegal to live on the streets, place people in drug treatment centers, and put people into mental health care facilities.
Angelina Delfin is California correspondent for the Daily Signal.
Reprinted with Permission from The Daily Signal – By Angelina Delfin
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Newsom, the Democratic Party and their allies are enemies to America and the American people! They must be stopped at all cost!
When I was growing up in the 1950s-1960s I never saw anyone living on the street. At that time we had state hospitals for people with mental disabilities and drugs were not as rampant as today. The Democrats decided years ago to close down the government-funded state hospitals saying it was inhumane to “label” people and that they should be given the chance to live their lives as others do. You know, the ones without mental disabilities or addictions. Well, that worked out well. We’ve spent more on “helping” those people living on the streets than it cost to maintain the hospitals the Dems were so quick to close. Maybe they thought it would gain them more voters. And maybe it has since we have evidence of people signing up street people to vote Democrat. They probably don’t though since once they are given the incentive (cash, food, etc.) to sign up, they probably totally miss election day. Democrats of today never see the unintended consequences of their decision and when they happen it’s always someone else’s fault.
Newscum and all Communist Democrats should be arrested and put in Prison .
Newsom gets a D for everything. This guy is a bad joke.
You can tell why our college students get diplomas but cannot function — grade inflation! Newscum has changed CA from a beautiful state into a ####hole!
Agree with Hilton & Bianco: F+
when it comes to doing anything about homelessness, Newsom deserves an F. Also, the only times Newsom ever cleaned up the streets was when world leaders were coming to California.
Anything other than an “F” and you should be required to pass an eye test!!
The whole stinking mess is about one thing. Follow the money!
I can’t believe anyone gave that jerk anything better than an “f”. if you look at all the fraud,homeless,drugs,prices,bad gun laws,not to mention the stupidity of the politicians their I wouldn’t give the a-hole a “Z”
Newsom is actually proving the homeless in San Francisco (and possibly other cities) with a monthly income of $800 per month. That’s what they buy their drugs and booze with. CA needs to open mental health hospitals and expand drug and alcohol services. I’m sure that there’s more things that need attention.
Drove a city bus for about 18 months. Drugs and mental illness are a big part of the problem. Often, people can work and struggle to have the basics or can get them from gaming the system and have more security. Problem not as simple as it looks.
simply, look at what newsome promised and what he delivered!