Newsom has to be the worst governor in America.
California’s homelessness crisis continues to be a focal point of political debate, and recent reports have sparked renewed criticism of Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of the issue. Republican leaders in the state have been quick to call out the governor’s failure to address the growing problem, pointing to a new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report that places California at the forefront of the homelessness crisis.
State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, a Republican from San Diego, was blunt in his assessment, calling the HUD report a clear indictment of Newsom’s policies. “Gavin Newsom literally lost track of the $27 billion he spent on the homeless crisis,” Jones said, highlighting the fact that homelessness in California has risen by 3%, with the total number of homeless individuals now reaching 187,000. For Jones and many other Republican leaders, Newsom’s approach has been nothing more than endless spending with little to show for it.
In response, Newsom’s office issued a statement defending the state’s efforts, claiming that $24 billion in funding has been allocated to local governments for homelessness initiatives. They further asserted that new accountability measures were now in place to ensure that this funding was being used effectively. However, critics argue that despite the massive financial investment, the problem persists and continues to worsen. Jones and his colleagues argue that this is proof that throwing money at the issue is not a solution.
The criticism was also echoed by California’s Republican Assembly Caucus, led by Assemblyman James Gallagher, who remarked that Newsom’s defensiveness over a recent op-ed in CalMatters only underscores his failure to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. Gallagher’s caucus pointed out that Newsom’s lengthy social media response, where he claimed homelessness has grown at a slower pace under his administration compared to his predecessor, was little more than a distraction from the real issue.
Newsom’s critics argue that his ongoing insistence on taking a “long-term approach” to homelessness fails to address the immediate needs of Californians. With the state’s homeless population continuing to rise and reports showing the issue only worsening in major cities, Republicans argue that it’s time for more aggressive action. Jones, for instance, has sponsored bipartisan legislation that emphasizes “compassionate enforcement” of encampment violations, proposing laws to hold individuals accountable while ensuring they receive the help they need.
The data is hard to ignore: while Newsom’s office points to California’s homelessness rate growing at a slower pace than in states like New York, Florida, and Texas, the fact remains that California leads the nation in homelessness. As Jones and other Republicans have pointed out, any increase in homelessness is unacceptable. They are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s homelessness policies that prioritizes immediate solutions, not just more bureaucratic spending.
As the governor gears up for a potential presidential run in 2028, his handling of the homelessness crisis will likely remain a key point of contention. His critics argue that if he can’t solve the problem in his own state, he should not be trusted to lead the nation. The people of California deserve better than empty promises and ineffective spending—they deserve results.