California Governor Issues Mandate to Remove Homeless Encampments in State

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday issued an executive order to remove homeless encampments in the state.

Newsom’s order is aimed at the thousands of tents and makeshift shelters across the state that line highways, crowd shopping mall parking lots and fill city parks across the state. The order makes clear that the decision to clear the encampments remains in the hands of local authorities.

The directive follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this summer allowing cities to institute bans on sleeping outdoors in public spaces.

The case was the most significant to come before the high court on the issue in decades, and comes as cities across the country grapple with the politically fraught issue of how to address the growing number of people without a permanent place to live and public frustration over the health and safety concerns that come with it.

“There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for all of us to do our part,” Newsom said in a statement.

While Newsom cannot order local authorities to act, his administration can apply pressure by withholding funding from counties and cities.

California is home to about a third of the nation’s homeless population, a problem that has dogged Newsom since he took office. Newsom noted that his administration has spent about $24 billion to clean up streets and house homeless people, but acknowledged the problem’s persistence.

Newsom’s administration has also come under fire recently after a state audit found the state was failing to systematically monitor whether the massive outlay of public money was actually improving the situation.

Newsom has been trying to address the issue. Earlier this year, he threw his political weight behind a ballot initiative that allowed the state to borrow nearly $6.4 billion to build 4,350 homes, which narrowly passed.

The order comes as Republicans step up their criticism of California and its homelessness crisis, and Vice President Kamala Harris — a former district attorney, solicitor general and senator from California — launches her presidential campaign.

Harris entered the race last weekend, following the president’s announcement Joe Biden that he would not seek re-election.

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