“We really don’t know what the best thing to do is,” Menlo Park Mayor Celia Taylor said. Taylor and mayors across California are currently being directed to clear homeless encampments from public property following Governor Gavin Newsom’s newest executive order released on July 28. However, Newsom’s order has been met with backlash from homeless activists and politicians across the state who believe that Newsom’s decision will do little to improve the issue.
Homelessness is currently on the rise in California and across the country. In 2024, San Mateo County recorded 2,130 homeless individuals within its jurisdiction, signifying an 18% increase in the county’s total homeless population compared to 2022.
Amidst this trend, rather than increasing state funding for homeless services, Newsom is now threatening to cut funding for cities who fail to comply with his order. This marks a significant shift for Newsom, who had poured $150 million of state funding into California cities to address a surge in homelessness. …