Reaction to Newsom's homelessness directive runs gamut from praise to criticism

Reaction to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's directive to state officials to dismantle thousands of homeless encampments across the state has drawn a mix of praise and criticism across the state.

In San Diego, where a conference on finding solutions for homelessness in California was held on Thursday, the same day Newsom issued his executive order , participants praised the move.

"People should not be able to live in public spaces or wherever they want. We’ve gotten to the point where we’re tolerating it, and it’s become normalized," State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-San Diego, told CBS 8 San Diego.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria told CBS 8 the governor's order aligns with what's already happening in San Diego under the city's encampment ban.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed also said her city was already removing homeless encampments.

“San Francisco is already doing what the governor is calling for, with efforts well underway since long before the Grants Pass ruling,” she said in a statement.

Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, a Republican running for Congress in the 2024 election, told the Stockton Record the executive order was a "critical moment for our state and the city of Stockton."

Criticism of Newsom's homeless encampment directive

Newsom is getting criticism from both the right and left wings of the political spectrum over Thursday's executive order.

Criminalizing homelessness wouldn't solve the problem, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

“Strategies that just move people along from one neighborhood to the next or give citations instead of housing do not work," she said in a statement, pointing to programs her city has already put in place to clear encampments in a less punitive way.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, advocates for people experiencing homelessness decried the executive order, describing it as a “declaration of war on the unhoused.”

State Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher , R-Chico, was dismissive of Newsom's proclamation, describing it as the same-old failed approach to the problem.

Praise for Newsom from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Top Florida Republicans, including a leading lawmaker and Gov. Ron DeSantis' office staff, applauded Newsom for the executive order.

"I’m glad to see Governor Newsom finally accept reality and acknowledge the damage chronic homelessness does to communities and businesses," said Florida State Rep. Sam Garrison, a Republican.

DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin urged California to make the executive order a state law. "Keep following the Florida model," he posted on X.

How Newsom's homelessness order may affect California

Newsom can't force cities and counties to dismantle homeless encampments but is advising local authorities the best way to take action.

The directive will order other state agencies, such as Caltrans, California State Parks and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to first target encampments that pose a health and safety risk.

Those agencies will give 48 to 72 hours of advance notice to people in the encampments while working with local homeless organizations to help those experiencing homelessness. Personal property collected at each site will be bagged, tagged, and stored for at least 60 days, according to a proclamation issued Thursday by the governor's office.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Reaction to Newsom's homelessness directive runs gamut from praise to criticism