Tag: California Governor Gavin Newsom

PACIFIC PALISADES—On February 1, in a joint press release the Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and the Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief, Jim McDonnell announced that all checkpoints currently in Pacific Palisades will remain in place. Governor Newsom, promised additional law enforcement resources in to keep Pacific Palisades closed to the public.

“I am grateful to Governor Newsom for his continued partnership as we respond to this unprecedented disaster. We continue to adapt in real time to this dynamic situation. This plan secures Palisades and eases the strain on LAPD, whose ability to respond across L.A. has been impacted for nearly one month. My priority continues to be rebuilding the Pallisades as rapidly and safely as possible,” Mayor Bass stated.

Newsom reiterated what Mayor Bass said in the following statement.

“To the survivors of these fires: We have your back, the state will be here every step of the way until your community is fully recovered. By deploying additional state law enforcement resources we’re ensuring the Palisades remains secure while freeing up LAPD to focus on the public safety needs of the entire city.”

LAPD Chief McDonnell reassured the public of the Police Department’s support.

“The Los Angeles Police Department remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure the burn area remains safe. We appreciate their support as we continue to service the needs of all Angelenos.”

The following information came directly from the press release that may be found on Mayor Bass’s webpage.

“Checkpoints and proof-of-residence or entry pass will still be required to enter the Palisades.

On Sunday, resident and contractor access passes can be obtained at 1150 Pacific Coast Highway (Lot 3) in the City of Santa Monica between 10 AM and 5 PM.

Contractors are allowed in the fire area and are required to provide identification and proof that they have been hired by specific residents within the impacted areas.

Contractors must report to the check-in area (Lot 3) each day to be granted access and will be provided a pass to enter.

PCH will reopen one lane in each direction at reduced speeds on Monday. Local traffic only is encouraged. New locations to obtain resident and contractor access passes will be announced Sunday, February 2nd.”

By Sharon

MALIBU—The West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is giving away free 50-gallon water barrels to Malibu residents on January 11th. The program began on November 16, 2024, and continues through January 25th.

The following information comes directly from a press release that may be found on the West Basin website.

“Interested participants must register at www.westbasin.org/rain-barrels to qualify for up to two free 50-gallon rain barrels valued at approximately $80 each.”

West Basin President and Division III Director, Desi Alvarez, encourages residents to participate in this water conservation project.

“Water conservation is crucial in our region, and our rain barrel program empowers people to make a practical difference without even having to think about it because the rain barrel does all the work for them. By collecting and using rainwater, we can reduce our reliance on imported water and help preserve our precious resources,” Alvarez stated.

California Governor, Gavin Newsom has been under scrutiny after his July 3, 2024, calls for water rationing. Newsom called for California residents to cut their water usage by approximately 500,000 acre feet by 2030. According to Newsom’s plan, Californians would save 235,000  acre-feet of water by 2050.

The collection of rainwater could offer much-needed relief to the arid conditions worsened by wind and water restrictions.

By Sharon

SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, August 27, Santa Monica City Council members decided to delay the vote to implement a new law making it illegal for people to sleep in public after receiving blowback from those who disagree with punishing the homeless community to address the ever-growing homeless crisis in California.

On June 28, the California Supreme Court ruled that cities may punish unhoused individuals for sleeping in public.

The ACLU published a press release dated June 28 citing a violation of the Eight Amendment stating that, “The brief goes on to argue that Robinson v. California, which ruled that criminalizing a person’s status is cruel and unusual punishment and was relied upon by the lower courts in Grants Pass, is consistent with this proportionality principle. Applying the same proportionality principle, the brief stated, punishing unhoused people for sleeping in public when they have no other choice violates the Eighth Amendment.”

On April 9, 2024, Cal Matters drafted an article regarding the lack of transparency in what was on homelessness in the state of California. According to a statewide audit done in early April.

“There’s so little data available, it’s impossible to even tell if several of California’s largest homelessness programs are working.” — Cal Matters

Senator Josh Hawley(R-MO), member of the House Judiciary Committee, made the following remarks regarding the homeless Bill, AB 2903.

…” We have spent nearly 24 billion taxpayer dollars on homelessness while seeing a 32 percent increase in homelessness during that same span.”

As of August 15, the first bill was updated to include reports on allocated funds with the results of what the money was spent on.

On August 27, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a press release promising more solutions to the state’s ever-growing homeless crisis.

Newsom cited the most recent two bills he passed. Assembly member Jesse Gabriel authored Bill, AB2835, to place homeless individuals into motels for longer than 30 days.

Bill, AB 3057 Authored by, Assembly member, Lori Wilson, speeds up the process of building more shelters and facilities.

In his press release, Governor Newsom cites $3.3 million for his Home Key project, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution funding, and $4.85 billion in housing assistance programs.
Newsom made the following statements.

“In 2023 roughly 181,000 Californians experienced homelessness with approximately 90,000 people in unsheltered conditions.” As the audit results mentioned, the numbers are going up, not down.

“The homelessness crisis demands immediate and innovative action, not the status quo. With these new laws,[the] local government, [will]have even more tools to provide housing. I urge them to fully utilize the state’s unprecedented resources to address homelessness.”

—Governor Gavin Newsom

By Sharon

WESTWOOD—On Tuesday, April 30, at approximately 10:45 p.m., the tension at the University of California (UCLA) campus escalated. Pro-Palestine protesters and counter protesters broke out into a brawl. A Pro-Israel group also stood in sodality. Fighting, fireworks, and pepper spray were used in what administrators had earlier suggested would be a peaceful protest. Police reportedly were briefly on the scene Tuesday night and then left the student-led demonstrations to their own devices.

On the afternoon of April 30, UCLA President Caroline Folt spoke to those who had established a Palestine Solidarity Encampment on the UCLA campus. Before the demonstrations escalated to violence, Folt demanded that protesters disband immediately, forewarning students who continued their demonstrations could face expulsion.

According to UCLA spokesperson and Chancellor for Strategic Communications, Mary Osako, indicated that the protesters remained peaceful until Sunday.

On Tuesday, April 30, Osako made the following statement:

“Horrific acts of violence occurred at the encampment tonight and we immediately called law enforcement for mutual aid and support. We are sickened by this senseless violence, and it must end.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom remains under scrutiny for ignoring the ongoing violence. Newsom first told KNBC that he and other state officials were “working with,” UCLA trustees.” Newsom cited the students right to protest saying, “We want to maintain the right to protest without hate.”

Reminder, UCLA’s main commencement ceremony has been canceled. Canyon News reported on April 26, that the UCLA 2024 main commencement ceremony has been canceled due to the extreme safety measures in place following the Gaza War Pro-Palestine protests happening on campuses nationwide. USC will not be able to manage the crowd as graduation ceremonies at UCLA have the potential to draw crowds of 65,000 or better.

By Sharon

SANTA MONICA—On February 17, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors announced the results of their study from January 22 through January 31 on at-risk youth and elderly homelessness. The new Pathway Home Initiative will relocate 25 of the 25,000 people experiencing homelessness into interim housing to begin the process of transitioning them into permanent housing.

Carter Hewgley, the Senior Manager for the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative made the following statement first reported by the Daily Press:

“The scale of the crisis is much larger than the scale of our resources, but the good thing about the pathway home program is that the county has secured a motel-based interim housing site for two years.

“These 25 people are not just being offered an interim housing stay, they’re also being given a pathway home, which means we’re funding housing, navigation and housing subsidies for them. So, we already have an exit pathway to permanent housing for all of them, which means we’ll be able to reuse the rooms at the hotel to run future operations in Santa Monica, for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Monica.”

In a May 16, 2023, press release by California Governor Gavin Newsom, he announced $1 billion in homeless funding for tiny houses.

The following came from Governor Newsom’s press release that may be found on his webpage:

“After meeting with the Governor late last year, local jurisdictions have set new, more ambitious homelessness reduction goals and may now access $1 billion through round four of the state grant program.

State is delivering 1,200 small homes to Los Angeles, San Diego County, San Jose and Sacramento to provide safe, interim housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Those living in encampments will be prioritized for these new units by the local governments operating the homes and providing services.”

The $1 billion housing grant was to provide homes in the following counties.

500 units in Los Angeles, 350 Units in Sacramento, 200 units in San Jose, and 150 units in San Diego Counties.

For 2024, Governor Newsom has reportedly been on the campaign trail for President Biden while the municipalities in his home state attempt to navigate its ongoing homeless crisis.

Recent reports indicate that moratoriums are being placed on cities who have not adequately provided housing alternatives for their homeless population. Judges such as Judge Kim in Beverly Hills will not allow building permits to be processed until the city provides an adequate housing plan for its unhoused residents.


By Sharon

SANTA MONICA—On October 4, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) made the following statement updating public information on robotic police video surveillance.

“Recent reports have indicated that robotic delivery services are providing video footage to the Los Angeles Police Department. This is only true in cases where the robotic delivery company has been the victim of a crime.”

The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to constitutional policing and is sensitive to privacy concerns, while holding those who commit crime accountable.

The Santa Monica Police Department released a statement regarding California Governor Gavin Newsom signing Assembly Bill number 481 into law September 30, for the use of AB-481 Military Equipment to be used by police involving the use of robots in place of, and in addition to, actual police officers.

Authorities indicated what has been referred to as the “Robocops,” have a quicker response time to 911 calls and may be able to gain entry into, a building by breaking glass…without risk of injury to members of the police force.

Governor Newsom has been scrutinized over signing the bill. Reports indicate that Santa Monica has experienced an increase of crime and violence of at least 14 percent in 2023. Some residents indicated they feel more comfortable with humans as their first responders.

Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares all the following:

(a) “The acquisition of military equipment and its deployment in our communities adversely impacts the public’s safety and welfare, including increased risk of civilian deaths, significant risks to civil rights, civil liberties, and well-being, and increment of significant financial costs. Military equipment is more frequently deployed in low-income black and brown communities, meaning the risks and impacts of police militarization are experienced most acutely in marginalized communities.”

(b) The public has a right to know about any funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment by state or local government officials, as well as a right to participate in any government agency’s decision to fund, acquire, or to use such equipment.

Section C details how decisions on funding “should give strong consideration to the public’s welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties based on meaningful input.”

Section D is regarding the “legally enforceable safeguards. Oversight, and accountability measures that must be in place to protect the public’s welfare…”

The 2022 SMPD Annual AB 481 report is available online. The Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission will conduct a hearing for public feedback during their November 7 meeting.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On Tuesday, August 15, news that the DuPont Clinic, all trimester abortion clinic that was to open its doors in Fall 2023, at 8920 Wilshire Blvd Suite 635, in Beverly Hills had their lease canceled.

The Dupont Clinic plans were foiled when Tasha Baker, along with the support of the Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, and other pro-lifers, hired lawyers to fight the clinics opening. Dupont’s attorney shared her desire to hold onto Beverly Hills heritage as a refuge for the innocent and the oppressed.

When Baker learned that Dupont’s lease would be canceled, she shared the following statement with Life News: 

“I am grateful to God for this victory for innocent life. Mere weeks before barbaric, late-term abortions were set to begin, California’s first elective third-trimester clinic has been defeated.”

On their website Dupont openly offers abortion on demand which was what was in the original verbiage of Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court’s decision in January 1973, to allow abortion, “At any time for any reason.”

Dupont, based out of Washington DC, openly promotes abortion on demand up to 31 weeks and 6 days gestation. This quote came directly from the Dupont webpage:

“If you are farther than 26 weeks into your pregnancy, we can still see you, regardless of your medical history, background, or fetal indications. We do not require any “reason” to be seen here – if you would like to terminate your pregnancy, we support you in that decision.” – Dupont Clinic

Some people including scientists believe that the infant in the womb is capable of feeling pain once the heartbeat is detected, which is anywhere from 18-22 days after conception.

The following statement came directly from the National Institute of Health (NIH), Library of Health website: 

“The controversy regarding fetal pain is complicated. Relevant factors include neuroanatomical development, consciousness, and physiologic, behavioral, and hormonal responses, as well as medical, ethical, and legal considerations. The onset of fetal pain capacity plays a vital role in identifying ethical issues surrounding painful procedures involving the fetus, such as fetal surgery, abortion, and feticide. Defining the time frame during which fetal pain capacity develops must first be addressed. Current neuroscientific evidence indicates that the onset of fetal pain perception is possible during the first trimester.”

This brought on, the Pain-Capable Heartbeat Protection Act that paved the way to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Governor Gavin Newsom publicly announced his plan to make California an abortion sanctuary.

An anonymous source shared their personal story with Canyon News: 

“A baby boy was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 2008. His mother was approximately 22 weeks along. The baby weighed less than eight ounces, and he survived. His parents named him Max. He was born without any birth defects. As a matter of fact, his parents called him ‘Super Max,” as a toddler because no one would have ever believed this was the baby that entered the world at half a pound, at best. He is now a normal teenager.”

By Sharon