Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday praised Mountain View and the nonprofit LifeMoves for transforming a vehicle maintenance yard into an interim housing complex for the homeless in just six months, calling it a radical new template for solving a perennial problem in California.
Standing alongside city and state elected officials at LifeMoves Mountain View, Newsom announced that the state is poised to pass a budget with a $12 billion commitment to homelessness prevention and support, with an eye toward housing that can be built quickly and less expensively. He said the 100-unit complex on Leghorn Street in Mountain View is exactly the kind of project that needs to be replicated, using modular prefabricated buildings that can be stood up at blazing fast speeds and at a fraction of the cost of normal housing.
"In the housing space, this is simply without precedent," he said. "Arguably not just in California history but, as we're now learning, in American history."
Newsom noted that the latest round of federal stimulus, the American Rescue Plan Act, allocates $5 billion in grants to state governments to support similar programs.
Mountain View and LifeMoves partnered up in August last year to create homeless housing on the site, with an eye toward stabilizing those who become homeless by providing a short-term place to live for 90 to 120 days. With a looming deadline and no time to spare, city planning staff put forth an application for state funds through California's Homekey program, and managed to score nearly $14.4 million in state funding to build and operate the site.
Though Homekey has largely been used to buy and convert hotels and motels into homeless housing, Mountain View's approach involved a much more ambitious demolition of the industrial site and creating an entirely new set of housing units capable of housing about 124 people at a time. At the Friday press conference, LifeMoves CEO Aubrey Merriman called it the "1.0" version and a successful case study in how the state can and should replicate Mountain View's project all over the state.
State Assembly member Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, hailed the project as "real change" to get people off the streets of Mountain View and across the state, and that the outside-of-the-box approach meant the project could go from an idea to a reality in just six months. For local governments, that's moving on a dime, he said.
"We can't put a park bench up in a city park in six months," Berman said. "The fact that you've got homes now for 125 people, up to 350 per year, is truly amazing."
Newsom was joined by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, and Mountain View Mayor Ellen Kamei, who called the project a "safe, supportive and dignified program" to help people find stable housing. Also there supporting the project was Najee Harris, a running back for the Pittsburg Steelers who grew up homeless in the Bay Area and has since launched a nonprofit to fight homelessness.
Overall, Newsom said the $846 million in Homekey funding last year has resulted in more than 6,000 housing units across the state, also at a rapid pace and averaging about $148,000 per unit or room. It costs a bit more in the Bay Area, he said, but it does include all costs, including land acquisition and infrastructure. Looking to expand that progress, Newsom said the $12 billion investment blows away previous budget commitments to fighting homelessness — the previous all-time high was $1 billion.
During the press conference, Newsom also made a series of critical announcements related to the state's moratorium on evictions and state funding available to pay for unpaid rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that his office and state lawmakers have agreed to extend the moratorium until Sept. 30, and that anyone who has unpaid rent due to the pandemic can have 100% of it wiped clean through the state's new relief fund.
The agreement includes all unpaid rent from April 2020 to September 2021, and will be available to those who have lost income or incurred significant medical expenses due to COVID-19. A total of $5.2 billion has been allocated for renter relief, Newsom said, along with $2 billion for those with unpaid utility bills. The newly announced plan deviates from SB 91, which offered to pay 80% of back rent if landlords were willing to forgive the remaining 20%.
"Anyone who has been impacted by this pandemic and cannot pay rent, 100% of that rent will be paid for ... under this rent deal," he said.
Though the state, up until now, has run its rent relief program with the requirement that landlords participate, Newsom said that will no longer be the case. He said tenants will no longer have to rely on a landlord's agreement to apply for and receive state money to pay off back rent.
Comments
Registered user
Mountain View
on Jun 26, 2021 at 8:42 am
Registered user
on Jun 26, 2021 at 8:42 am
Kudos to Life Moves and the City of Mountain View.
Unlike Palo Alto, Mountain View is constructively addressing it's homeless problem.
Registered user
another community
on Jun 26, 2021 at 9:14 am
Registered user
on Jun 26, 2021 at 9:14 am
Addressing the homeless issue is apparently a low priority in council chambers yet some Palo Alto residents are reasonably concerned about it.
PACC...where are you?
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 26, 2021 at 1:07 pm
Registered user
on Jun 26, 2021 at 1:07 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Jun 27, 2021 at 8:25 am
Registered user
on Jun 27, 2021 at 8:25 am
If Palo Alto can have a trailer park for low-income residents, surely it can erect a small community of pre-fab dwellings for the homeless as well.
Homelessness is not going away anytime soon.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jun 27, 2021 at 9:41 am
Registered user
on Jun 27, 2021 at 9:41 am
Gavin's the man. There is no foundation for the recall. His haters are destined for humiliation similar to what Trump supporters (should have) felt last November.
Registered user
Charleston Meadows
on Jun 27, 2021 at 10:04 am
Registered user
on Jun 27, 2021 at 10:04 am
Concurring...Gavin can cruise through this one.
Newsom faces some really tough competition from Caitlyn Jenner (transexual Trump supporter) and Kevin Falcouner (a controversial former San Diego mayor).
Can't the Republicans come up with anyone better?
Too bad Sonny Bono is no longer around.
Registered user
Crescent Park
on Jun 27, 2021 at 11:03 pm
Registered user
on Jun 27, 2021 at 11:03 pm
Although I do agree with your overarching point that Caitlyn Jenner is completely unqualified to be Governor of California it has nothing to do with the fact that Caitlyn is transgender. A person’s gender identity has nothing to do with their merits or qualifications for a job. Furthermore, the term “transsexual” is now considered outdated and contentious. Some transgender people find the word transsexual to be offensive and stigmatizing. This is because of its history and roots in the professional fields of medicine and psychology, which used this term to incorrectly label all transgender people as mentally ill. It often served as justification for discrimination, harassment, and mistreatment.
Professionals in medicine and mental health now understand that having a transgender identity isn’t a mental illness, and that transgender identities are a naturally occurring part of human gender diversity and gender experiences. The umbrella term is “transgender.”
Here are 8 transgender politicians that are trailblazers in the field of politics:
Web Link
Remember, it’s so easy to hate but it takes strength to be gentle and kind. The Voice will always stand for equality and will always stand with the working class!
Next, the recall tactics against Newsom will not work. It is a waste of time and money. All of the anti-maskers and silly beach protesters all owe Newsom the apology for making his job harder during the greatest public health crisis in a century. He wasn’t perfect but of course the same people who want him recalled always conveniently leave out that “the former guy” basically relinquished all responsibility to the Governors and did nothing himself. He did golf a lot though. California will stay BLUE!
Finally, I love what this nonprofit LifeMoves did here for the homeless. Amazing work! Thank you for your hard work.
Registered user
another community
on Jun 28, 2021 at 8:26 am
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2021 at 8:26 am
Newsom is "completely unqualified" to be Governor of California, and that's why he's facing recall. It's not just Republicans that want him gone. He's a failed leader, the same way that Trump was a failed leader. Some of us actually vote for what's best for state/county, and not straight (D) or (R). Voters like that are blind sheep. The level of ignorance.
Newsom has always failed when it comes to solving the homeless problem in California, including blaming Texas. Blaming Texas is illogical, and just another sign that Newsom is in way over his head.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jun 28, 2021 at 8:51 am
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2021 at 8:51 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Charleston Meadows
on Jun 28, 2021 at 9:23 am
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2021 at 9:23 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 28, 2021 at 9:38 am
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2021 at 9:38 am
Pointing to MV as doing something about homelessness - the site visited was a county and state appropriation of funding. We have a peculiar situation in which on the east side of ECR the city of MV's city lines encroach north of San Antonio up ECR to Barron Creek/Adobe Creek - around Dinah's restaurant. This is in the area between ECR and Alma. As you go north/east up San Antonio the south side of the street has a lot of new buildings and commercial ventures. A lot of car maintenance and building resource type equipment. All in a state of transition. MV has a larger section of commercial property whereas PA does not. PA's commercial property is high tech and pricey vs. rental trucks and rental building material.
MV has a totally different tax base than PA. People keep making comparisons which are not accounting for the realities of the tax base of the two cities - like apples vs. oranges. PA dos not have a Google that is dominating the goings on. MV does not have a University which dominates what is going on. Each of those entities has a different type of contribution to the cities. It is not a competition.
Registered user
Charleston Meadows
on Jun 28, 2021 at 9:50 am
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2021 at 9:50 am
As Resident 1-Adobe Meadows has emphatically inferred, Palo Alto has its own priorities to contend with (along with a different tax revenue base than Mountain View) and should not overly concern itself with addressing the homeless issues that persist in its own community.
Registered user
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jun 28, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Registered user
on Jun 28, 2021 at 12:03 pm
@Vegas are you aware of Palo Alto has more Below Market Housing than any other city in Santa Clara County on a per 100K residents basis except for Gilroy? It's great to see Mountain View catching up and possibly overtaking us but that's a very recent, using state and county money. Palo Alto has spent large amounts of funding on Buena Vista and Wilton Court. Not to mention the Opportunity Center and BMR senior housing. The teachers subsidized house is upcoming. However, we need for more state funding! The current RHNA numbers provide $1 billion unfunded mandate for BMR housing over the next 8 years for Palo Alto alone.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 29, 2021 at 7:02 am
Registered user
on Jun 29, 2021 at 7:02 am
I do not plan on openng any link from a type of spiel from Leslie Johnson.
For the city of PA AT&T is currently replacing the lines. They were at my neighborhood and we had a big squirrel population which has now disappeared. What is emanating from those lines? During this activity my internet, including email and facebook was not available. In talking to the AT&T "technical reps" I discovered a lot of the second layer of "technology". The technical reps were sitting in Czechoslovakia, Central America, and the Phillipines. They all had access to my computer information. That includes passwords and bank cards used for on-line shopping.
Getting lots of SPAM lately? My SPAM content is going up with my email address being used as a lead in for others who are buying all type of Stuff. That includes the Geek Squad over at Best Buy. I am getting letters from all type organizations that their data base has been hacked - that includes SU hospital. A lot are making the assumption out there that all people's internet equipment has the same security features. Not so.
Get into the second layer of your computer programs - check your identity content on your computer and eliminate all of those identifed items that can become "opportunity zones" for people who are farming the internet for your information.
Google "cookies" are now being discussed in the papers and a war coming up with Apple vs Microsoft. Be careful what links you opeb and check your personal data.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jun 30, 2021 at 6:16 am
Registered user
on Jun 30, 2021 at 6:16 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 30, 2021 at 7:39 am
Registered user
on Jun 30, 2021 at 7:39 am
We have a strange problem here. Organizations such as the SF Chronicle, AT&T, Allstate Ins, Chase bank cards, etc do not want to send out paper invoices which you can respond to with a check. They are wanting you to be on-line - your banking information and a good credit card are now on record. Neither you or the organizations in question now have the ability to stop scammers from using that information.
I called the SF Chronicle to tell them my system was down and could not do on-line payment. Talking to person in a call center in the Phillipines - she could read me my data. Got an address in Prescot Arizona for payment. Will not do on-line again.
Any assumptions that every one has the same security level on their devices is crazy. Any assumptions that the call center people have security is crazy. Check your personal profile in your system to find out what data is available and edit it..
Registered user
Midtown
on Jun 30, 2021 at 10:07 am
Registered user
on Jun 30, 2021 at 10:07 am
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Midtown
on Jun 30, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Registered user
on Jun 30, 2021 at 12:06 pm
I feel relatively strongly that homelessness is for some, unpleasant. Although there are those who do not like our governor, I feel that if he tries to address homelessness, with a suggestion of offering "interim housing," it would be a good rather than bad thing.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jun 30, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Registered user
on Jun 30, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Further on your personal information - when you log into the Palo Alto On-line System you can click and see your personal information that comes from your computer. Anyone with my email address can click on the personal data without putting in a password.
Just so that you all are aware of that. Possibly all of those people who use multiple names do not know that. I would like the management to address tht problem.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Jun 30, 2021 at 8:13 pm
Registered user
on Jun 30, 2021 at 8:13 pm
"Newsom is "completely unqualified" to be Governor of California, and that's why he's facing recall. It's not just Republicans that want him gone. He's a failed leader, the same way that Trump was a failed leader. Some of us actually vote for what's best for state/county, and not straight (D) or (R). Voters like that are blind sheep. The level of ignorance."
Clearly Gavin Newsom is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but would you rather have another celebrity "governor" like Caitlyn Jenner who is even less qualified than Newsom? Arnold was enough. Caitlyn is a Republican and was a Trump supporter until Trump said the wrong thing about trans people.
Newsom will be the only Democrat on the ballot. If a Republican is elected they could mess with the voting rights of people of color. California with its 55 electoral votes would be a big prize for Republicans.
So I'll have to hold my nose and vote for Newsom.
Registered user
Barron Park
on Jul 1, 2021 at 8:04 am
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 8:04 am
Perhaps a conservative African American Republican should enter the recall election.
Someone along the lines of a Ben Carson who is articulate, well-educated, and well-respected by white conservative voters and who could also sway the black Democratic voters via his outstanding examples of both professional and political successes.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jul 1, 2021 at 8:25 am
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 8:25 am
I like Gavin Newsom and think he's done a good job as governor. I do not agree with the numerous ad hominem insults voiced above.
I also disagree that if you are African-American, you can be a conservative republican and win everyones' votes in California.
Registered user
East Palo Alto
on Jul 1, 2021 at 9:25 am
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 9:25 am
° I also disagree that if you are African-American, you can be a conservative republican and win everyones' votes in California.
As an Afro-Republican voter I agree that it would be very difficult for a black conservative Republican to win in a blue state such as California because the votes simply are not there.
On the other hand and in a swing state like Georgia, it is highly possible as Herschel Walker (former NFL star and a personal friend of Donald Trump) has a very good chance of winning a U.S. Senate seat in the event he decides to run
which he is seriously considering.
Location, location, location + a swing state voter base provides the best opportunity for black conservative Republicans to shine.
Not to mention we have one of the most conservative SCOTUS justices (regardless of color) on the bench, Justice Clarence Thomas who interprets the law the way it was originally written.
Justice Thomas is highly respected and admired by conservative-leaning citizens including fundamentalist Christians and patriotic Americans of all colors, races, and creeds.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jul 1, 2021 at 9:58 am
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 9:58 am
You understand the cynicism and (even inferred racism) of the thinking, though, right? Good old rightists--even if they are white, will vote for a right-wing conservative republican--even if he is black, but dumb old blue dems, all it would take to fool them into pulling the lever for a conservative republican in California is if they had black skin.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jul 1, 2021 at 11:43 am
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 11:43 am
I have spent some time in Georgia. It is about one-third the size of CA. It has a giant military base - Warner-Robins which employs a huge number of people of all colors. All of those colors are every color in the book and they are officers and leaders in their area of experise. The airport is a major hub for the south east. It employs all type people of all colors. The movie business is big there - see the Georgia Peach at the end of your shows on TV. It has major sports teams. If you go on-line for the state it has a card you can get to receive benefits. People are moving to GA because of the tax base.
Why do some people keep thinking that in that very upbeat and active society there are some people who are disallowed to vote? This is not the 1950's. Every one there has id cards and can go vote. The D's suffer from "plantation brain" - "all those poor people on the plantation are prevented from voting". Get Real - you cannot sell that concept today. Don't even go there for Georgia. Now CA is a differnt story - the D's are allowing every one to cross the border including all of the gang dope sellers. CA is where the issue is - not Georgia.
Registered user
another community
on Jul 1, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Sept. 14 is "judgment day." I hope he's voted out of office. Anyone but Newsom. I would vote for any Republican or Democrat just to get Newsom out of office. Newsom's criticism is warranted. My liberal friends are angrier with him than moderates or conservatives. Liberals are more likely to have voted for him. You get who you vote for.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jul 1, 2021 at 8:00 pm
Registered user
on Jul 1, 2021 at 8:00 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Midtown
on Jul 2, 2021 at 6:21 am
Registered user
on Jul 2, 2021 at 6:21 am
There is this commercial on TV now, for people who no longer watch TV. In it, little kids are dissatisfied with what the parents have prepared for dinner, so they pout, and the result? They get an orange dust cheese pasta product from a box, and all is well. They have a theme song at the end, something like, 'who can say with new age music, that the kids won't tell the parents what to do.'?
only this commercial bears no resemblance to reality. Most parents I'm sure know that if your kids threaten to hold their breath until they turn blue, they don't get their way. They won't even really turn blue or die. It is a meaningless threat by brats with no chance of success. You know, like this recall.
Registered user
East Palo Alto
on Jul 2, 2021 at 7:48 am
Registered user
on Jul 2, 2021 at 7:48 am
I believe Gavin Newsom will easily win the recall vote.
He has many supporters among the Hispanic voters and his efforts to address homelessness and various Covid-related issues has not gone unnoticed.
Perhaps his only flaws were dining out during the SIP and face mask mandates but it was a small private party and no one got sick and allowing the EDD to distribute billions of dollars in unemployment benefits to Russian mobsters and undocumented immigrants.
Nobody is perfect and if some disgruntled voters are more comfortable with Caitlyn Jenner as their governor that is their choice as California is already a bizarre reality show.
Registered user
Mountain View
on Jul 2, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Registered user
on Jul 2, 2021 at 5:49 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
another community
on Jul 2, 2021 at 7:57 pm
Registered user
on Jul 2, 2021 at 7:57 pm
<YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.>
OK...the Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge have taken on a new meaning as in 'this property is condemned'.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jul 3, 2021 at 11:04 am
Registered user
on Jul 3, 2021 at 11:04 am
Benito - the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the US from France for the US support in World Wars. I am trying to figure out why all of the people who keep flowing over the border do not stay home and make home work for them. If they all combined their energy and focus they could create the same benefits in their own countries. If they have the will to make marches then why not the will to work in their own country and build business in those locations.
The churches in those locations should be helping in education. THe companies that grow and plant in those locations should be offering jobs to the locals - not importing foreign labor. They should vote in people who will help in those countries. THe leadership in those groups need to make their own countries work - not breaking up families and sending the men out of the countries to work elsewhere.
Registered user
Downtown North
on Jul 3, 2021 at 11:12 am
Registered user
on Jul 3, 2021 at 11:12 am
> "the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the US from France for the US support in World Wars."
@Resident 1-Adobe Meadows
FYI...the Statue of Liberty arrived in NY during the late 19th century from France.
Which 'world wars' are you referring to?
The French & Indian Wars, Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War?
Registered user
East Palo Alto
on Jul 3, 2021 at 12:33 pm
Registered user
on Jul 3, 2021 at 12:33 pm
"Which 'world wars' are you referring to?"
A personal war against the poor and displaced?
Registered user
Barron Park
on Jul 3, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Registered user
on Jul 3, 2021 at 3:32 pm
- the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the US from France for the US support in World Wars.
I would expect such a historical insight from an atypical Millennial who generally has no concept of history other than what occured yesterday.
Registered user
Adobe-Meadow
on Jul 3, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Registered user
on Jul 3, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Wikipedia - The Statute of Liberty was given to the US in 1886 to commemorate the Declartion of Independnece. THe gift was based on the friendship formed during the American Revolution.
Registered user
East Palo Alto
on Jul 4, 2021 at 9:41 am
Registered user
on Jul 4, 2021 at 9:41 am
Wow. Here I am studying for my American citizenship test and some people who were actually born here are seemingly ignorant of the vast difference between the two 20th century World Wars and the American Revolution.
The American Revolution was not considered a 'world war' and The Statue of Liberty was merely a gift of friendship in the late 1880s from France to commemorate both American independence and a past alliance.
It was not an early or preconceived offering in anticipation and appreciation of America's future involvement in World War I and World War II.
@Resident 1-Adobe Meadows
You cannot worm your way out of this one. Didn't you take U.S. History in high school?
Registered user
Barron Park
on Jul 4, 2021 at 11:51 am
Registered user
on Jul 4, 2021 at 11:51 am
* the Statue of Liberty was a gift to the US from France for the US support in World Wars.
Good grief. Who comes up with this revisionist drivel?
Prior to the aforementioned 20th century 'world wars', the United States was not directly involved with any of France's prior and inept losing war efforts following the American Revolution.
The Napoleonic Wars were France's last military hurrah until Bonaparte was eventually defeated at Waterloo.
Since that time, France couldn't win a war if its life depended on it
The Statue of Liberty has absolutely NOTHING to do with WWs 1 and 2.