On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) delivered remarks about the mental health system in California.
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NewsTranscript
00:00:00 few months brings mental health care in San Mateo County to the forefront of modern patient-centered
00:00:06 and compassionate practices. I want to thank Governor Newsom for in the state for their
00:00:11 contribution to this incredible facility along with our board of supervisors and we've got
00:00:16 Supervisor Mueller and Supervisor Corza here with us today and also Don Horsley who's not with us
00:00:22 anymore is deceased but this was really his dream. The new building and the programs replace a 65
00:00:29 that 65 year old facility originally designed as a hospital for TB patients. It is long past
00:00:36 outlived its ability to deliver the kind of care that we in San Mateo County know is possible and
00:00:43 that our residents deserve and anyone who knows me knows that I like to say that even though our
00:00:49 board of supervisors committed a billion dollars to vital client-facing infrastructure projects in
00:00:54 this county we never have been and we never will be about the brick and mortar. It is about people
00:01:00 our clients and serving them in a dignified and respectful way and this is what we will be doing
00:01:05 in these buildings and to that end I want to thank Dr. Africa and Louise Rogers the Chief of Health
00:01:11 and the entire BHRS staff and all those in the medical field that have spent their professional
00:01:15 careers helping those suffering from mental health issues and addiction issues and this
00:01:20 ladies and gentlemen is why prop one is so important because prop one encourages counties
00:01:25 to be ambitious about behavioral health care services and to address the root causes
00:01:30 of the many challenges our communities face. And now we can dream bigger because of this.
00:01:39 To supplement our clinical programs we've extended intensive case management to help clients stay
00:01:43 connected to services and we've promote medication assisted treatment for substance use disorders
00:01:50 especially in our correctional facilities. We offer a high a highly effective peer support
00:01:56 along with employment services and housing and housing is key as we all know and we know
00:02:01 solutions can be more comprehensive when programs work together. We serve clients at different stages
00:02:06 meeting them where they are at in the community. Our clients need needs are complex and it takes
00:02:12 many dedicated partners including the state of California to address their needs and the state
00:02:17 has been there for us. By working together we can create innovative solutions and programming
00:02:22 and now let me say a little bit about CareCourt. With CareCourt we have another tool
00:02:28 to help get folks engaged with services. It creates an alternative option outside the petition process
00:02:34 for families, health providers, and law enforcement. We have brought assisted outpatient services into
00:02:39 the CareCourt framework to make sure that clients have the support they need close at hand. Building
00:02:46 and managing these programs are an opportunity for local government to express their finest values
00:02:51 caring for the most vulnerable, supporting those on the recovery journey, and promoting dignity at
00:02:57 every turn. And Governor this is something that you've done very well and that is supporting our
00:03:02 most vulnerable and this is what the families want for their loved ones and this is what San Mateo
00:03:06 County wants for those that are suffering from mental health issues. So I challenged our team
00:03:11 to be an early implementer of CareCourt to get the Governor's program up and running and not a
00:03:18 surprise at all they were able to meet that challenge. So as of July 1st 2024 CareCourt will
00:03:24 be open and running in San Mateo County. So I want to thank the Governor for this program, certainly
00:03:29 the Board of Supervisors, along with our courts and all our partners who have achieved this goal
00:03:34 and to the families of those with mental health issues I want you to know help is on the way.
00:03:41 Look none of us here created these seemingly intractable societal issues and it'd be easy to
00:03:48 look the other way and kick the can down the road but that's not who we are as a county and that's
00:03:53 not who this Governor is. Governor you've been bold and given us the tools like CareCourt, Prop 1,
00:03:59 HomeKeep funding, the encampment funding we just received, and SB 43 on the way here. And anyone
00:04:06 who doubts how effective these are spend a day with me. Come out to our encampments, come out to
00:04:12 the hotels we purchased, the navigation center that we have up and running. See the health programs
00:04:18 we have up and the addiction programs we have in place and talk to some of the 600 people that
00:04:23 we've been able to place because of the funds that we have received from the state. So Governor I'm
00:04:29 accountable to you, I'm accountable to this board, and I want you to know that we're going to meet
00:04:35 that challenge. And I just want to encourage you to never give up, never give in, I know you won't,
00:04:41 keep giving us the tools, keep being bold because San Mateo County stands with you and we will get
00:04:48 the job done here in San Mateo County. So with that I'm going to turn the podium over to Leigh
00:04:53 who I believe has a pretty incredible story to tell. Leigh.
00:05:03 Oh hi. I have a family member, an adult child who's lived here at Cordeleras. Initially off and on
00:05:14 and tried various placements, we moved to this county to get better services for him. I wish
00:05:22 every county had available for mentally ill clients what this county has available. And
00:05:32 my son just briefly became ill in his senior year. He was going to an academic school, Lowell,
00:05:43 in San Francisco when he started believing people could read his thoughts, look through his eyes,
00:05:51 and hearing voices. He was immediately treated. He has been on appropriate medications for many,
00:06:01 many years. When he was at home I had pill boxes morning and evening.
00:06:07 And when he's been in a facility like this he's also been medicated. But my point is
00:06:17 it's not just medication, it's housing. It's housing and medication. John,
00:06:29 I'm sorry I didn't want to say that, my son, I am keeping confidential about him because there's so
00:06:37 much mistaken ideas and prejudices about severe mental illness. But he prefers to be safe and
00:06:50 to him that represents freedom. So the third floor at Cordeleras has been perfect for him.
00:06:57 It's locked and that's what he wants. And that is the safety and protection that many mentally ill,
00:07:07 severely mentally ill clients need. He tells me he wants the building locked so nobody can come in
00:07:16 off the street and beat him up. So that gives him security, safety, and it's important that we have
00:07:26 this whole range of placements. The county has tried different placements for my son.
00:07:34 They don't work out, even the best of them. And when they don't, he leaves. He's a runner,
00:07:42 what's called a runner in this mental health parlance. And he just walks out.
00:07:49 Several times he walked up 101, he walked up 280. He'd go to the -- he'd head for the beach.
00:07:57 He'd head for where he went to college. Sometimes my doorstep. And of course, when I learned he
00:08:05 had gotten out on one of these times, I was always afraid. Would he be hit by a truck
00:08:12 on the highway? Would I not be able to find him? So this has worked for him.
00:08:20 And I'm very hopeful about the new building and that it will work too. Thank you so much.
00:08:30 Oh, I am supposed to introduce Dr. Mark Galley. There you are.
00:08:38 Good afternoon. Lee, let me just first thank you for your -- just sharing a little bit of your
00:08:51 life, your son's life with us. It takes a lot of courage, but because of your willingness to be up
00:08:58 here with us, I think we start to really unpack and unravel some of those barriers, some of those
00:09:05 challenges that you talked about. And I'm just very grateful for you and that your son is here
00:09:11 and I think thriving. It is a real pleasure to be here today. It's exciting to think about the years
00:09:19 of work, Governor, that you have put forward with bold new ideas, sometimes hard to tell exactly
00:09:26 how it all fits together because it's a complicated soup of funding and rules and regulations and
00:09:33 long lead times to buildings. But you, behind me, and what I just had a chance to tour, is amazing.
00:09:40 I mean, the setting, outdoors, nature, the buildings, humane, with lots of great space
00:09:47 and color and open. And as you said, Lee, it works for people. And that's what's exciting in a world
00:09:55 where for years we've dealt with stigma, we've dealt with the conversation about involuntary
00:10:01 and locked versus unlocked and community-based. And that promise that was never delivered on,
00:10:08 to create a full community continuum where people can find options that work for them
00:10:13 as their symptoms, as their challenges, as their needs change. What I see behind me because of many
00:10:21 of the things, Governor, you've advanced over the last many years and helped put together,
00:10:26 punctuated by the passage of Prop 1 and the flexibilities that those dollars will now have,
00:10:34 the focus on housing, the focus on meeting the intensive needs of people with serious challenges,
00:10:41 both in the mental health and the substance abuse and use range. I think it's exciting to see
00:10:49 this place that shows promise. And Lee, you brought up you wish other places had this,
00:10:56 other counties. Well, Governor, I think you've provided the tools, the funding,
00:11:00 the opportunities, whether it's through CareCourt or other options and Prop 1, to build exactly
00:11:08 this. I've seen things similar to it in other parts of the state. And I think with the bond
00:11:15 funding coming forward very soon, that we'll have more opportunities to see this. And I think the
00:11:22 state continues to be ready to partner with counties, like I really appreciate San Mateo
00:11:29 stepping in and stepping up, thinking about this as a partnership, seeing the tools and that word
00:11:35 of accountability. Not that anyone's accountable to the state or the state accountable to the
00:11:40 counties, but we are accountable to the people who today suffer, sometimes on our streets,
00:11:46 sometimes in our jails and prisons, sometimes in our hospitals, in our emergency rooms,
00:11:51 often alone without someone by their side. And today is another example of how the state
00:11:58 and counties, our local partners in partnership, are doing something different, something bold,
00:12:05 and reimagining what our behavioral health system looks like in California, and really creating a
00:12:12 behavioral health system for all Californians. So it is with that in mind, and a real privilege
00:12:20 to have a small hand in helping us get to this day, I want to introduce somebody else who has
00:12:27 really played a key role, even before you came to this state, Secretary Moss, in really pushing for
00:12:34 those housing solutions for individuals who have serious behavioral health challenges,
00:12:40 the identification of what those settings look like, and not just where can we put them up and
00:12:45 build them and keep them, but how do we continue to pay for them and support them. So your brilliance
00:12:50 and leadership is much needed at the state. I'm really proud to call you a colleague,
00:12:54 so without further ado, Secretary Tamika Moss. [Applause]
00:13:03 Thank you, Dr. Galley. Good afternoon, everyone. As I was having a tour and listening to you, Lee,
00:13:10 it just reminds me that everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. And by accelerating
00:13:18 this first round of funding that's made available through Proposition 1, the Governor has demonstrated
00:13:24 his sense of urgency and necessity to address our homelessness and housing crisis across the state.
00:13:31 We all know how critical it is for people to have access to behavioral health services
00:13:36 and housing when exiting homelessness. In my view, housing is health and health is housing.
00:13:44 These are two sides of the same coin. That's why I'm so excited to work with my colleagues
00:13:50 at Cal HHS, Cal VET, to ensure an integrated approach to administering Prop 1.
00:13:57 If we're going to address the complexities of our homelessness crisis, which often includes
00:14:04 behavioral health needs, we must take a holistic approach. This behavioral health bond includes
00:14:11 funding for community-level investments in treatment facilities like this amazing project
00:14:16 here under the leadership of county leaders that I deeply admire that will be administered by the
00:14:24 Department of Health Care Services, $2 billion of investments that will be administered by our
00:14:30 Department of Housing and Community Development in collaboration with Cal VET, a billion of which
00:14:36 to create housing for veterans and another billion for others who are exiting homelessness.
00:14:42 Proposition 1 also includes critical ongoing support to make sure that people stay housed.
00:14:50 This is why we are asking counties to pair their 30 percent set-asides to housing supports that can
00:14:57 be attached to housing units through their bond funds. This supports our entire community.
00:15:03 We also think there's an opportunity for the full-service partnerships, these clinically
00:15:08 enhanced field-based teams that can provide supportive services to people on the streets
00:15:14 through interim housing and supportive housing. These ongoing services are critical to our
00:15:20 ability to provide the continuum of housing and services that folks so desperately need.
00:15:25 This is exactly the right approach, Governor. I said so. And as Secretary of the Business,
00:15:33 Consumer Services and Housing Agency, y'all, I can tell you what solutions work to end and
00:15:38 prevent homelessness, and this right here is one of them. Our housing-first approach provides housing
00:15:45 and services to help people stabilize and thrive. We don't want communities to have to choose one
00:15:50 or the other. It also takes an all-government approach, and from the leadership of my boss,
00:15:56 the close coordination of our county and city leaders, our private and non-profit partners
00:16:03 who do this work every day, this is how we're going to make Proposition 1 meet the needs of
00:16:09 the community and Californians who need it the most. So again, thank you, Governor, for accelerating
00:16:15 this first round of funding. This is a game-changer. I'm excited to roll up my sleeves with my
00:16:20 colleagues, and now it's my deep honor to introduce Senator Becker.
00:16:24 Thank you. Some of my constituents have gotten tired of the homelessness crisis.
00:16:35 They've said to me, "Josh, I have compassion fatigue." And it's understandable in some sense
00:16:42 because we've been trying to solve this for a long time. But what I've seen recently is increasing
00:16:49 judgment, I would say, of our homeless population. And I think if we all search our hearts,
00:16:57 we will find, I believe, that we know this could happen to any one of us, any one of us that has
00:17:06 a mental health issue. It could happen to our children or to a loved one. And I think we'd
00:17:13 want to know that there are people out there who care, who are working on this, who are coming up
00:17:19 with innovative solutions. And that's why it's so important that the Governor is here today in our
00:17:27 district, in our 13th Senate district in San Mateo County, talking about solutions, talking about
00:17:34 what we're doing to solve the problem. And it's not just Prop 1. This is part of a comprehensive
00:17:42 strategy. Yes, we know we have to help our residents who have severe mental illness, 25 to
00:17:48 40 percent estimates of the homeless population. And we're doing it through CareCourt, as you heard,
00:17:52 through Prop 1, through SB 43, which hopefully we'll hear more about in a moment. And this is
00:17:58 part of our homelessness strategy, to build more permanent housing. We'll have a $20 billion bond
00:18:02 here in the Bay Area on affordable housing, and as chair of the Bay Area Caucus, we'll be all in
00:18:08 on that. And interim housing, that missing rung in the ladder between unsheltered homelessness
00:18:13 and permanent housing. And a bill that just passed unanimously through the Senate
00:18:18 yesterday on that. And so that is part of our comprehensive solution. And here in San Mateo
00:18:24 County, where you heard from our county manager, we have a goal of functional zero. And that's the
00:18:29 other part of this. We all have to believe that we can solve unsheltered homelessness. In California,
00:18:34 67 percent of our homeless residents are unsheltered. That's a lot more than the rest
00:18:38 of the country. So we have to believe that we can solve this. And I believe this. Whenever I talk to
00:18:43 Dr. Ghali, I believe it. And when I talk to the governor, I believe it, because it's part of
00:18:48 putting that together. And we know that any kind of transformation, and we're talking today about
00:18:51 transforming our mental health system, any kind of transformation, it takes collaboration
00:18:56 and compassion. Gandhi said that the measure of society is how we treat the most vulnerable.
00:19:03 And there's no better leader in our state Senate who epitomizes that compassion and
00:19:10 decisive action is our former social worker and former military. She's been leading us
00:19:17 in this quest. And I'm great pleasure to introduce Susan Eggman.
00:19:26 Thank you, Josh. Good afternoon, everybody. I am so happy to be here today. My first job
00:19:33 off the farm that I actually got paid for was in a locked psychiatric setting. And I think through
00:19:39 my career, I have worked at every level of care and have seen up close the failures of our system.
00:19:47 When we called ourselves rehabbing it way back 60 years ago, we really began, I think, a problem
00:19:55 that has materialized before in our living history. We've seen it happen. And so it's taken
00:20:01 a team and a governor like this to be able to say enough is enough. And I am so grateful I was able
00:20:07 to be in a position to be there at this time when these things were going down. I have plugged away
00:20:13 at these things for the last 12 years. Sometimes I was all alone. But when the governor won election
00:20:20 and said, we're going to do something about this, I knew that the tide was turning. So it's not just
00:20:26 this one thing. It's not just prop one. It's every change we've made to develop an entire continuum
00:20:31 of care. That when you present with an issue, it can be treated appropriately at that level of care.
00:20:37 If you need more, you can move up. If you need down, you can move down. So there's a full spectrum
00:20:43 for people. And we've done that through different kind of hours, not having 911 come. We have two
00:20:48 apps for kids anywhere, anytime. They can get support if they need it. We've built everything
00:20:54 out. Some of the last things we're doing, some of the bigger policy, right? For so long,
00:20:58 we were unable to really get out and help those that needed help the most. And they were the
00:21:03 hardest to serve. They were the hardest to serve, right? It's not like we were making up this people
00:21:07 that we were going to ship in from somewhere else. We saw them in our corners. We saw them in our
00:21:11 embankments. We saw them disintegrating before our eyes. Like a wise doctor said, people were dying
00:21:17 with their rights on. And for so long, it was impossible to change to a system that sometimes
00:21:22 could hold people. We wouldn't let somebody with a severed leg, a lay in the middle of the street
00:21:28 and say, I don't need any help. I'm fine. We wouldn't do that. And we talk about the parity
00:21:32 between mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and physical health. Then we have to really
00:21:37 see that all is a continuum and we have to provide the resources. So through CareCourt, our real
00:21:43 first step in bringing people in, bringing all the systems together. And thank you for this county
00:21:47 for implementing. Everybody else will continue to do it the next two years. And then last year,
00:21:52 we were able to pass SB 43, which changed for the first time in 60 years, what it means to be
00:21:57 gravely disabled in California. To be able to expand it, to be able to take care of your medical care
00:22:03 and your own personal safety, right? If you're in the middle of the street, but you still say you
00:22:07 can find a meal that night, that is not enough to continue to be out in the middle of the street,
00:22:11 spinning around. And we all see that pain, right? You get compassion fatigue, but we all see that
00:22:16 pain and wish there was something we could do. This governor did more than wish he could do
00:22:20 something he could do. Because then this last year, we're like, how are we going to continue
00:22:23 continue paying for all that? So we need to redo Prop 63, right? When we passed that 20 years ago,
00:22:29 over 20% of our population was uninsured. We look at that today, it's under five. So the things that
00:22:35 were once used as county funding for can now be built, can now bring in more. So we can take that
00:22:41 county funding and really focus on that wraparound care for those who need it the most, are most
00:22:46 vulnerable, who live in our communities, in our bushes, in our embankments, in somebody's backyard.
00:22:51 It's time to bring everybody out. It's time to treat everybody with the dignity and the care
00:22:56 that they and their families and their families deserve. I can tell you a lot of times we had
00:23:01 advocates on the other side saying, no, no, no, voluntary care is best. Of course, nobody's
00:23:07 arguing with that. Voluntary care is always best. But sometimes we need a little bit more and we
00:23:12 need more resources to do that. So being able to redirect this money and as a United States
00:23:18 military veteran, to have a billion set aside for veterans, we know in the last 20 years,
00:23:25 our country has been in continual conflict, armed conflict around the world. All those folks are
00:23:30 coming back and they need our support and our services. So I love historical fiction. I love
00:23:37 California. It is my home state. And I love that book. You need men to match your mountains or you
00:23:42 need people to match your mountains, I'm going to say. And I think we have that in Gavin Newsom.
00:23:48 Truly somebody has come on in partnership and said, we're going to get this done. Don't say no,
00:23:53 let's say how. And so it's been my honor to partner with him and Dr. Galley and the whole team
00:23:59 to be able to bring the changes to California that we need. But now San Mateo is on the leading edge
00:24:04 of implementing, right? We can have all the policies. Now comes the implementation. That's
00:24:09 our next path. And I again, want to thank you all very much and introduce the man of the hour,
00:24:13 Governor Gavin Newsom. Thank you. Thank you. Someone was recording that. Thank you, Senator.
00:24:25 Let me brag on everybody and no particular order in a moment, but just want to express
00:24:30 appreciation, gratitude that everybody took the time to be here and appreciation and gratitude
00:24:34 for all the hard work that those assembled have put into this announcement, all the hard work
00:24:40 that was aided because of remarkable support from the people of the state of California. And I'm
00:24:45 mindful of that. Forty million strong. They've given us tremendous support over the last number
00:24:50 of years to transform our approach, to address the issue of homelessness, address the issue of
00:24:55 housing, address the issue of behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse. They've also
00:25:00 given us latitude to recognize that we need to do better and do more. And we need to all be held to
00:25:05 a higher level of accountability. I've never been more enthusiastic about our prospects to actually
00:25:11 make a dent and address the issue of what's happening on the streets and sidewalks in the
00:25:15 state that I am today. These next two to three years will be transformational. We're at a hinge
00:25:21 moment. We've addressed a lot of the barriers, a lot of the issues that we have struggled with
00:25:26 for decades in the state of California, the inability to do certain things. We've met the
00:25:30 moment, as Dr. Ghaly said, and we have achieved tremendous reform. Those reforms have been
00:25:36 aided abetted by Senator Eggman, Senator Becker and others to address a myriad of issues. And as
00:25:41 the senator was just saying, there are a myriad of issues that create a constellation that connect
00:25:47 a different component parts to address the totality of this challenge. Not one reform alone
00:25:54 will achieve the results that people demand. And we all expect its totality of what's been done in
00:26:00 the last number of years that we will be accelerating and advancing with the announcement today that I
00:26:05 believe will mark a new moment and new energy as it relates to these issues. Let me just briefly,
00:26:11 very briefly, mark a particular moment of consideration. Five years ago, there was no
00:26:18 homeless strategies, no homeless plans, period, full stop. The state of California was not involved
00:26:22 in these issues. Not 50 years ago, not 20 years ago, not a decade ago, just five years ago,
00:26:29 no homeless strategies, no homeless plans. To be fair, there was a half a billion dollar
00:26:33 appropriation that went to the cities and counties with no accountability, no oversight and no
00:26:38 measured results. That was the first time the state put in a few bucks. We had a Mental Health
00:26:43 Services Act. I'll talk more about that. But it outlived the world we're living in. That Mental
00:26:48 Health Services Act was passed 20 years ago for a world that no longer exists. We were listless.
00:26:52 And it was pretty self-evident. The cities and counties were overwhelmed by what was happening
00:26:57 on the streets and sidewalks. And we pledged a new paradigm, a new approach. We said we need to do
00:27:01 more as a state. The cities and counties cannot do this alone. Cities and counties came to us,
00:27:07 said it's about money, sure. But it's about more than just money. It's about resourcefulness. It's
00:27:12 about doing things that were precluded from doing, helping people that need help that can't help
00:27:18 themselves. They demanded fundamental reforms. One of the most fundamental of those reforms
00:27:23 was just advanced because of Senator Eggman. That's conservatorship reforms, issues around
00:27:28 substance use disorder, issues around being able to get adequate medical care. Those were not
00:27:33 considered as it relates to gravely disabled under the current construct of conservatorship.
00:27:38 For decades and decades, governors and legislature have been talking about that and advocates have
00:27:43 been talking about that, but nothing was done. We finally got that done. Now, here's what I want to
00:27:49 communicate on that. Not every county is implementing it. The counties now have the
00:27:55 tool under conservatorship reform, but the vast majority of counties refuse to implement it,
00:28:00 falling prey to the status quo, falling prey to the old stale talking points. Well, we can't do
00:28:07 this. We can't do that, pointing fingers. And if there's any overreaching message I want to
00:28:13 communicate today, it's time to do your job. It's time to get things done. You asked for these
00:28:18 reforms. We've provided them. Now it's time to deliver. And one of the technical things we're
00:28:24 hearing as a complaint at the local level related to the conservatorship reform, Senator Eggman and
00:28:30 our colleagues will clarify. I don't think it needs to be clarified, but I'm calling the bluff
00:28:35 as it relates to SUD, substance abuse disorder, and certain types of beds. The county is saying,
00:28:40 well, we just don't have legal clarification. We're now going to give them to them. There's
00:28:45 no excuse. I mean, there's no ambition. If counties, when I say no ambition, some counties
00:28:52 are moving forward aggressively. I'm going to brag on Mike in a second and the supervisors.
00:28:56 But some counties are saying, well, we can't even set this up. They can't even have the
00:29:00 ambition of helping one person. They said, we just don't have the resources. You can't find
00:29:05 one person under the conservatorship form now. It's because they're unwilling to do the work
00:29:11 that's necessary. The state's vision is realized at the local level. We can't do that job. They
00:29:17 need to do their job. So the conservatorship reform was foundational in terms of clearing
00:29:22 the decks in terms of one of the principal complaints you heard a second. And I want to
00:29:27 compliment Mike. This will be one of four or five compliments. He didn't have to. Supervisors,
00:29:33 you didn't have to. I want to thank you for supporting moving forward early on care court.
00:29:39 That's a new paradigm, not substituted care, but supported care. That's a new paradigm as it
00:29:43 relates to court plans and oversight and due process. It's a new pathway that's provided
00:29:48 help for hundreds and hundreds already with a goal of 2000 by the end of the year in this pilot phase
00:29:55 that because of your commitment to enter into the pilot phase, as now eight counties have,
00:30:01 it will accelerate our efforts as we move forward for the full implementation that which occurs
00:30:06 in December of this year. So I want to compliment San Mateo for being willing to do that. And that's
00:30:12 the spirit. That's what we're asking for. Meet our resolve. Let's go. We've got those resources.
00:30:21 But the issue you heard and heard it over and over and over, and it's absolutely spot on housing.
00:30:26 Lee was absolutely right. Housing as a foundational component part, 6.38 billion reasons we can say we,
00:30:34 the people of the state of California, met that call. 6.4 billion dollars of new funding to
00:30:41 provide housing. And why are we here? To illustrate exactly the kind of housing that's eligible
00:30:47 under this new funding source. The people of the state of California just approved a couple of
00:30:53 months ago. Scattered site housing, cottage setting housing, campus style housing, building
00:31:00 on a successful model, what we refer to as the B chip model. You can ask me more about that later.
00:31:06 So we don't have to reinvent the wheel. We just keep going with zoning and siting reforms so that
00:31:12 we don't turn into the ongoing dialectic as this example down here between Millbrae and San Mateo
00:31:21 County. You want to ask me about Millbrae, I'm happy to add more salt on that conversation.
00:31:27 Need to get things done. Everybody needs to row in the same direction.
00:31:32 But here's the difference. The last time we did anything like this, no place like home,
00:31:37 there was a bond around behavioral health. You know, it took, and this is important,
00:31:42 it took two years after it was approved to put out the notice for funding availability,
00:31:50 and then months and months and months to approve the plans, and then months more before those
00:31:58 dollars were actually sent out. That is not the case today. Today we're announcing, unprecedented,
00:32:05 a two-year process. We are collapsing this just-approved bond. The first $3.3 billion will
00:32:12 be going out in July. In a matter of weeks, $3.3 billion on the notice of funding availability
00:32:19 will go out. We will quickly approve those plans because we have a new task force and strike team
00:32:25 around this, breaking down all of the boxes and bureaucratic hurdles, time to decision-making,
00:32:30 and they will approve those notices of funding on the basis of merit and scores and move those
00:32:37 dollars out on the first $3.3 billion in a matter of months, not a matter of years.
00:32:45 And so, again, we're asking the counties to match that ambition
00:32:49 on conservatorship reform, match Mike and the supervisor's ambition on care court. You don't
00:32:57 have to wait until December. Let's go and let's move forward. Get ready. Get those applications
00:33:02 going, and let's move these projects forward. And I think it's interesting. And, again, I said
00:33:09 there's a general thematic here. There are a number of counties -- Mike and San Mateo is not one of
00:33:15 them -- there are a number of counties that are saying, well, we just need more money and more
00:33:20 housing before we can move with these reforms or to do anything. These are the same counties.
00:33:25 There's 19 of them, as I speak, that are out of compliance on their housing element, that refuse
00:33:31 to even zone and plan for more housing. You can't make this up. It's almost Orwellian.
00:33:36 Nineteen counties today are out of compliance. You know one of the poster childs down there in
00:33:43 Huntington Beach. That's why I'm a little more aggressive as it relates to Millbrae.
00:33:50 You're the part of the problem here or not, period. Period. Solution, that is.
00:33:55 Let's move out of the way. Let's do the right thing. And let's have the sense of urgency the
00:34:03 people of the state of California demand. Two other things we're doing today. We have a new
00:34:08 website. I know. I know. But mentalhealth.ca.gov -- mentalhealth.ca.gov is up and will provide
00:34:18 information. It's in version 1.0, as we refer to it. So don't -- it's going to be a lot more
00:34:24 bells and whistles. The first version is basically an overlay of what is now being made available.
00:34:32 The resources that are out there from 911, CalHOPE, all the other programs, the mobile crisis
00:34:37 programs, all the other things the senators have advanced and supported that are part of this
00:34:42 matrix and strategy, that information will be one site available to folks. And then there's a second,
00:34:48 the version that we'll be putting out very shortly, is a compare-and-contrast map for
00:34:52 different counties. I want to know where the counties are. You want to know where your county
00:34:57 is. Where are they along the process to actually deliver on these results? And so this is about
00:35:04 the transparency that was also part and the accountability of Proposition 1. We heard you.
00:35:09 The public wants accountability. Not interested in how much money we're spending. I'm not either.
00:35:14 I want to know what we're resolving to get done. I want to see it. I want to feel it.
00:35:18 And so that is reflected not only in the reforms under Proposition 1, but this website that we're
00:35:23 putting up to allow people to track for themselves in real time. New auditing functions, new oversight
00:35:29 as it relates to the state over the counties working in partnership as it relates to these
00:35:33 reforms. That is also part of the Mental Health Services Act reform that Senator Eggman was
00:35:38 referring to that makes eligible now housing for the first time ever. A billion dollars a year of
00:35:44 ongoing housing dollars for people that are self-medicating, many cases of drug or alcohol
00:35:49 addictions with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, paranoia, severe depression. Those dollars will
00:35:55 be transitioned over the next year and a half, the July of 2026. When that fully transitions,
00:36:01 we want to be providing technical support for the cities and counties to provide for that transition
00:36:08 as well. So forgive the long windedness, but this is nuanced. It's complicated, but it's also very
00:36:15 enlivening. And I'm very excited about the journey we're about to go on together as we change the
00:36:23 paradigm and focus and we begin anew our partnerships with the cities and counties. I said I
00:36:30 was going to brag on Mike four times. I think it's only been three. Let me just close on this. You
00:36:36 want to know who's doing it, doing it best. It's your executive, your chief executive here at San
00:36:44 Mateo County. There's been no greater partner at the county level than Mike, providing constructive
00:36:51 criticism, providing unique insight, demanding always more, but demanding all of us do better
00:36:58 and always being willing to meet the moment in terms of his own accountability. And for you,
00:37:02 both you members of the board, thank you for having his back and thank you for having our back
00:37:06 at the state level as we come back here at the local level to advance these efforts. So that's
00:37:13 the announcement today. Few months, not many years. New accountability, a new energy. Let's move on
00:37:21 conservatorship reform. Let's move faster on care court. And let's roll in the direction the people
00:37:27 of the state of California demand. And let's also do more to celebrate our vets. One billion dollars.
00:37:33 And I will say if there's any good news, and I'll close on this officially,
00:37:37 state of California see the decline in veterans homelessness. We have a national model. What
00:37:44 Proposition 1 did is it reinforced that model, provided more resources to advance that model.
00:37:50 And we're very excited to get those dollars to work as well. So with that, we're here to answer
00:37:57 any questions. From KTVU, thanks for taking the time. You just announced you may revise
00:38:02 cuts and delays to affordable housing, homelessness programs. Do you hope that Prop 1 bridges those
00:38:08 gaps? And on the topic of counties, what do you tell those folks that say they can't reach their
00:38:12 goals with those cuts? They've never been more resourced in the history of the state, period,
00:38:17 full stop. Never been more resourced in the history of this state. Never had more tools,
00:38:22 more flexibility in the history of this state. We kept the funding, fundamental funding for
00:38:28 all our existing homeless services. There are a few changes more broadly across the spectrum,
00:38:34 more than backfilled as it relates to the 6.38 billion dollars. With all that direct money,
00:38:40 ongoing money on the way with the reforms under the Mental Health Service Act, let's go. I'm not
00:38:44 buying those old arguments anymore. Let's go. They have the direction. They know our commitment and
00:38:50 resolve. They have unprecedented resources. And that's what we're announcing today, a speed and
00:38:58 a scale to our approach that I also know they were hoping to hear. And I hope that will aid and abet
00:39:05 the local efforts to do the same. Governor, thanks for the time. Chris Ancarlo with KCBS.
00:39:12 And I just wanted to ask you, we heard about care fatigue and some of these other phrases. Given
00:39:16 that Prop 1 passed maybe a little bit more narrowly than expected, is there another level
00:39:21 of pressure here to show the results at the risk of losing public opinion on future state and local
00:39:27 ballot measures designed to attack homelessness? No, I appreciate the question. I do. And I
00:39:32 appreciate Senator Becker's point. I don't look at it from a political paradigm. That's a situational
00:39:37 political frame. Public opinion, public this, that. It's a moral imperative to address this
00:39:42 issue head on. What Mike was saying, and I appreciate it as well as a subtext, and now I'm
00:39:47 piling it on a little bit and complimenting him, was if you don't think what he's doing is working,
00:39:54 spend time with him. See the programs he's stood up. See what Homekey has done. I mean,
00:40:00 Homekey alone, 250 projects, 15,319 units, 15,319 units. Tens of thousands of people that have
00:40:08 cycled out of that to permanent and other housing and other permanent supports. Tens of thousands
00:40:15 more taking advantage of that framework. So I just think right now all that matters is producing
00:40:22 results that people, the state deserve, and the people that are struggling expect and deserve as
00:40:27 well. The results should speak for themselves. And the public will always have our back as long as
00:40:34 we're doing our job. And that requires all of us, again, to step up those efforts. And that's one of
00:40:42 the, again, critical calls today is we can't do this alone. The state needs local government. And
00:40:49 we are demanding with a sense of urgency that we move with deep partnership to meet the needs of
00:40:56 those that are struggling and to meet the expectations of the people we serve.
00:41:00 If I may, a second question off topic. You're going to the Vatican. What's the message you're
00:41:05 taking to the Pope when it comes to California's approach to climate change? And how do you win
00:41:10 over Catholics around the world? Well, that's a deeper question,
00:41:14 winning over Catholics around the world. But you get a call or at least an invitation from the Pope.
00:41:20 It's wise to accept it. And I was honored to be able to accept an invitation to go to Vatican
00:41:27 overnight. And I've got a couple of days there at the Vatican to talk about an existential issue
00:41:35 that impacts all of us in more ways on more days. And that's the issue of climate issues that are
00:41:40 very familiar to the people of the state of California. No state has more to lose, not just
00:41:45 more to gain in terms of addressing climate change. And few states, few subnational jurisdictions in
00:41:52 the world have more to share in terms of tools and best practices. And so I've been asked to
00:41:57 discuss California's nation leading initiatives to mark our progress and to promote our ambition
00:42:05 at a next level. And so I'm really humbled to be able to do that. Thank you. Governor,
00:42:12 thanks for the time. I also want to say thank you to Lita for sharing your story. I went to
00:42:16 your son's high school, although I don't know that I knew him. But anyway, by the way, for the record,
00:42:20 if you don't know Lowell, it's the Harvard of high schools. My mother went there as well. But
00:42:26 so we're proud. And she went to Chico State. But that's another conversation.
00:42:29 Oh, very different ends of this. It was a little different, but she was proud to be Chico.
00:42:34 I hear you talking about merit, Governor, and I hear you talking about accountability. I'm
00:42:38 wondering if you would be willing to say here today that for the cities and counties that
00:42:42 don't report their outcomes, would you cut or freeze funding? I mean, look, we've made that
00:42:48 crystal clear. You may recall two years ago, the first required homeless plans were submitted to
00:42:55 the state of California, rejected all of them, which means we held the money. So the answer
00:43:00 is unequivocal. Yes, it's about accountability. It's about oversight. It's about the end of the
00:43:06 day. We want to. Stubborn phrase pay for performance, but we we want to fund success.
00:43:14 We want success to be emulated. I'm not interested in failing more efficiently or funding failure.
00:43:19 So at least I speak for myself. I'm just one branch of government. But we want to invest
00:43:25 in excellence and also ask a follow up. I watched, as you may have also the subcommittee on oversight
00:43:32 where your homeless agency was asked about the audit and a number of lawmakers there on both
00:43:38 sides of the aisle said that it sounded like excuses from this agency. How do you describe
00:43:43 that? What do you see? Well, I know none of it surprised me at all. In fact, it's the reason
00:43:48 we're very proud. Member Ward just introduced legislation. We requested of him last week
00:43:52 to incorporate homelessness into our housing accountability unit, which has already unlocked
00:43:58 twenty three thousand housing units. Ask the folks in Half Moon Bay about that housing
00:44:03 accountability unit. We're not shy about exercising our opinion and ultimately holding
00:44:12 local government account to state law. And that's the spirit we want to bring into homelessness.
00:44:18 And I know that's the spirit the legislature also wants to bring in accountability. So we're
00:44:22 looking forward to that getting back to my desk and and moving in that direction.
00:44:26 Hi, Governor. Thanks for answering some of our questions. I'm Annabelle Sosa with the L.A. Times.
00:44:33 Someone already asked my question about the Vatican. So I'm going to go ahead and ask you
00:44:37 a question I didn't get to on Friday during the mayor vision. Ninety eight minutes. We didn't get
00:44:42 to it. So you talked about certain rollbacks to criminal justice reforms and being mindful of the
00:44:49 unknown when you talked about potential prison closures. I really just want you to be able to
00:44:54 say on the record if you what reforms you're referencing and if it was the prop 47 ballot
00:44:58 initiative or any others that you're concerned about. That was one of them and others are being
00:45:03 discussed. But that's more speculative. Prop 47 is not speculative. I mean, they've got signatures
00:45:09 and it's respectfully not a reform of Prop 47. There's other component parts that I would say
00:45:15 are more broad in terms of the reform. But but that's one of many specific. That's a specific.
00:45:21 There are other ideas that are out there being promoted. Is that is that initiative really. If
00:45:26 voters were to pass it in November, is that something you're really concerned in terms of
00:45:33 populations in prisons? I don't think it advantages that. I mean, obviously, if you read it,
00:45:40 you'll see the component part that brings people back to the state. So by definition,
00:45:44 will impact that. But it's it's it's it's example, specific example. And then there are others,
00:45:50 other ideas that are being promoted out there that I think would roll back progress. Do you think
00:45:54 that it would dramatically increase the populations? I think you start stacking all these things
00:45:59 together. But again, it's not the only idea that's being promoted out there. Are there other ideas?
00:46:06 You're there are other ideas that are out there. We'll leave it at that. Look, I don't want to get
00:46:10 in. We we can litigate this. All I'm saying is and I think this is the deeper point. Our prison
00:46:17 population is not static, period, full stop. And we have to be mindful of that. And we have to have
00:46:23 a flexible mindset that there are things being promoted specifically. There are legislative
00:46:30 proposals that are quite literally being considered by their colleagues. And there are other interest
00:46:39 groups out there. They're looking to potentially promote additional ballot measures. We're making
00:46:43 decisions not just situationally. When you shut down a prison, you're making a long term decision.
00:46:50 So you have to have a more sustainable mindset. And that was fundamentally what I was trying to
00:46:54 communicate. But in answer to your question, yes, is the answer to the Prop 47 reform that I do think
00:47:02 would would move us in a very different direction than we've been moving. And I think that's the
00:47:08 intention of his proponents. But my intention is to work with the legislature to pass reforms today
00:47:14 that provide flexibility and actually address the real problems that many of those proponents
00:47:20 are stating. I appreciate your answer. Just second question. Second and last question. What is your
00:47:25 administration doing about the recent allegations out of two women's prisons and Chowchilla and
00:47:30 Chino with the latest sexual abuse allegations coming out of this? Let me have CDCR get back
00:47:36 to you in terms of the details about those. Any remark or comment in terms of any time those
00:47:41 allegations we take them seriously. They're investigated. Any sexual assault allegations
00:47:45 we could take pay particular attention to and express obvious condemnation and concern about
00:47:51 any activity along those lines. So it's appropriate when in an investigation that we let those facts
00:47:58 take shape and and share that information as soon as it's available. Thank you. Thank you.
00:48:06 Governor. Hi. Thanks. Rachel Bluth from Politico here. As you mentioned, this big new building is
00:48:11 not built with Prop 1 funds. It's built with B chip. So in your May revision, you're actually
00:48:19 cutting B chip and a number of other programs. See my BHI continuum care that will that are meant
00:48:25 to kind of prop up and support prop one until we get there. So do you think that those cuts are at
00:48:30 all hampering other counties abilities to do what you're? No, I don't. Candidly, respectfully,
00:48:36 three point seven five billion dollars in new money under home key, two point two billion dollars
00:48:40 under that program that didn't exist before I got here. I mean, these are unprecedented investments.
00:48:45 So any short term issues, I think if they're used as an excuse, we should expect no progress.
00:48:54 People know what's coming and that's a billion dollars a year, one billion dollars a year for
00:49:01 new housing support on a mental service act that was not otherwise available.
00:49:05 They know that money's coming and they know when that money's coming and they have the ability
00:49:11 to plan for that. And so, no, I don't think that should in any way impact the progress
00:49:17 and the promotion of that progress. All right. I also did not get a question on Friday. So
00:49:23 I've got to ask you, what do you say to critics who say that you are going back on your plan
00:49:27 promises to MediCal with the M.C.O. tax and investing that money back into MediCal? Actually,
00:49:32 I'd love to get our legislative leaders to weigh in on that, too, if they they they they have our
00:49:37 proposal. It's hard for me to square that with my advocacy to get the M.C.O. done in the first
00:49:43 place and all the hard work going back and forth to Washington, D.C. and working to get the waiver.
00:49:47 So, you know, the characterization of that frame is difficult for me. And as it relates to the work
00:49:53 I've did in the past on the M.C.O. and the work that we provided unprecedented supports, Dr.
00:49:57 Ghaly, if I may ask him to come up as well on behalf of the administration, who's who's done a
00:50:02 lot of that work, most of that work. There's no administration that we know of in the United
00:50:08 States done more on the Cal-Am frame, the work to address the provider payments. We've been working
00:50:14 hard over the course last number of years to to to bolster that up. And and we're doing everything
00:50:20 we can to get this new iteration done, but being done in a sustainable way. So, you know, with that,
00:50:27 maybe Dr. Ghaly could talk more about what I consider is heroic work, getting this M.C.O. deal
00:50:35 done in the first place to be able to be in a position to make these unprecedented investments
00:50:40 back into our health care system, which we will be doing. Yeah, Governor, right on. We
00:50:47 remind you that before the last M.C.O., mostly those dollars didn't go in as a focused Medi-Cal
00:50:57 investment in last year's budget. We took three very critical service lines up in their rate,
00:51:05 up in their augmentation in their reimbursement rate to create some security there. The efforts
00:51:12 to do more in a tough year, I think, were, you know, forced in some ways to delay some of those.
00:51:19 But certainly those investments that we've made in Cal-Am that are coming in BH Connect as we get
00:51:25 that approval this year, other approaches with the federal government to enhance our overall
00:51:32 reimbursement of Medi-Cal services across the board, I think are important investments to not
00:51:38 overlook. We work closely with all of our partners in the health care delivery space to really take
00:51:44 a temperature and see where we have to go next. I think there's a lot of conversations to have
00:51:49 in the next weeks, months, that this moment, if you will, where we are in right now, looking at
00:51:56 all that we've done and looking at opportunities in the future. I think this is a state that,
00:52:01 despite some real challenges in a budget this year, looks to partner with our federal government
00:52:07 in different ways, in new ways, to increase those dollars that we might have that make it available.
00:52:13 I think the really important work that we've had to expand not just benefits, but eligibility to
00:52:20 those benefits is absolutely critical. And obviously the work on rates and access continues
00:52:27 and is something that we're working hard with our partners. But I think the governor is absolutely
00:52:31 right. There is an administration that, without some other push, made these kinds of investments
00:52:38 to, frankly, transform the Medicaid system in ways that I think will benefit Californians,
00:52:43 not just for the next 12 months, but for decades to come, and our look not just at what happens
00:52:49 within the four walls of the clinic, but well beyond, as you see here behind me.
00:52:55 Don't even include, but beyond that, we're moving forward, first in the nation, universal health
00:53:00 care, which is an extraordinary achievement, particularly under the current budgetary
00:53:06 constraints. Thanks. And just lastly, we're here in San Mateo County, which also is not planning
00:53:11 to implement SB 43 until 2026. Until this press conference. And Mike's going to enthusiastically
00:53:18 work with the supervisors. I'm putting no pressure on staff right now. I'm seeing a head shaking
00:53:24 back there. Is that because your county sent out a press release this, like, May 2nd, that it was
00:53:30 due in 2026. So are you bumping that up? Now we really are putting Mike on a spot.
00:53:35 And you don't have to say yes, Mike. No, it's a great tool, and we're going to try to implement
00:53:43 it as soon as possible. And I've had the discussions with our staff. I can tell you right
00:53:47 now we're actively looking for places to house people. But yeah, we're going to implement it
00:53:52 as soon as possible. Thanks so much. All right. Thanks. That was a good question. I appreciate
00:53:58 hi, Governor. Hi, Governor. Good afternoon. Thanks for being here. Vic Jolly with the Sacramento B.
00:54:04 You trimmed during the budget revision the homeless housing assistance and prevention
00:54:11 program money. And if you have addressed that a bit, Proposition one goes to a specific subset
00:54:17 to aim to help and potentially will help a specific subset of the population.
00:54:23 Can you talk about how you expect to continue, or do you expect to continue to add money to each of
00:54:32 the half program? Yes. And and also to Homekey. Well, I, you know, ideal world would love to. I
00:54:42 mean, we we help create those programs. Homekey quite literally and hap came from a version of
00:54:52 that program that that Governor Brown work with the legislature to advance. So we have, you know,
00:54:59 done our best over the last few years to enhance those investments situationally.
00:55:08 Budget we submitted did not provide additional resources. The legislature in their wisdom will
00:55:14 make that determination on the basis of what they believe should be prioritized in this budget over
00:55:19 the course of the next number of weeks. And they can make a determination if they want to continue
00:55:23 to appropriate levels that we've seen in the past. And we'll dialogue with them with an open mind
00:55:31 about our ongoing fiscal burdens, not just our short term as it relates to eligibility. I'll
00:55:38 remind you under Proposition one, there's pretty good flexibility as it relates to prevention
00:55:45 dollars, rental dollars as it relates to that billion dollars. So that population, that subset
00:55:51 also, as you know, now includes because of Prop one clarity as it relates to people
00:55:56 that are using substances and housing and all of those, in some cases, triply diagnosed,
00:56:02 not just fully diagnosed. So there's tremendous flexibility in that space as well.
00:56:06 All right. Finally, sir, when do you expect when can the public expect the first housing,
00:56:13 either rehabbed or new? Well, I'd like one to come online.
00:56:17 Well, look, we're providing all the resources to give them the ability to do that in a very
00:56:21 short period of time. Again, just a matter of months. We're getting the first notices of
00:56:25 funding. I'll remind you that we will be approving these applications by early fall, and those
00:56:32 dollars will be out the door around the new year. And we want to see things happening. And again,
00:56:39 we're not just looking for the six, seven, eight, 10 year projects. Quite the contrary.
00:56:44 We're looking to fund projects that can move quick rehab, acquire, looking to convert along
00:56:50 the lines of what we did under Homekey, the time to deliver on Homekey, again, 15,319 units. By the
00:56:57 way, you can fact check that. It's an actual number because I get an update every week on that.
00:57:02 That's real. In just a few years, we were able to accomplish that. And so that's the spirit we want
00:57:08 to bring into the Prop 1. It's the ability to acquire something, to get it operational and
00:57:13 online. And under Homekey, I think we've averaged 90 days after acquisition to actually get people
00:57:18 in the housing units. So that's kind of a model for us. But again, every component of this will
00:57:25 operate or will be distinguished on the basis of regional issues and needs. And so we're just
00:57:32 hoping to move as quickly as we possibly and humanly can. Thank you, Governor.
00:57:36 Hi, Governor. Ethan Varian with the Bay Area News Group. Not to beat a dead horse,
00:57:42 but on this revision, I'm just going to follow up real quick on a couple of questions that have
00:57:45 been asked. Is part of the thinking in this revision that some of the cuts and not putting
00:57:50 HAP in the proposal that Prop 1 is here to sort of fill those gaps? I mean, is that not it?
00:57:56 No, that's not the way I looked at it. Like I said, we have a math problem. And we've got to fix it.
00:58:04 I mean, that's the thinking behind the budget. And I want to fix it. And we'll work with the
00:58:10 legislative leaders. And it will be a process and unfolds over the course of the next few weeks.
00:58:16 We don't want to just fix it this year. We want to fix it next year as well. We want to address
00:58:20 the ongoing issues. So it's a question of priority and balance, totality, the unprecedented investments
00:58:27 in this space that go well beyond HAP. I might just give you the encampment resolution grant.
00:58:31 That was $750 million alone. And you saw the money we just put out on that a few weeks ago.
00:58:37 And so there's so many component parts. But no, it was just looking at the totality
00:58:43 of the investments we've made, totality of the shortfall in making an assessment. And that
00:58:50 ultimately made the determination. Okay. And I'll bite. Tell me about Millbrae.
00:58:54 And is there any broader concern, I guess? Because it's a court case. It's Article 34,
00:58:58 right? Is there some concern that if the courts rule a certain way that it could put Homekey
00:59:03 in jeopardy? Well, look, the issue of citing is incredibly important. And the community is
00:59:08 incredibly important. No one's naive about that. But all of us have to have to do their job and
00:59:13 row in the same direction. And so it's just unfortunate. I'm mindful of Article 34. I'm
00:59:19 mindful of those legal arguments that they're remaking. I just don't buy them. You know,
00:59:24 as I said, we want partners, not sparring partners. And we're not looking to call them
00:59:31 out. It's just they've called us out on this. And I think they're calling out the public.
00:59:35 What's the number one? What's the number one issue in the state of California?
00:59:39 Yes, a vast majority of people, they're going to say it's homelessness and housing.
00:59:43 And they have an opportunity to save people's lives. They have an opportunity today
00:59:46 to address the housing needs of the homeless and address the anxiety of their community
00:59:52 around people that are on the streets and sidewalks, make community feel safer,
00:59:56 more like a community. They have a chance to do that with state resources that are unprecedented.
01:00:02 And they're saying no. I mean, you can if I'm not coming across a little frustrated,
01:00:06 I think the I'm just frankly expressing how the public feels. And I just don't think they're
01:00:13 poster child of best practice what to do. I think they're an outlier for not to do. And I say an
01:00:19 outlier because they are the exception. I mean, we have some of the reddest counties in California
01:00:25 enthusiastically embracing the home key model. It's been extraordinary. And I'm proud of rural
01:00:31 Cal. I mean, it's amazing how overwhelmingly embrace this is. That's why it's particularly
01:00:36 disappointing here in one of the great counties in one of the greatest states and the greatest
01:00:41 nation God has ever conceived. Thanks, Governor. Governor, I've been told I'm the last question
01:00:48 and it's off topic ahead of Memorial Day. Any update you can give us to Highway One, Big Sur?
01:00:52 Oh, I have two additional announcements. One of them is Highway One and Big Sur. So you get the
01:01:00 lifeline. Thank you for that. So before I say that, can I just say one other thing?
01:01:07 There's been an unbelievable amount of attention that has been placed on the Archwell Foundation.
01:01:17 I'm here at a behavioral health site, a mental health site. Archwell Foundation,
01:01:21 run by Megan Markle and Prince Harry, do extraordinary work, particularly women and
01:01:28 girls, but notably around mental health. And I just want folks to know not only are they in
01:01:36 compliance, there's a technical paperwork issue that was wildly over hyped. And with respect,
01:01:45 I hope people that ran those headlines run this headline, that it was a very typical technical
01:01:55 issue around paperwork that persists for so many others as well. And they're in full compliance
01:02:01 and they're a celebrated organization that does great work in the state of California. So I wanted
01:02:07 to clarify that because that's important. And I just thought there was a little bit of a piling on
01:02:15 that was deeply unfair to that charity. Number two, we're trying to address, we have been for
01:02:23 some time, the deep anxiety of folks out there on Highway One and try to get that highway reopened.
01:02:30 And good news is this Friday at 6.30 a.m., Highway One will be reopened. Caltrans working overtime,
01:02:38 subject to act of God, extreme winds, unlikely rain, but extreme winds,
01:02:46 we'll be able to achieve that 6.30 this Friday, Highway One will be reopened. So I appreciate the
01:02:55 opportunity to share that news as well. We appreciate the opportunity to share all these
01:03:00 news. I hope folks behind me were wearing sunblock. Thank you for your patience. And again,
01:03:05 the team assembled behind me are doers, and this is our strike team. And the two legislative leaders
01:03:11 and two supervisors here are people that get things, but also get things done. And I'm grateful
01:03:16 to them and their leadership. Thank you all very, very much.