Within hours, Lee died -- and Elliot had to step up to help keep the city running. California's gas tax is 51.1 cents per gallon, the second highest in the nation. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. We believe the answer is yes, and we are in the process now of doing some program evaluation to be able to back that up with data. We have exploded in bringing more interim housing beds online. Elliott said that while the state can build housing for people experiencing homelessness and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the housing shortage. Elliott acknowledged the state's behavioral health system has . Some were really good and some were not so good. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! SACRAMENTO Newly sworn-in Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the addition ofseveral highly-accomplished public servants toExecutive Branch Operationswithin the Governors Office. Q: As a result of Homekey, the state has added more than 6,000 new long-term housing units in less than six months. People have had it. We need people to enroll. More by Manuela Tobias, Jason Elliott, Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposal to compel people into court-ordered treatment for mental illness and addiction is a sense of urgency to solve a decades-old crisis festering on Californias streets even if it means building the plane as it flies. He comes from a family committed to public service. And he warned against efforts to rush the bill through the legislative process without proper public input and scrutiny. A: I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and I was walking my dog and I got a call from our then chief of staff Ann OLeary and she said I need you at (the Office of Emergency Services) right now. One example: a 2013 law designed toincrease infill developmentin green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. But getting a good read on his thinking can be difficult. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. His grandfather was in the State Department. Hironakahas most recently served as Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? The State Building and Construction Trades Council has pushed to include a requirement in housing bills that would force the new units to be built with union labor. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution SonyaLogman, 30,of Antelope, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. During apanel discussion hosted by Capitol Weeklyon Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. A: California struggles and has struggled for decades to provide adequate housing for people experiencing homelessness. Some were practical and some were impossible. But its a start, and more than California has done in a long time. No, of course not. Elliott said he was watching with glee the Biden administrations $5 billion proposal as part of his infrastructure plan to encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoning and other practices. Jason Elliott is the top housing adviser to Gov. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. And he was a friend and a mentor, so it must have been an incredibly difficult thing emotionally. We'll send you the top local news stories every morning at 8 a.m. By clicking subscribe, you agree to share your email address with Times of San Diego to receive our free newsletter and breaking news alerts. Hebegan his careerat the State Capitolas a legislativeaide to State Senator FranPavley. Elliott said he was watching with glee the Biden administrations $5 billion proposal as part of his infrastructure planto encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoningand other practices. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, Newsoms new push for homeless mental health treatment lacks details. Gavin Newsom's adviser on housing and homelessness, said that while the state can build housing for homeless people and the very poor, the private sector is essential to. And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. DeBoo joined. Instead, the governor plans to increase . Mayors of some of the states most populous cities have endorsed the plan as a way to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in full display on their streets. Jason Elliott, Gov. Elliott, a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University, has been with Newsom for years, working for him when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and lieutenant governor. Newsoms approval hobbled by crime fears, homelessness crisis, poll finds, De Len proposes a new city department of mental and public health, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? That has some worried, California judges could order help for homeless Californians under Newsoms new plan, poor reviews on efforts to stem the homelessness crisis, What we know about Newsoms plan to compel care for homeless, mentally ill Californians, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? Mayoral candidate and Councilman Kevin de Len wants the city to withdraw from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. And that was not its intention. Previously, Figueroa was Director of Prevention for The California Endowment, the nations largest state-specific health care foundation. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Callahan served as the Chief Executive Officer of the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit. . He also pledged swift action in the coming weeks to finalize the proposal and move it through the Legislature. If they start listening to us and really take coercive approaches and court-ordered approaches off the table, I think theres more hope that we can work with them on something that we can all support, Imparato said. Senator Alan Cranston, research assistant for the International Union of Radio, Electric and Machine Operators, AFL-CIO, and research aide to the National Sharecroppers Fund. Q: How did the impact of the pandemic, and the response, differ in the states two regions with the worst homelessness crises the Bay Area, and Los Angeles? Gavin Newsom, Elliott serves as the governors top housing and homelessness adviser. Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? Housing | Can Newsom build on pandemic lessons to end homelessness? No cost estimate for the plan has been released, but Newsom has pledged to spend up to $14 billion on solutions to Californias homelessness crisis over the next several years. Health | Jason Elliott with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Lt. Gov. We have the wrong reflex around housing in the state. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process toget more money out the door faster. This is a part-time position and does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation $81,897. You can find our submission guidelines here. Housing | Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. As senior counselor to Gov. "We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasn't going to be received unanimously, wasn't going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering . And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. By clicking subscribe, you agree to the Terms. LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. Opinion: Newsoms budget cuts threaten public health investment His sister is deputy chief of staff for the mayor of New Orleans and his cousin, who he grew up with, was chief of staff for the mayor of Portland. The second program,Homekey, created 6,000 units of long-term homeless housing in less than six months, by giving cities and counties the money to purchase hotels and other buildings, and expediting the permitting process. 22 0 obj <> endobj 40 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<5AA7A98AB171764DBDDEB77ECF4D108A>]/Index[22 34]/Info 21 0 R/Length 99/Prev 82140/Root 23 0 R/Size 56/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday Elliott said the almost-certain recall facing Newsom later this year isnt affecting his positions on housing, either, pointing to the governors 2020 State of the State speech, where housing and homelessness took center stage. Local governments face sanctions if they do not comply with program requirements. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. We're not always successful," Jason Elliott, Newsom's top advisor on homelessness, told CapRadio after the speech. Yes, it has. The program would allow family members, behavioral health providers and first responders to ask civil court judges to order a clinical evaluation and, if necessary, implement a plan for a person in need. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. ', San Diego Gun Store Owner Sentenced in Firearms Sales Case Involving Ex-Deputy, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. YL 8u8JpC For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. 4. We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasnt going to be received unanimously, wasnt going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering, Elliott said. Gavin Newsoms gubernatorial campaign. Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing advisor, said it is up to the legislative leaders to determine the mechanism for implementation, but requested urgency to codify the law by July 1. She previously covered startups and venture capital for the Bay Area News Group and prior to that court cases for The Recorder in San Francisco. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. Housing | and we're trying to keep up and make sure that we can keep up with protecting Californians," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior adviser. CARE Court is intended to be a voluntary program, and each plan would come with a public defender and a personal advocate as part of a client-centered approach. More than three dozen organizations and individuals, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Disability Rights California and the Western Center on Law and Poverty, signed an April 12 opposition letter raising serious concerns with Assembly Bill 2830, one of two nearly identical measures moving through the Legislature to implement Newsoms Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court. And its not something you ever picture doing. Health | LZe$h#0m1Nx@,Z@XO"F"K"]w8|qWWhh\6^i One example: a 2013 law designed to increase infill development in green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. Do the best you can -- what Ed Lee would want us to do is to run the city as professionally as we possibly can. Yes, it has. With this $1.75 billion (the governor proposed spending $1.75 billion on homeless housing, including $750 million to continue Homekey) we want to create this momentum behind Homekey and not have it be a one-time thing. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month And if the question is has it worked, I think unequivocally the answer is yes. Gavin Newsom Age: 37 Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto Current home: Sacramento Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old. In response, Fowler agreed that California, like the rest of the country, faces a severe shortage of labor, union or otherwise. But with so many other cost drivers such as skyrocketing lumber prices wages arent the problem. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. Housing | So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? Her stories focus on We practice for terrorism. A central component of CARE Court is accountability, which Newsom said will drive results. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,008. Despite new state law, Antioch ends remote option for council meetings A:I dont want to leave your readers with the impression that Project Roomkey is going to once and for all solve homelessness in California, because its not. "Sometimes people return to the streets, sometimes they return to . Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this. We dont have a concrete number, but you could assume we produce as a state maybe between 2,000 and 5,000 units of permanent housing in any given year. Between working on the states pandemic response seven days a week and raising a baby, theres very little time to do anything else. Protect your nonprofit, nonpartisan state news. Jason Elliott's Phone . Updated Aug. 9, 202\2 Want to see more stories like this? So our responsibility now as a state is to continue to put fuel in the tank of this solution. During a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly on Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. It's scheduled to increase slightly for inflation on July 1. The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. The big takeaway: California is millions of. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month NettieSabelhaus, 71, of Sacramento,has been appointedSpecial Advisor on Public Safety. Elliott: I think the most challenging part was trying to take the mayors staff and key department heads and insulate them from the political turmoil that was happening inside City Hall and around the city. Read More. Honestly sometimes when something is working, you dont tinker with it. Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing advisor, said it is up to the legislative leaders to determine the mechanism for implementation, but requested urgency to codify the law by July 1. Put that in context how big a deal is that in a state that for decades has struggled to build enough housing? Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Newsom dissed local applicants for seeming too complacent about a dire California problem, while the applicants retorted that the Newsom administration sent conflicting signals and that in any case, state lawmakers had inadvertently given them a financial motive to lowball their goals. ChristineHironaka, 31, of San Francisco, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. What have you been trying to pass on to the people who are now going to come after you? He hasnt had a day off in months. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. Richard Figueroa, 60, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary.