Assemblyman Richard Bloom and state Sen. Ben Allen (both D-Santa Monica) released statements regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state budget proposal, which was announced on Jan. 8. 

“I am encouraged by the governor’s proposed investment in some of our state’s ongoing needs,” Bloom said, “including $500 million for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and $500 million for the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program to promote the development of affordable housing; $1.75 billion to purchase hotels and motels to house the homeless, develop community mental health housing and create dedicated housing for vulnerable seniors; and $1 billion in wildfire resiliency and emergency response funding to invest in fire crews, equipment and technology to help combat the threat of wildfires and other natural disasters.”

“I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues to craft a budget that provides immediate relief to Californians who have been impacted by the pandemic and addresses our state’s most pressing priorities and needs.”

Allen said that “in light of the enormous challenges” facing California, he was “heartened by the thoughtful budget proposal.”

“I applaud his critical commitment to addressing our state’s worsening wildfire and climate crises, and as Environmental Quality Committee Chair, I am encouraged by his administration’s explicit support for holding producers of [non recyclable] waste accountable as California shifts towards a circular economy, as well as his commitment to supporting the cleanup at Exide, and addressing challenges at the Department of Toxic Substances Control,” Allen said.

“Hope is on our horizon, but the ongoing pandemic continues to burden so many of the people I represent,” Allen added. “Renters, small businesses, students and families are struggling to endure often-disproportionate hardships in order to protect public health. Most immediately, a top priority must be ensuring we keep millions of California renters in their homes by extending the Jan. 31 eviction moratorium, while providing relief to high-need renters and their landlords who have mortgages and loans they are obliged to pay. I am glad to see the governor’s budget prioritize boosting support for small businesses, COVID response and vaccine distribution, relief for arts and cultural institutions, support for our K-12 and higher educational institutions, and of course, help for our schools struggling to safely reopen. There is so much more to be done, both reforms and investments to be made, and it is in that spirit that I look forward to working with my colleagues to craft a budget that helps California emerge from this pandemic emphatically, quickly and sustainably.”