Titles are always hard to figure out in the Newsom administration, and nowhere is that truer than with Jason Elliott, a senior counselor to the governor. His grandfather was in the State Department. We are adding judges and attorneys into the mix in hopes of better connecting unhoused individuals with housing and medical care, but nothing else really changes, she said. A: I will point you to the governors budget proposal: $1.75 billion. That was the challenge we were facing. 22 0 obj
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He said the question of how to close the homeless spigot is motivating them to think bigger and be more aggressive. Callahan previously served as Director of External and International Affairs in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2015 to January 2019, where she was Special Advisor to the Executive Secretary from 2013 to 2015. If additional behavioral health services are required for this CARE Court-related population, then the funding attached to those services needs to be present as well, Knaus said. 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You cant bid high enough on labor to get the folks you need so its kind of a moot point for the foreseeable future, he said. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters By CALmatters | We are not batting 1,000. Jason Elliott Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. 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Housing | The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. A: California struggles and has struggled for decades to provide adequate housing for people experiencing homelessness. Housing policy advocates described Newsom's stated goal of 3.5 million new homes in four years the same way he has: aspirational. More by Manuela Tobias, Jason Elliott, Gov. And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. Concerns about rising crime and the homelessness crisis emerged as the top issues driving voter dissatisfaction with Gov. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 2. So, in the course of just a few months you had three different mayors that you served as chief of staff. A moratorium until the end of time that doesnt provide a sufficient benefit to get people to enroll, Elliott said, trailing off. Has it become a model for the rest of the country? And its not something you ever picture doing. 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 easing the statewide housing shortage. Instead, the governor plans to increase . Yes, it has. Opinion: Newsoms budget cuts threaten public health investment The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Because for every person you bring inside, thats a person who has a sister whos worried about her. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month Gov. A top Newsom adviser weighs in, Opinion: Newsoms budget cuts threaten public health investment, Oakland airport passenger traffic shows steady post-COVID rebound, China dismisses FBI statement that COVID-19 likely leaked from Wuhan lab, Despite new state law, Antioch ends remote option for council meetings, Zoom chops nearly 200 jobs in Bay Area as tech layoffs mount. Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. But its a start, and more than California has done in a long time. Zoom chops nearly 200 jobs in Bay Area as tech layoffs mount What was the most difficult thing about navigating that? Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. No, of course not. Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. Before that, she worked for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on her re-election campaign and managed the successful campaign of Shanell Williams forBoard of Trustees at City College of San Francisco. Castillo said the anti-poverty group will remain opposed to the CARE Court framework unless lawmakers address the concerns outlined in the letter, especially the plans failure to address access to housing and its insistence on empowering judges to mandate care. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Most recently, she served as Director of Scheduling and Advancefor Governor-elect Newsoms Transition and the Newsom for Governor campaign. State Sen. Susan Eggman, a Stockton Democrat and one of the authors of Senate Bill 1338, said she was optimistic that CARE Court would initiate greater oversight in the mental health system and help those most in need through early interventions. Assembly Member Matt Haney, who secured money in this year's state budget for the long-sought loo, said he heard from Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor, about the governor's concerns . Richard Figueroa, 60, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. Our behavioral health system is stretched very thin.. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. But its a start, and more than California has done in a long time. Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? Timing is also a key decision for Newsom. Jason Elliott with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Lt. Gov. Earlier this month, Newsom billed the CARE Court proposal a departure from the status quo of addressing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in California. As soon as applicants sign a pledge to submit more ambitious targets and try harder in their plans for the next $1 billion grant the final round of flexible local homelessness funding approved in the 2021 budget the state will start cutting checks for this round, according to Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff. Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? But getting a good read on his thinking can be difficult. 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. Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. Contact. 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. We want to move, and we want to move quickly, Newsom said during a recent interview on KQED. 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. 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. "California is responding to a crisis," tweeted Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor for housing and homelessness. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! As senior counselor to Gov. 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. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this. Local governments face sanctions if they do not comply with program requirements. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Jason has 5 jobs listed on their profile. the political dynamics and economic and racial inequities that have
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 easing the statewide housing shortage. So, Im gonna miss the troubleshooting with departments and mayor staff. 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. hV[k0+eeJ!l>;h\aaK:}>>Z -A Housing | Gavin Newsom, Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto, Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old daughter, Prior job: Chief of staff to San Francisco Mayors Ed Lee and London Breed, and policy director for Newsom when he was mayor. I think its going to disproportionately impact low-income communities, Black and brown communities, so making sure people use the benefit I think is key.. (Liz Hafalia / San Francisco Chronicle) By Liam Dillon Staff Writer Dec. 21, 2020 1:23 PM PT During his 2018 campaign for. Hironaka is a Democrat. And that was not its intention. 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. Prior to joining CalEPA, Christine served as Assistant Director for Policy Development at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where she previously served as Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs. Jason Elliott, Gov. NettieSabelhaus, 71, of Sacramento,has been appointedSpecial Advisor on Public Safety. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. Jason Elliott, Newsom's adviser on homeless issues, said the partnership between the city of San Diego, Caltrans and City Net is one that could be a model throughout the state. 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. Governor Newsom had previously announcedAna J.Matosantosas Cabinet Secretary,Jason Elliott as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Executive Branch Operations, and Angie Wei as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Development. Were heading down the same path here, Elliott said. CARE Court is meant to target the 10,000 to 12,000 people dealing with schizophrenia and psychosis who may qualify for the program, said Jason Elliott, a senior counselor to Newsom. Between working on the states pandemic response seven days a week and raising a baby, theres very little time to do anything else. Jason Elliott's Phone . We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Its a part of the population that has been suffering and languishing for so long, many of whom have been on the streets for literally years and years and some decades and at great peril to themselves, Sherin said. Despite new state law, Antioch ends remote option for council meetings Stay in touch. We have exploded in bringing more interim housing beds online. The state hasstruggled to get tenants and landlords to enrollin existing benefits. And that can mean big vision things, and it also means the day-to-day of running a city. Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. He spearheaded two programs that together wound up being one of the states biggest feats during the unprecedented pandemic. Receive a free briefing on your state every day. Q: Describe what it was like in the governors office when the pandemic hit and you realized we could be dealing with a potentially devastating health crisis for our homeless population? 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. Health | Between working on the states pandemic response seven days a week and raising a baby, theres very little time to do anything else.Related Articles Homekey was able to produce 6,000 units in six months, at a third of the cost, in about a fifth of the amount of time it typically takes. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Jason Elliott, Gov. We need people to enroll. Gavin Newsom's proposal to send people another round of government checks, . So our responsibility now as a state is to continue to put fuel in the tank of this solution. Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Theyre just exhausted, Newsom said during the KQED interview. Some were practical and some were impossible. A lot of smaller cities are not just making this San Francisco and Oaklands problem. Sign up below, then look for a confirmation email in your inbox. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, said the governor's "hope and expectation is that this will be going out in short order." However, he added that the ball was in the court of . I believe it is crucial to invest in a free, just and unbiased press, especially in California when all three aspects are in peril. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. China dismisses FBI statement that COVID-19 likely leaked from Wuhan lab Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. So our responsibility now as a state is to continue to put fuel in the tank of this solution. Gavin Newsom, Elliott serves as the governors top housing and homelessness adviser. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. Voters have given Newsom poor reviews on efforts to stem the homelessness crisis, which is sure to come up in his opponents campaigns to block his reelection later this year. She also served as a legislative assistant in the Office of State Senator Mark Leno, and as acapital fellow in the Office of State Senator Denise MorenoDucheny. Lagos: So you spent the last couple months helping London Breeds administration get settled. And if the question is has it worked, I think unequivocally the answer is yes. He comes from a family committed to public service. He comes from a family committed to public service. Those concerns are likely to be raised as Newsom continues to conduct roundtable discussions with stakeholders throughout the state. Elliott acknowledged the state's behavioral health system has . But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. 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We practice with legislation. Certainly there have been outbreaks on Skid Row, certainly there have been outbreaks in some of the homeless facilities in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. Yes, it has. Sabelhaus is a Democrat. Our message to LA and the Bay Area and to everyone is: Project Roomkey is here and funded at least through September of this year, with 100% of the cost borne by the federal government. Gavin Newsoms gubernatorial campaign. But the bottom line is that he tackles difficult issues and advises the governor on how to respond, and his portfolio is expanding exponentially. Erin Mellon, Newsom's communications director, confirmed the moves to The Sacramento Bee. Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. Put that in context how big a deal is that in a state that for decades has struggled to build enough housing? Housing | So wed really like to see communities not only continue the portfolio that they have under Project Roomkey, but potentially expand it, and expand it significantly. But its the money needed to run CARE Court that concerns local officials. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. Daniel Seeman, 33, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? Hironakahas most recently served as Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. And at that point, we were modeling a 56% attack rate for the virus, meaning that we expected 56% of Californians would get coronavirus at some point during the outbreak. A governors signature does not build new units, he said. Please contact CalMatters with any commentary questions: commentary@calmatters.org. Our message to LA and the Bay Area and to everyone is: Project Roomkey is here and funded at least through September of this year, with 100% of the cost borne by the federal government. You just let it keep rolling. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, Newsoms new push for homeless mental health treatment lacks details. We started with a lot of ideas. Manuela is the housing reporter for CalMatters. With a key legislative deadline next week, Newsoms housing adviser speaks about the governors priorities on affordable housing. View Jason Elliott's business profile as Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom. No, of course not. And it was one of the hardest days and some of the hardest weeks of my life, and I hope will be the hardest weeks of my life. hbbd```b``Z""H>UD>&jH`AH2::30m\ Steer more federal dollars into homeless response. 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. Whoops! Workforce development for those skilled trades is going to be so essential.. But he welcomed the proposal as a move in the right direction to prioritize resources for Californias most vulnerable residents, even if the initiative involves growing pains.. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly, to encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoning, struggled to get tenants and landlords to enroll, $12 billion in the governors budget proposal, largely responsible for ballooning home prices. Jason Elliott, Gov. the free daily newsletter about California politics from the editors of Capitol Weekly. And making sure as the city was grieving, as we personally were grieving, that people getting up the next morning could go and get on Muni, and if they called 911 that the police would show up, and if they wanted to go to the park, that the park would be open. Please reload the page and try again. Elliott hopes the Legislature will make $250 million of the $750 million available before Newsom's budget, which will be debated by the Legislature before it is implemented, goes into effect in . He said the question of how to close the homeless spigot is motivating them to think bigger and be more. Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? The policy differences? "We knew that a proposal this consequential, a . Has it helped us flatten the curve more broadly in California and protect our hospitals from overcrowding? Were heading down the same path here, Elliott said. Gavin Newsom. ', San Diego Gun Store Owner Sentenced in Firearms Sales Case Involving Ex-Deputy, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 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. Some other highlights from the discussion: On home prices, Svec refrained from calling Californias housing market a bubble. She expects the housing market will remain much more stable this time around than after the 2008 foreclosure crisis, and doesnt expect prices to drop anytime soon. He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. California has about 30,000 to 35,000 shelter beds on any given night, almost all of which are filled. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? Sabelhauspreviously served as a Special Advisor on Appointments and Public Safety for Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Newsom, wrapping up his week . That has not happened here, the letter says. California has about 30,000 to 35,000 shelter beds on any given night, almost all of which are filled. A governors signature does not build new units, he said. The groups often have significant sway among liberal legislative Democrats, the kind of influence that could hinder Newsoms hopes for a new law to be in place by July 1. Secretly, he still does. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. What have you been trying to pass on to the people who are now going to come after you? To move the needle, Elliott pitched the statewide Housing Accountability Unit, which Newsomproposed in his January budget. 4. a{
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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. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process toget more money out the door faster. But the bill may face a major hurdle once its heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Jason Elliott is a Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom based in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Health | Her stories focus on
But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. 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. Project Roomkey was a public health emergency response to a once-in-a-century pandemic. Marisa Kendall is a housing reporter for the Bay Area News Group who covers homelessness for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. SACRAMENTO Newly sworn-in Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the addition ofseveral highly-accomplished public servants toExecutive Branch Operationswithin the Governors Office. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Six weeks after Gov. One idea: expanding motel conversions, an emergency plan during the pandemic. Gov. We start with no. So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? Thats goal number one.. We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. Health | California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Majority of Hispanic Americans own a homeas incomes rise, Racial homeownership gap larger now than a decade ago, funded at least through September of this year, California Republicans give a boost to Florida Gov. On the eviction moratorium, Wicks said she was working closely with Assemblymember David Chius office to make sure tenants are protected but landlords receive missed back rent. And he was a friend and a mentor, so it must have been an incredibly difficult thing emotionally. So I hopped in my car, drove over to Mather where OES is, and went into a conference room where the governor, Ann and a few others were, and sort of started at that point to realize how fundamentally this was going to change everything. But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact. People have had it. Oakland airport passenger traffic shows steady post-COVID rebound The state has struggled to get tenants and landlords to enroll in existing benefits. 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. And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases, How California used COVID-19 to create housing;, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), How California used COVID-19 to create housing; a top Newsom adviser weighs in, Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month, LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday, As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution, UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms, LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases.