For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. Sign up for The Roundup, At the heart of Gov. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. We believe that a transformational proposal like CARE Court should be thoroughly vetted by stakeholders and informed by research and data before it is adopted. But its a start, and more than California has done in a long time. 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. Has it become a model for the rest of the country? 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. 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. LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday China dismisses FBI statement that COVID-19 likely leaked from Wuhan lab Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. With a budget surplus bonanza, Gov. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. Newsom's CARE Court plan seeks to tackle homelessness - Los Angeles Times 'The Country Is Watching': California Homeless Crisis Looms as Gov 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. And its not something you ever picture doing. She graduated from American University with a BA degree in literature with a minor in journalism. Yes, it has. A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. We couldnt control the outcome of the mayoral election, and my advice to staff and department heads was: Dont try to do that. Because for every person you bring inside, thats a person who has a sister whos worried about her. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. Elliott sidestepped another question, about whether the administration would seek to extend the statewide eviction moratorium, which is set to end June 30,as the state doubles its rent relief funds withan additional $2.6 billion from the federal government. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process to get more money out the door faster. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Housing | 2. California Gov. Californians worry about economy, Dahle concedes to Newsom | The With a proposed budget of $4.3 million, the unit would hold cities feet to the fire when they break existing housing law, and help them take advantage of laws already in place that streamline regulations and permits. Elliott said that the governor remains committed to the principles of housing first and that CARE Court would be one of many ways a person could access shelter. 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. Gov. Newson's Top Housing Advisor Says California Should 'Start with 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. The governor also has political incentives to quickly install CARE Courts. 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. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. California has about 30,000 to 35,000 shelter beds on any given night, almost all of which are filled. Are we doing much better than previous models? Has it become a model for the rest of the country? . A governors signature does not build new units, he said. 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. But the bill may face a major hurdle once its heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Tell me about that transition and sort of what your role has been. Newsom touts response to homelessness in State of the State - CapRadio Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? 1. Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. "Before we can reach our stretch goals, before you can reach the moon, you've got to get off the launch pad," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. Some policy bills face a key deadline next week, but Elliott declined to comment on specific bills, includingSenate Bill 9,which would allow homeowners to put a duplex on single-family lots or split them. Gavin Newsom. As health officials scrambled last March with shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, Jason Elliott wastacklinganother seemingly overwhelming problem: How do we keep the more than 100,000 Californians sleeping on our streets from dying of the virus? 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 This is a very small segment of the population. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,008. Newsom Relents, Agrees to Release $1 Billion in Homelessness Funding Jason Elliott: So for me, nobody takes a job of chief of staff thinking youre going to be the one who has to call the president of the Board of Supervisors at 1 in the morning. Opposition mounts against Newsom's plan for court-ordered treatment of 1. 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. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters By CALmatters | So theres something about continuity that underpinned how we moved forward through those next few days. Gavin Newsom. View Jason Elliott's business profile as Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom. 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. A moratorium until the end of time that doesnt provide a sufficient benefit to get people to enroll, Elliott said, trailing off. 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. Q: As a result of Homekey, the state has added more than 6,000 new long-term housing units in less than six months. Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? Receive a free briefing on your state every day. 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. 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. You just let it keep rolling. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. 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.. A governors signature does not build new units, he said. 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? You can find our submission guidelines here. Lagos: So you spent the last couple months helping London Breeds administration get settled. The proposal is so new there aren't many details. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. A, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, How California used COVID to create housing. One idea: expanding motel conversions, an emergency plan during the pandemic. Most recently, she served as Director of Scheduling and Advancefor Governor-elect Newsoms Transition and the Newsom for Governor campaign. He highlighted $12 billion in the governors budget proposal for housing and homelessness and $1.75 billion to kick-start building on more than 6,000 of backlogged affordable housing units. In response, Jason Elliott, Newsom's top advisor on homelessness, said "every effort would be made to get them indoors." . An Update on Governor's Office Staffing for 2020 Yes, it has. We are not batting 1,000. Jason Elliott, 36, of Sacramento, is now serving as senior counselor to the Governor for housing and homelessness in the Office of the Governor, where he has served as chief deputy cabinet secretary. Do the best you can -- what Ed Lee would want us to do is to run the city as professionally as we possibly can. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. Newsom has not provided a price tag for how much CARE Court could cost, but it would likely be paid for with a portion of the projected $14 billion he wants to spend on addressing homelessness over the next several years. 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. Theyre just exhausted, Newsom said during the KQED interview. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms As health officials scrambled last March with shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, Jason Elliott wastacklinganother seemingly overwhelming problem: How do we keep the more than 100,000 Californians sleeping on our streets from dying of the virus? The state hasstruggled to get tenants and landlords to enrollin existing benefits. Capitol Weekly's Top 100: Jason Elliot - Capitol Weekly Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. "We knew that a proposal this consequential, a . Health | 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. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Newsom's latest housing fix: More Californians living downtown A: California struggles and has struggled for decades to provide adequate housing for people experiencing homelessness. Is it the only thing we have to do to solve homelessness? Local governments face sanctions if they do not comply with program requirements. CARE Court is not the appropriate tool for providing a path to wellness for Californians living with mental health disabilities who face homelessness, incarceration, hospitalization, conservatorship, and premature death, the letter states. We have the wrong reflex around housing in the state. ', San Diego Gun Store Owner Sentenced in Firearms Sales Case Involving Ex-Deputy, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases Our behavioral health system is stretched very thin.. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He spearheaded two programs that together wound up being one of the states biggest feats during the unprecedented pandemic. Gavin Newsom. The governors new plan to create a court-ordered treatment effort is being sharply criticized by anti-poverty groups and civil libertarians. Newsom's top housing adviser says 'start with yes' And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. You know, we practice the earthquake. 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. Zoom chops nearly 200 jobs in Bay Area as tech layoffs mount Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. Elliott sidestepped another question, about whether the administration would seek to extend the statewide eviction moratorium, which is set to end June 30, as the state doubles its rent relief funds with an additional $2.6 billion from the federal government. Previously, Figueroa was Director of Prevention for The California Endowment, the nations largest state-specific health care foundation. Newsom, wrapping up his week . Project Roomkey was a public health emergency response to a once-in-a-century pandemic. To fundamentally alter the reality that we see on the streets requires us fundamentally altering our approach. . We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. After announcing the broad framework of his CARE Court plan, the real work begins for Gov. State Sen. Susan Eggman, a Stockton Democrat and one of the authors of SB 1338, said she would modify the bill to address certain concerns before then, but on some issues, were just going to have to agree to disagree., It is a work in progress, she said. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Jason Elliott - Deputy Chief of Staff - Office of California Governor But you dont practice for that. Prior to working for Governor Brown,he served as a legislative consultant to State Senator Mark Leno, working on criminal justice issues, as well as privacy and technology. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. But the question is are we doing better than previous models? Instead, the governor plans to increase . Gov. Stay up to date on the news you need to know. They say that's because the state doesn't build housing in . But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact.