CA Dem: Party Wasting Money
A Democratic legislator in California calls out his own party’s spending
“As many Californians know, we’ve already spent billions of dollars on the same problems—with very little to show for it,” state senator Steve Glazer wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed earlier this month. “Our failures are evidence that good intentions and lots of money are not enough to fix what ails the Golden State.”
Glazer voted for California’s $310 billion annual budget bill, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D.) last month. He supports initiatives funded by the bill but emphasizes the need for better methods to evaluate whether the substantial funds are truly making a positive impact on education, homelessness, and mental health services in the state.
These concerns arise as California continues to experience an exodus of residents and businesses to other states, coupled with escalating crime rates and a growing homelessness crisis. According to the California Globe, over 350 companies have left California between 2018 and 2021. Additionally, San Francisco witnessed a consecutive rise in homicides for the fourth year in a row, as reported by the SF Chronicle. Furthermore, the New York Post reveals that over half a million residents fled California in the two years following the start of the pandemic.
Glazer specifically highlights spending on affordable housing, public transit, and mental health services, acknowledging their importance but expressing concern over the lack of mechanisms for legislators to assess the effectiveness of these investments.
“To make our progressive beliefs mean anything, the Legislature must ensure that the money we spend is actually improving the lives of the people we say we are committed to helping,” Glazer warns.
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