Gavin Newsom Declares “Huge Victory” As Proposition 1 Passes By Slim Margin; $6.4B Bond Measure To Combat Homelessness & Mental Health Needs

deadline.com:

Governor Gavin Newsom and politicians in Sacramento may still have a long way to go to conquering California‘s budget deficit, but they now finally have the go-ahead from voters to get $6.4 billion to revamp the state’s busted mental health system and combat homelessness.

Almost two weeks after Golden State voters went to the polls on March 5, the bitter battle of the bipartisan Proposition 1 is over with 50.2% of ballots approving the measure.

While not uncommon for votes to take a while to be tallied in California elections, Prop 1 was on the razor’s edge the past two weeks in part to a stranger bedfellows coalition of civil rights groups and the grassroots conservative GOP, and in part to lower than expected voter turnout. “This is a huge victory for doing things radically different when it comes to tackling homelessness,” the governor said this afternoon on social media not long after the AP called it for Prop 1. “Now it’s time to get to work — repairing the damage caused by decades of broken promises and neglect to those suffering from severe mental illness.

Thank you, California.” Proposition 1 PASSES.This is a huge victory for doing things radically different when it comes to tackling homelessness.The biggest change CA has seen in DECADES.Now it's time to get to work — repairing the damage caused by decades of broken promises and neglect to those… https://t.co/NYNujP8Iwk Even though the vote won’t receive final certification until April 12, getting over the 50% line puts the measure in the winner’s circle. “Now, counties and local officials must match the ambition of California voters,” Gov.