Latest news with #PPIC
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
California Governor Releases Guidelines for Clearing Homeless Encampments
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a model ordinance for cities and counties to address homeless camps and called on local officials to adopt and implement the policies 'without delay,' the governor The policies are backed up by a U.S. Supreme Court 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,' Newsom said in a The state was not 'giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity,' to address encampment and connect homeless people to shelter, housing, and care, he said. 'The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses,' the governor said. The Newsom administration has provided local communities with more than $27 billion to address homelessness. The governor said he has also created stronger accountability laws and tools. Related Stories 4/11/2025 12/18/2024 The 'Encampments pose a serious public safety risk, and expose the people in encampments to increased risk of sexual violence, criminal activity, property damage, break-ins, and unsanitary conditions,' the governor's office said in a statement. Californians have consistently cited homelessness as a top issue facing the state, according to a In 2024, California accounted for more than 187,000—or about one-fourth of the nation's 771,500 homeless, the institute reported. Of those, two in three were unsheltered. During the same time, California also had among the lowest home ownership rates in the United States, according to the PPIC. Monday's announcement is Newsom's second major push to crack down on outdoor homeless camps. Last year, the governor issued an California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses the state's plan for homelessness initiatives in Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times Since July 2021, the state has cleared more than 16,000 encampments and over 312,000 cubic yards of waste and debris from sites, according to Newsom. The model ordinance contains provisions that can be modified based on local jurisdictions, including a prohibition on persistent camping in one location, a prohibition on encampments that block free passage on sidewalks, and a requirement that local officials give notice and make reasonable efforts to identify and offer shelter before clearing an encampment. The ordinance would require local jurisdictions to give at least 48-hour notices, conduct outreach for services, and ensure proper storage of items for homeless people in an encampment. The announcement comes with the release of another A homeless encampment in Santa Ana, Calif., on Oct. 5, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times On Monday, Newsom announced that the grant funding would create over 5,000 residential treatment beds and more than 21,800 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health care services. The program is administered by the state's Health Care Services Department. 'Today marks a critical milestone in our commitment to transforming California's behavioral health system,' said Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson in a statement. 'Through these awards, we are investing in bold, community-driven solutions that expand access to care, promote equity, and meet people where they are.' In the future, the bond funding is expected to create a total of 6,800 residential treatment beds to nearly meet the state's 7,000-bed shortfall, according to the governor's office. Monday's grant awards are the first of two rounds. The second round is expected to provide more than $800 million for behavioral health treatment facilities, the governor added. Audits of homeless spending in the state and Los Angeles have been critical in the past year. An According to the In March, a
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Trump education department is getting tough on late student loan payments
The federal Department of Education is cracking down on student loan debt, announcing this week it will resume collecting defaulted federal student loan payments starting May 5. It'll be the first time in five years that the government has collected on defaulted loans. The new policy could mean the department could take funds from someone's salary, tax refund or other federal payments later this summer if they haven't paid sufficiently. First, though, those who could be affected will get emails in the next several weeks advising them of their status and offering help. The pause on paying most federal student loans began in 2020 as a way of providing relief from the sudden economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In California, before 2020, the delinquency and default rates were very low, according to a 2023 study by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. The PPIC found that about one in four borrowers who did not graduate and about one in five borrowers from private for-profit institutions were in delinquency or default. About 3.9 million California students had about $151 billion in outstanding principal and interest on federal student loans as of September 30, according to federal government data. The PPIC found that about one third of students at the University of California and California State University take out federal loans. About 46% of students at nonprofit private institutions do so. The new normal on student loans The government, said Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a statement this week, 'will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law.' The policy is a 'return to normalcy,' said Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, the nonpartisan industry trade group. 'This can feel like a lot of change but it's nothing new,' he told The Bee. But Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, saw the new policy very differently. 'There is a state of anxiety and dysfunction that's unique to this moment,' he told The Bee. 'Even before the pandemic, this wasn't working well.' The Trump administration's decision is the latest development in a political war over student loans that's raged for years. The Biden administration tried mightily to provide relief from student debt. Former Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told The Bee last year doing so was 'common sense,' and that it was unfair that many owed more than the initial cost of college. Biden at one point proposed allowing borrowers to forego up to $20,000, with amounts varying depending on financial and other circumstances. Republicans protested, and courts thwarted the Biden plan. That led to this week's Trump administration announcement. 'Federal student loans are financed by the American people,' said a department statement. 'Instead of protecting responsible taxpayers, the Biden-Harris administration put them on the hook for irresponsible lending.' Q and A on loans Some questions and answers about the program: ▪ How many people could be affected? The education department estimates that 38% of borrowers nationally are current on their loans. Of the rest, they are delinquent or have defaulted. Being delinquent means you missed a monthly payment. Default means you're at least 270 days late. ▪ What if you're delinquent? You can contact the Federal Student Aid office and request a repayment plan. The government will apply an 'administrative forbearance,' meaning your payment is suspended while waiting for the application to be approved. Once it is approved, repayment begins under a new plan, perhaps with a lower payment, and interest continues to accrue. Pierce, from the Student Borrower Protection Center, is concerned about backlogs and what he called a government 'that's not working well.' It's also unclear what happens if the Department of Education is dismantled, as Trump has proposed. ▪ What if you're in default? The emails going out in the next weeks to those in default will urge borrowers to contact the department's Default Resolution Group to either start making monthly payments or sign up for loan rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is a process that allows the government to look at your income and come up with a manageable payment for nine months. If you make those payments, your loan goes out of default. You could also opt for loan consolidation, which is refinancing the loan and which will likely make loan payments more affordable. At the same time, though, default could result in wage garnishment or withholding of federal payments such as Social Security. If you sign up for the rehabilitation program, the government usually suspends collection efforts. ▪ Who is most affected by this new policy? A wide range of people. 'Default is a shockingly common outcome for borrowers in the federal student loan system,' said Chris Hicks, senior policy adviser at the protection center, in a blog post. Hicks found that, nationally, nearly 40% of federal borrowers over 65 are in default. A Pew study released in December found that over the past 20 years, half of Black and 40% of Hispanic or Latino student loan borrowers have had a loan default, compared with 29% of white borrowers. 'Once borrowers fall into default, the prospects of the student loan system guiding them back on track are grim,' said Hicks. 'Because there is no statute of limitations on collections for federal student loans, these borrowers can remain locked in the Department's debt collection machinery indefinitely.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Californians oppose trans athletes in women's sports
SACRAMENTO, California — Most Californians think transgender athletes should be required to play on sports teams matching their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender identity. Sixty-five percent of the state's likely voters — and nearly half of Democrats — support such rules, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. The findings shed light on the motivations of Democratic politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom who, even in deep blue California, have broken ranks with many in their party to express their discomfort with trans girls and women competing on sports teams matching their gender identity. 'The big finding there is a Democrat split on the issue, which was kind of interesting in light of some of the discussions that have been occurring amongst Democrats on the topic,' said PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare. The issue exploded in California since Newsom said on his podcast that trans girls participating in girls' sports is 'deeply unfair' — though he later said his choice to say that was not part of 'some grand design.' San Jose's moderate Democratic mayor Matt Mahan in a recent interview bemoaned the way trans athletes have become a political 'punching bag,' but also expressed concerns. 'My daughter is now a soccer player. I have some discomfort with the idea that she might be competing against biological males,' Mahan told POLITICO. 'I get the discomfort and why this is an issue that people are worried about. I do think there's a real question there, and I don't have a great answer for it.' Democratic state legislators have not followed their lead. Assembly Democrats did give two Republican bills banning trans women from women's sports a hearing, but shot both of them down. Next week, a state Senate panel is expected to reject a similar proposal.
Politico
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Californians oppose trans athletes in women's sports
SACRAMENTO, California — Most Californians think transgender athletes should be required to play on sports teams matching their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender identity. Sixty-five percent of the state's likely voters — and nearly half of Democrats — support such rules, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. The findings shed light on the motivations of Democratic politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom who, even in deep blue California, have broken ranks with many in their party to express their discomfort with trans girls and women competing on sports teams matching their gender identity. 'The big finding there is a Democrat split on the issue, which was kind of interesting in light of some of the discussions that have been occurring amongst Democrats on the topic,' said PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare. The issue exploded in California since Newsom said on his podcast that trans girls participating in girls' sports is 'deeply unfair' — though he later said his choice to say that was not part of 'some grand design.' San Jose's moderate Democratic mayor Matt Mahan in a recent interview bemoaned the way trans athletes have become a political 'punching bag,' but also expressed concerns. 'My daughter is now a soccer player. I have some discomfort with the idea that she might be competing against biological males,' Mahan told POLITICO. 'I get the discomfort and why this is an issue that people are worried about. I do think there's a real question there, and I don't have a great answer for it.' Democratic state legislators have not followed their lead. Assembly Democrats did give two Republican bills banning trans women from women's sports a hearing, but shot both of them down. Next week, a state Senate panel is expected to reject a similar proposal.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crime rates are dropping in California, Gov. Newsom says
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — New data suggests violent and property crimes are dropping in California. Governor Gavin Newsom released an analysis of Real Time Crime Index data from the Public Policy Institute of California comparing 2023 crime rates to 2024. The PPIC's analysis revealed that, compared to 2023, violent crime dropped by 4.6%, and property crime dropped by 8.5%, in 2024 statewide. 'Preliminary crime data for 29 of California's law enforcement agencies—representing close to one quarter of the state's population—points toward broad decreases in violent and property crime in 2024,' PPIC wrote in its report. Homicides fell by nearly 6% last year, robberies decreased by 5.2% aggravated assaults went down by 3.9%, robberies dropped by 12.5%, and burglaries dipped 13.6 %. There was a large decrease for vehicle thefts — an 11.9% drop — and property crimes — 8.5%. 'Like all crime data, it is important to keep in mind that it is limited to crimes that are reported to law enforcement agencies, and not all crimes get reported,' PPIC wrote. The governor's office attributed encouraging crimes trends to 'stronger enforcement, serious penalties, (and) real consequences.' Newsom wrote on X Tuesday, 'Violent and property crime rates dropped throughout California last year — thanks in part to the $1.1B we've invested since 2019 into safety and security.' California invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. 'These funds have enabled cities and counties to hire more police, make more arrests, and secure more felony charges against suspects,' the governor's office wrote. Newsom tasked the California Highway Patrol to work with local law enforcement to saturate high-crime areas, aiming to reduce roadway violence and criminal activity in the area, specifically vehicle theft and organized retail crime. In Oakland, there have been more than 1,800 arrests and 3,217 stolen vehicles recovered. New laws passed in California bolstered law enforcement efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, including up to three years of jail time for organized retail theft. New anti-crime laws include: • AB 1779 – Theft• AB 1802 – Organized theft• AB 1972 – Regional property crimes task force• AB 2943 – Shoplifting• AB 3209 – Retail theft restraining orders• SB 905 – Theft from a vehicle• SB 982 – Organized theft• SB 1144 – Online marketplaces• SB 1242 – Arson• SB 1416 – Sentencing enhancements: sale, exchange, or return of stolen property Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
