SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron (Escondido) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s State of the State address:
 
“I applaud Governor Newsom for making homelessness a priority. We have fought for grater funding to care for mentally-ill Californians and improved access for substance use disorder treatment, health care and shelter.

“Cutting red tape and using funding with intentionality is critical to achieving the results we need. We must have accountability.

“It’s time to bring all levels of government together to address the most pressing issue facing our state. I am excited to work on these issues in a bipartisan, solution-driven manner.

“While poor policies in the past have gotten us here, it’s time we look forward to address homelessness, mental health, substance use and incarceration issues one person, one family at a time.

“The Governor is right that building more housing is needed. Unfortunately, Democratic policies have stood in the way of housing production for years. That needs to change.

"Well-intentioned environmental laws have been hijacked by special interests to tie up badly needed new homes. Rent control has discouraged new construction and mandates have driven costs through the roof.

“I look forward to working with the governor to address these important issues.”