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Gov. Gavin Newsom Gathers Support in Proposition 1 For Overhaul of California Mental Health System
California’s March 5 primary election ballot will feature Proposition 1, an overhaul of the state’s mental health services system. It is receiving support from Gov. Newsom and city leaders, as well as public safety officials, and would provide more substance use and mental health services to residents.

What is Proposition 1?
Proposition 1 seeks to reform the California Mental Health Services Act by creating a $6.4-billion bond to fund 10,000 new behavioral-health beds. It would also redirect existing funding to support services for substance abuse and mental health issues.

Gov. Newsom Calls for Change
At a recent gathering at the Los Angeles General Medical Center, Gov. Newsom said that the existing system was not effective enough to tackle the magnitude of mental health issues across the state. “We can’t continue to do what we’ve done,” he said. “Everything people have been telling us they desperately need and expect of us, we’ve incorporated into Proposition 1.”

What Supporters of Proposition 1 Say
Those for Proposition 1 believe that it will provide much needed improvements to the Mental Health Services act that was established in 2004. It would also use some of the 30% of the existing funding, around $1 billion per year, toward supportive housing for those living with severe mental illness or substance use disorders. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass agrees, noting that this would help target root causes of homelessness instead of just treating the symptoms.

Opponents of the Propostion
Californians Against Proposition 1, represented by director Paul Simmons, contend that this proposition would disrupt the mental health services that were already being administered by counties. He believes it will do more harm than good and will instead just lock those who are homeless away instead of providing housing for them.

Polling in Favor of Proposition 1
According to a December poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, two-thirds of likely voters said they would vote yes on the proposition. A separate UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and conducted in November found that 60% of likely voters supported the ballot measure.

Proposition 1 Could Help Reduce Homelessness in California
Gov. Newsom has been in the forefront of publicizing and supporting Proposition 1, working to generate support from a variety of city and state officials. He believes that passing the measure would help Californians make tangible progress on reducing homelessness.