California’s Proposition 1 Would Overhaul Community Mental Health Services

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 8 February 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There’s only one proposition on California’s March 2024 ballot, but it deals with some of the state’s biggest challenges: homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health. Proposition 1, backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, is a two-part measure: It asks voters to approve nearly $6.4 billion to increase mental health and substance abuse services and build supportive housing. It also makes big changes to how existing funds are spent under the 2004 Mental Health Services Act, which imposed a 1% tax on personal incomes above $1 million. But critics say Prop. 1 would actually hurt the mentally ill by forcing people into treatment and diverting funding for local services. We’ll break down the measure, and take your questions. Guests: Guy Marzorati, reporter and producer, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Kristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMatters Clare Cortright, policy director, CalVoices Darrell Steinberg, mayor, city of Sacramento Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:20.6	There's only one statewide measure on California's March ballot, and it deals with some of the state's biggest challenges, homelessness, substance
1:27.5	abuse, and mental health. Proposition 1, backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, is a two-part measure
1:32.9	that asks voters to approve a nearly $6.5 billion bond to increase treatment beds and supportive
1:38.7	housing. It also makes big changes to how existing mental health funds are spent. Critics worry Prop 1 would cut funding for certain mental health programs and force people into treatment.
1:50.0	We'll hear from both sides after this news. Welcome to Forum. I'm Ena Kim. 20 years ago, Californians voted to fund mental health programs
2:08.5	by taxing residents who make more than a million dollars. That's not going to change under
2:13.1	Proposition 1, but how that tax revenue is used will, requiring more money to be spent on
2:19.1	homelessness and addiction. Prop 1 also asks voters to approve a nearly $6.5 billion bond
2:25.2	measure for treatment beds in support of housing. Here's Governor Gavin Newsom backing the measure
2:30.2	in an ad. Mental health has to be addressed differently, and California has to lead the way.
2:37.1	The plan received bipartisan support in the legislature, but opponents say it would mean cuts
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