###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

Two months past a statutory deadline, California’s top fire safety regulator published a report Monday on whether and how the state should legalize mid-rise apartment buildings with a lone staircase.

If this doesn’t sound like riveting news, you may have missed the brewing battle between pro-housing advocates and firefighting professionals over the cause of “single-stair reform” and whether America’s fire-averse building standards are standing in the way of more affordable, higher quality urban living.

The report, published by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, takes a fairly dim view of the “single stair” cause, but offers a few policy recommendations to state legislators should they move forward with the idea anyway.

At least one Democratic legislator appears intent on doing just that with legislation aimed at rewriting the state building code.

In California, as in much of North America, apartment buildings over three stories are required to have at least two staircases. This rule is meant to give residents multiple ways out in the event of a fire. But a coalition of Yes in my Backyard activists, architects and urbanists argue that much of the world does just fine with single-stair apartment blocks and that the state’s restrictive stairwell regs make it more difficult and costly to build modestly sized apartments on small city parcels.

Though modern safety measures, such as automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detectors and self-closing doors reduce the risks associated with smoke and flame, they “do not fully substitute for the redundancy of two independent stairway” which “is important for maintaining safety in the face of unforeseen failures,” the report read.

If state lawmakers opt to change the law anyway, the report recommended that single-stair apartment buildings max out at four stories, rather than three, and that they be subject to additional safety rules. The state should not consider going up to six stories — the current standard in New York City, Seattle, Honolulu and Culver City — without a second fire marshal study, the report concluded.

In its section on financial implications, the report also evaluated three mid-rise apartment projects and found that a second staircase made up between 7.5% and 12% of estimated total construction costs.

Though the findings mirror those contained in an earlier draft of the report CalMatters obtained in February, they came as a disappointment to some supporters of looser staircase requirements.

“As to be expected from this group,” said Bubba Fish, the Culver City councilmember who spearheaded that city’s single stair ordinance last year, in a text message. He called the four story max “ridiculous,” noting that even with that modestly relaxed requirement, California’s building code would remain out of step with much of the world.

The report is more than two months tardy, missing the January 1 deadline set by a 2023 bill authored by Milpitas Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee.

Lee said that his office was still reviewing the report’s findings late Monday afternoon. But in a written statement, he expressed enthusiasm for future changes to the building code.

“Stairway requirements can have a profound effect on what does and does not get built in our neighborhoods, Lee said. “With the development of modern fire mitigation measures, it is critical that we re-evaluate our building codes and unlock previously undevelopable properties to build more housing.”

Last month, Lee introduced a bill with the express intent of allowing “housing buildings with 4 or more stories to have a single stair entry and exit,” but which so far includes no additional detail.

###

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

###

Two California lawmakers are trying to open up legislative documents that are technically public records, but difficult for even the most seasoned Capitol insiders to access.

The documents are letters registered lobbyists and advocacy groups send the Legislature to support or oppose bills. CalMatters has been seeking greater access to them for more than a year.

Assembly members Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Democrat representing the San Ramon area, and Republican Greg Wallis of Rancho Mirage each introduced legislation in February that would require the Legislature to post the letters online.

“Candidly, I had no idea that the public didn’t have access to support and opposition letters,” said Wallis, who authored Assembly Bill 2063. “It sort of blew my mind when I found out that that wasn’t readily available.”Bauer-Kahan’s office didn’t respond to an interview request to discuss her Assembly Bill 2557, which is similar to Wallis’ bill.

Position letters from lobbyists and advocacy organizations, submitted through a portal on the Legislature’s website, are public records, according to the California Legislative Open Records Act. The law sets the rules for what correspondence lawmakers and their employees are required to disclose and says they must give the letters out upon request. They usually do.

But having to separately request letters to legislative staff for each bill before lawmakers — more than 2,000 each year — is tedious and time-consuming. Each proposal can generate dozens of letters.The Legislature’s employees have to devote substantial time to giving the letters out to the army of advocates who rely on them to understand which groups support or oppose legislation and why.

“Even if staff had a desire to be very equitable about sharing that kind of information, that is not a good use of their time; absolutely not,” said Jennifer Fearing, a longtime lobbyist who advocates for nonprofits.

Former Democratic state Sen. Steve Glazer said the letters “can be very relevant to the legislative process of finding compromise” since they can contain valuable suggestions from organizations on how to improve legislation.

They are also one of the few windows into the secretive world of Capitol lobbying.

“There’s a lot of influencing that happens in the shadows,” Glazer said. “But that’s usually different than letters that are put on the record and submitted to a legislative committee.”

He questioned why legislative leaders would even need a law to post the letters online.

“If I were the leader … I’d say, ‘That’s bull — . Publish the goddamn letters.’”

CalMatters requested interviews for this story with Sen. President Pro Tem Monique Limón and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, both Democrats. They declined.

Some other state legislatures, such as Hawaii’s, post advocacy position letters on their websites.

Do legislative analyses give an unbiased picture?

CalMatters has sought for the past year to obtain the letters as they are filed through the Legislature’s online position-letter portal, which lawmakers and their employees can access but the public cannot. The Legislature denied CalMatters’ request, made under the Legislative Open Records Act.

CalMatters seeks to add the letters to its Digital Democracy database, which is free for the public to access.

Assemblymember Greg Wallis, a Republican from Rancho Mirage, has introduced legislation that seeks to make the letters lobbyists submit to the Legislature to influence legislation be posted online. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

The letters also would be used to help create a more accurate assessment of who supports and opposes each bill in the database. Without the letters, Digital Democracy can only track lobbyist and other advocate positions through their brief testimony at committee hearings or if the positions are listed in the public bill analyses that accompany legislation.

The staff of various legislative committees and the Senate and Assembly chambers write the analyses. They provide a basic summary of what a bill seeks to accomplish, some context behind the legislation and a brief description of the supporters and opponents and their positions, often based on the letters submitted through the portal.

Some question whether the committee consultants who write the analyses accurately reflect the support and opposition to a bill in an unbiased manner or provide all the relevant facts that lawmakers — and their constituents — need to make informed decisions.Former Democratic Sen. Jerry Hill said he was frustrated by the slanted positions some committee consultants put in their analyses. He thinks the legislative process would benefit from having the letters posted online for everyone to see.

“I think it definitely will improve the process if all of these letters are made public,” he said. “It will create a better-informed Legislature to make those decisions at the end of the day, and not have to rely totally and solely on the opinions of a couple of committee staff writers and consultants.”

Ward Michael Falor - known to nearly everyone as Mike or D.H. Falor - lived a life powered by curiosity, creativity, engines, music, animals and caring compassion. From the time he was a little boy, Mike was drawn to cars and motorcycles - passions that would weave through every chapter of his life. 

Mike was a consummate storyteller, and one of his favorite stories he told dated back to when he was a young lad traveling with his beloved Grandma Schussman. Sitting in a cafe on the way to the City, Mike spotted Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger and wondered out loud if there was any chance that Mr. Barger would give him an autograph. Grandma Schussman, ever wise and encouraging, handed Mike a pen and paper and said, “You’ll never know unless you try.”  Mike tried - and succeeded. It was an early lesson he carried with him always.

When his Dad was busy with his drugstores and serving his community in many capacities, and Mike was left with his Mom and his sisters. Even though Mike complained that he was surrounded by females, he loved and was deeply loved by them. He and his sister June had a special relationship. When June became deaf, Mike stepped up to be her ears when they were playing as youngsters.  When Kitty and Tammy came along, he stepped up to being their big brother and family gatherings were never sedate but rang with laughter when Mike was in the room.

Mike was a natural musician. He began with the trumpet but quickly proved he could play nearly any instrument after hearing it play just once.  At Arcata High School, he played bass in a rock band named Sound Foundation. Mike self-described as a nerd but fully embraced the rock-and-roll life - driving a red Berkeley sports car and wearing a custom-made paisley shirt complete with a white color and cuffs (no one had to know that it was his Mom that custom made this shirt). Some other high school students enjoyed picking up and moving his Berkley because it was such a light car. Mike never knew where his car would be when he came out of his classes. One time it even ended up in the bushes. Around this time, his dad gifted him his first Model A, igniting what would become a lifelong love of collecting and years later landing him a starring role in the “Scrappy Go Lucky” episode of American Pickers.

While still attending Arcata High when the family went to visit Mike’s sister’s God Parents in the Sierras, Mike, his Dad and Mac McDermid took off on an adventure to got to the McDermid’s gold mine.  When a forest fire broke out, all three were conscripted to fight this wildland fire and it was days before they were released from this duty.  Serving community this way resonated with Mike and as an adult he went on to serve as a volunteer firefighter with the Blue Lake Fire Department, as well as serving on the County Arson Task Force.  The medical calls involving children were the hardest for Mike to process post event.

After high school, Mike traveled through Europe before returning to attend Humboldt State College.  He worked in the college cafeteria and at his father’s drug store delivering medications.  Though Mike liked to say he was kicked out of the house he grew up in for refusing to cut his hair, he omitted the part about how he had lined the street in front of his family’s home with his ever-growing car collection.  Grandma Schussman once again supported Mike - offering him a cabin on her property in Blue Lake - where the collecting continued enthusiastically and for many of these years Mike was accompanied in this endeavor by his best friend, Bob Giroux. 

In the 1980s, Mike met Patricia Villalobos, at her restaurant/thrift store (a easy way to Mike heart - collectables and good food). Mike knew right away he was going to marry Pat.  After Mike and Pat returned from their honeymoon road trip (in a car that Mike had literally bolted a windshield to the car just before they left), Mike took to leaving Pat a flower and a note each morning telling her how loved she was.

Mike and Pat’s first son, Milo, was adored from the start. Both Mike and Pat would jump out of bed when Milo cried and if they could not calm him, a call would be placed to Mike’s Mom, Jean Falor, asking what she though they should do. About ten years later, Milo’s ardent wish for a brother came true with the arrival of Milo’s brother Nicholas, who Milo called his “beautiful boy.” The boys shared Mike’s love of mechanics - becoming skilled at fixing (and even building) cars and motorcycles. Mike’s talent for music was passed on to Nick, and Mike loved going to hear Nick’s band play at the Logger Bar. Mike taught his sons to be kind, honest, and sensitive. Recently, Mike and Nick were even featured together in a nationally published motorcycle magazine which captured Mike final ride - his long gray beard, which was punctuated by a grin of sheer joy, flying in the wind.

Animals were drawn to Mike, and he to them. While working for Blue Lake Public Works, he once jumped into the City’s wastewater pond to save a goat. He also had dogs to whom he was loving and loyal - even when one ended up being a semi-feral dog, his sister had saved from euthanasia at the County Shelter, believing that, like all the other scared little dogs she had rescued, all this little dog needed would be to leave the shelter behind.  She was wrong and Mike named this dog Scaredy Dog and the name fit. Practically no one besides Mike could touch this dog who Mike provided a long, happy life along with Mike’s other beloved dogs, Lola and Slinky Dog. Before this crew there were beloved Max and Brandy and Peanuts (the dog that Mike’s Dad, the then Mayor of Arcata, Ward Falor, brought home because the dog catcher did not want to put this sweet dog down). When the City no longer needed their goats, just like Peanuts all those years before, they came home to Mike’s place and loved it there. Some of Mike “goaties” were humorously featured in the Picker’s episode.  A random goat whose owner stopped at the gas station even jump out of the vehicle and ran across the street to Mike place. That’s just how powerful the attraction of Mike’s love of animals was.

And then there were the cats. After Peaches, Sneechie and Singe-a-Roonie lived their long lives, the feral cats began arriving. Mike faithfully fed, cared for and had them altered throughout the years as more cats were dumped at this property. Of course some of these feral cats let Mike pet them - especially Window Kitty. One of Mike’s last wishes was that his cats be loving cared for until they age out of this world - a wish that his family is fulfilling.

On December 14, 2025, Mike lost his battle with Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s and COPD most likely from years on the Blue Lake Fire Department and Humboldt County Arson Task Force because Mike was never a smoker. In his last hours of his existence, he was joined by many members of the Falor Clan and the Stover Clan who showered Mike with love as he crossed over to his next adventure and held space for him after after his heart beat the last beat.

These are only some of the wonderful stories Mike leaves as a legacy.  There were too many loved ones and friends that were special to Mike to mention them all here and so for fear of omitting someone special to Mike, we are not attempting to list them here. 

Please join us at the Blue Lake Fire Hall on March 14, 2026 at 1 p.m. to celebrate Mike and to hear more stories of his life.  Preceding the memorial, starting in Blue Lake, there will be Mike’s final Harley ride. If Mike’s Harley cooperates, his son will be helping Mike’s bike to make this final ride in Mike’s honor.

Mike lived fully, loved fiercely and left behind stories that will be told - and retold - for generations.  He was truly a kindhearted legend and this world is a lesser place without him.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Mike Falor’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Harlan Raymond Lawler, born April 27, 1948 in Prineville, Oregon to parents Betty Koger and Dan Lawler. After a heroic fight with cancer, Harlan peacefully entered the pearly white gates of Heaven on February 19, 2026.

Harlan worked for Arcata Redwood Company and Simpson Timber Company as a planning and control supervisor, as well as in the lumber industry in Oregon. 

He is survived by his wife, Robin Emmerson Lawler of McKinleyville; sister, Shirli Young of Mesa, Arizona; and his children, Heidi and Jason Lawler of Portland, Oregon. 

Harlan was a guiding light to his many stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and all those who lovingly call him Papa and Gpa. We will miss his vast knowledge of foods, travel, growing peppers, and the Word of God, which he so freely shared. 

Heartfelt thank you to the many doctors and nurses at Providence Healthcare System in Eureka for helping Harlan through this challenging time in his life.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Harlan Lawler’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

PREVIOUSLY:

• ‘CARE Court is a Godsend’: Why Does Humboldt’s Alternative Justice System for the Mentally Ill Succeed Where So Many Others Have Failed?

###

Humboldt County ranks among the top 10 California counties to successfully implement CARE Court — a state program aimed at getting people with untreated mental illness off the streets and into housing — earning the coveted title of “CARE Champion.” 

At a press briefing this morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted Humboldt as having one of the highest per-capita referral rates in the state, with at least 55 CARE Court petitions filed to date. (To put that figure into context, fewer than 4,000 petitions have been submitted statewide since the program first launched in October 2023.)

Newsom.

“There are a number of counties that get it and are getting things done, proving it can be done when you have leadership that cares enough to get it done,” Newsom said at today’s briefing. “As opposed to dial[ing] it in, they’ve dialed it up.”

Just last month, the Outpost published a lengthy story on the local success of CARE Court, a voluntary treatment program for adults with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychotic disorders. Each case is initiated by a petition, which can be filed by family members, first responders, mental health clinicians or the individual seeking assistance. The court’s role is to oversee the case, monitor progress and provide accountability.

While CARE Court has worked remarkably well here in Humboldt, it has failed to live up to expectations across the state, prompting Newsom to launch “CARE ICU,” a program aimed at supporting 10 counties that have struggled to implement the program.

Newsom also announced $151.9 million in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding for 20 counties, including Humboldt, which is poised to receive $3.7 million for permanent housing projects, rental subsidies, supportive services and landlord incentives.

Reached for additional comment, Nancy Starck, the legislative and policy manager for the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), said the funds aren’t earmarked for a specific project as of yet. “A request for proposals (RFP) will be issued and a local panel will determine how this funding is allocated to local housing and homelessness organizations that apply,” she wrote via email.

Starck noted that there is currently no ongoing, dedicated CARE Court funding allocated by the state. “For county Behavioral Health, the CARE Act must be operated within previously existing funding sources such as Medi-Cal and county realignment funding.”

Today’s announcement also included the introduction of a new state website — accountability.ca.gov — where you can search various housing-related statistics per county. Humboldt County, for example, has created 1,050 new housing units since 2019, bringing the number of unsheltered homeless individuals down by 8.8%, according to state statistics.

Screenshot.

More information on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s briefing can be found in the (lengthy) press release below:

HAYWARD – Following California’s first statewide drop in unsheltered homelessness in more than 15 years — a 9% decline — Governor Gavin Newsom today announced new accountability measures to speed up the adoption of CARE Court and awarded $291 million to expand supportive housing and behavioral health services statewide. The actions strengthen enforcement of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act and accelerate housing and treatment expansion through Proposition 1 and Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding.

As part of today’s announcement, the Governor is designating ten communities that are leading the state in successful implementation of the CARE Act as “CARE Champions” and providing targeted state support for ten underperforming counties being placed on an “improvement” list to strengthen implementation and ensure communities see results to get chronically mentally ill individuals off California’s streets and into support and housing. 

Care and accountability go hand in hand — full stop. Through CARE Court, we have seen inspirational stories of recovery and resilience, but many counties continue to lag behind their peers. Local leaders  have a moral and legal obligation to deliver this transformational tool for those who need it most. We will not accept failure and excuses when lives are on the line.

- Governor Gavin Newsom

CARE: Treatment, not tents

The CARE Act is a cornerstone of the state’s work to modernize California’s behavioral health system and confront homelessness after decades of systemic failure.

CARE is a first-in-the-nation approach to empower individuals suffering from untreated or undertreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to get the treatment and housing they need to recover and thrive. For many suffering from these illnesses, navigating the mental health system and maintaining a consistent treatment plan is difficult – whether finding and maintaining care or finding appropriate housing. Through CARE, individuals are connected with a team of providers and support, under the guidance of a civil court judge, to ensure those who need voluntary treatment do not have to go through the process on their own. While CARE Court is overseen by a civil court judge, it is not punitive, but instead structured for the participant’s success. The process begins with a petition to determine eligibility, which can be submitted by the individual, a family member, first responder, or mental health professional.

Counties delivering CARE

CARE Court programs began in eight participating counties in 2023 and were fully implemented in all 58 counties by December 2024. Since that time, more than 3,800 petitions have been submitted to courts. In addition, counties have reported more than 4,000 CARE diversions: cases where individuals considered for CARE have been reached and connected to services without need to engage the court. More than 1,851 people have continued through the CARE Court process.

“The CARE Act reflects California’s belief that compassion and accountability must go hand in hand,” said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson. “It offers people living with severe mental illness a real path to treatment and stability, while making clear that every county has a responsibility to deliver. When CARE is implemented effectively, lives change, and we are committed to ensuring that promise is realized statewide.”

CARE champions

Every county is required to implement the CARE Act, and those that have leaned in to ensure that this valuable resource is available and prioritized are reporting success. Today, Governor Newsom is awarding ten counties as “CARE Champions,” a designation that reflects they have successfully implemented CARE Court within their communities and have the highest rates of petitions on a per capita basis. Per capita rates are calculated using the 12 months of calendar year 2025, representing the first full year in which all 58 California counties were required to participate in the CARE Act, allowing for consistent statewide comparison. The state’s first cohort of “CARE Champions” are:

• Humboldt
• Tuolumne
• Marin
• Napa
• Merced
• Sutter
• Alameda
• Santa Barbara
• San Mateo
• Imperial

CARE ICU

The state continues to support communities experiencing challenges with CARE Act implementation by providing targeted technical support and training for county implementers. In contrast to the state’s “CARE Champions,” the Governor has identified 10 underperforming counties to receive additional support through the state’s CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit, and has designated these counties as “CARE ICU” (Improvement and Coordination Unit) Counties:  

• Santa Clara County
• San Bernardino County
• Orange County
• Los Angeles County
• Kern County
• Riverside County
• Yolo County
• Monterey County
• Fresno County
• San Francisco County

Repairing California’s behavioral health system

In 2019, during his first State of the State, Governor Newsom announced that addressing the homelessness and mental health crises would become a new state priority — making him the first Governor to launch a statewide strategy to address these challenges. The Governor began repairing a system that had suffered from decades of neglect, beginning with then-Governor Reagan’s administration, when state hospitals were closed and no adequate alternative was provided, leaving people most in need of help to fall into the criminal justice system or homelessness. This created a generational impact. Today, across California, individuals with untreated psychosis are 10 times more likely to experience homelessness and 16 times more likely to be incarcerated.   

Through the Governor’s work, California is repairing its behavioral health continuum – building new treatment facilities, expanding the workforce of care and establishing new programs to address unique needs and get people help and shelter, providing vital funding to communities, and creating stronger accountability measures and expectations to ensure everyone is doing their part.

More Accountability

Californians can track how their community is addressing mental health, homelessness, and housing at accountability.ca.gov, which today was updated with new information about CARE Act implementation by county.

CARE Success in Alameda County

The Governor provided this CARE update in Hayward at the Bay Area Community Services (BACS) – Regis Village Campus, a service provider to CARE participants. With support from state funding, including infrastructure investments through the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Program, the Community Care Expansion and Proposition 1, BACS is providing permanent supportive housing and transitional housing with behavioral health support in Alameda County. The campus is currently expanding to provide additional on-site service, including a navigation center, medical respite, substance use residential and detox, a wellness center, sobering center, and CARE Act services office.

Alameda County is a shining example of a county that has worked to proactively implement the CARE Act. Under the leadership of Judge Sandra Bean, Alameda County has helped connect participants with comprehensive services such as those provided by BACS.

Judge Bean provided a recent update on a CARE Court participant and the wraparound services provided to her:

“Since she’s been in CARE court, there has been a dramatic turnaround, and she’s just really doing well, and it was so nice to hear her talk about how much she trusted and cared about her caseworker, and she felt really that her needs were met. And frankly, the one turnaround point, I think, for her was getting housing, and that individual was helping her get her Social Security, so she could have income, and they were applying for low-income housing, and so just having someone really advocate for her that she perceived as being as part of the court system just really, really changed this person’s life.”

Proposition 1 Delivering Support

The CARE Act adds to broader efforts to create a strong behavioral health system in California. Proposition 1, advanced by the Governor and approved by voters in 2024, helps local communities provide vital care and housing for those with mental health and substance use treatment needs. Prop 1 is transforming California’s behavioral health systems with a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for housing, services, and treatment for veterans and people experiencing homelessness – including $2.25 billion through Homekey+ to serve individuals with mental health or substance use challenges and veterans.

When fully awarded, funding from Proposition 1 bonds is also estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health through the CA Department of Health Services.

As part of today’s announcement, Governor Newsom announced $131.8 million in Homekey+ awards for eight affordable housing communities to create 443 additional homes with on-site managers for Californians, including veterans, experiencing or at risk of homelessness and living with behavioral health challenges. The projects are located in the cities of Stockton and Santa Fe Springs and the counties of Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Tehama, and Yuba. 

“Homekey+ and Proposition 1 programs continue to expand the availability of affordable homes and vital supportive services for Veterans and Californians who are experiencing homelessness and living with behavioral health challenges,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “The supportive housing projects being awarded today will greatly improve lives and ensure that they have a home where they can thrive.”

“These new Homekey+ projects are helping turn the promise we make to our veterans into something tangible: a place to heal, rebuild, and belong,” said CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin. “This work reflects California’s deep commitment to those who served, and the strength of our partnerships in delivering real solutions. We are proud to stand alongside the Department of Housing and Community Development and communities across the state in this work. Every new Homekey+ project brings us closer to a future where every veteran has the stability, dignity, and support they deserve.”

Building More Housing and Expanding Services

Alameda is one of 20 regions today receiving Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Round 6 funding. HHAP aims to prevent and end homelessness through regional collaboration on local, targeted solutions, HHAP is a multi-year grant available to local communities to create permanent housing, sustain interim housing, and accelerate proven local interventions. The Newsom Administration has appropriated historic investments into the program, with nearly $5 billion appropriated through current and previous rounds of HHAP to support local jurisdictions in promoting housing stability and reducing homelessness. 

Today’s announcement awards $159 million in HHAP Round 6 funding to 20 regions throughout the state. This builds on the $419 million awarded earlier this year to the Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco regions – with a total of $578.9 million awarded this year alone as part of HHAP Round 6 and $181 million more to be awarded in the coming weeks.

HHAP Round 6 builds on existing accountability measures and responds to the Governor’s call to ensure funds have the greatest impact for Californians experiencing homelessness. These measures include requirements that grantees have and maintain a compliant housing element, and mechanisms to withhold funding from local governments that fail to demonstrate progress. For more information about how your community is performing in addressing housing, homelessness, and behavioral health care, visit accountablity.ca.gov.
There is a HHAP Round 7 totaling $500 million planned for FY 2026-27, contingent on further enhanced accountability and performance requirements. HHAP Round 7 will build accountability metrics further to ensure grantees make meaningful investments in housing solutions and adopt housing policies that will increase downstream housing supply, a critical tool in preventing future homelessness.

Reversing Decades of Inaction on Homelessness

Governor Newsom is creating a structural and foundational model for America:

✅ Creating shelter and support — Providing funding and programs for local governments, coupled with strong accountability measures to ensure that each local government is doing its share to build housing, and create shelter and support, so that people living in encampments have a safe place to go. This week, through a $77 million investment from California’s cap and invest program, Los Angeles announced the expansion and redevelopment of the largest public housing project in the region, the Jordan Downs Project.

✅ Addressing mental health and its impact on homelessness — Ending a long-standing 7,000 behavioral health bed shortfall in California by rapidly expanding community treatment centers and permanent supportive housing units. In 2024, voters approved Governor Newsom’s Proposition 1 which is transforming California’s behavioral  health systems. When fully awarded, funding from Proposition 1 bonds is estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health care.

✅ Creating new pathways for those who need the most help — Updating conservatorship laws for the first time in 50 years to include people who are unable to provide for their personal safety or necessary medical care, in addition to food, clothing, or shelter, due to either severe substance use disorder or serious mental health illness. Creating a new CARE court system that creates court-administered plans for up to 24 months for people struggling with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, often with substance use challenges.

✅ Streamlining and prioritizing building of new housing — Governor Newsom made creating more housing a state priority for the first time in history. He has signed into law groundbreaking reforms to break down systemic barriers that have stood in the way of building the housing Californians need, including broad CEQA reforms. 

✅ Removing dangerous encampments — Governor Newsom has set a strong expectation for all local governments to address encampments in their communities and help connect people with support. In 2024, Governor Newsom filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court defending communities’ authority to clear encampments. After the Supreme Court affirmed local authority, Governor Newsom issued an executive order directing state entities and urging local governments to clear encampments and connect people with support, using a state-tested model that helps ensure encampments are addressed humanely and people are given adequate notice and support. 

In 2025, just a year after he issued an executive order urging local governments to better address encampments, the Governor announced his SAFE Task Force to address encampments in California’s ten largest cities. In just a few months, the task force has addressed encampments in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Sacramento, and Fresno — connecting dozens of people with shelter.  Since 2021, Caltrans has removed more than 19,000 encampments on state right-of-way and collected approximately 354,000 cubic yards of litter and debris.

###

The 15 hazmat suit-cladded investigators digging around the fire wreckage in downtown Arcata last week were insurance investigators, city manager Merritt Perry told the Outpost. 

It’s the next step towards eventually clearing out all the rubble from the site of the Jan. 2 fire. All three of the property owners on the burned half-block have their own insurance carrier, each of whom did their own investigation at the same time last week. 

The investigators didn’t discover anything the fire department hadn’t already found, Arcata Fire District assistant chief Wayne Peabody told the Outpost, though he said he hadn’t yet seen their final reports.

There’s no timeline set yet on when the debris will be cleared. Perry said city hall is working with the property owners, introducing them to contractors, helping prepare them to deal with any technicalities or file for any necessary permits, like those for dealing with hazardous waste or contamination. Getting through all the red tape can be daunting, Perry said, but it’s important to ensure the community’s safety.

“A lot of the property owners haven’t done something like this before,” Perry said. “This isn’t something they’ve done before. No one’s an expert in it, so we try and pull together resources so they can understand it and proceed with the work.”

Video courtesy Stu’s Brews.

Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On March 2, 2026, at approximately 8:45 a.m., an officer with the Eureka Police Department observed a blue Ford Mustang traveling northbound on I Street before turning eastbound and proceeding the wrong way onto 6th Street.

The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however, the driver refused to yield. The driver corrected his direction of travel on 6th Street but continued to evade the officer. The driver, later identified as Travis Evans, 30, made several turns and proceeded onto 4th Street without stopping.

Due to light traffic conditions, officers continued pursuing Evans. While Evans was traveling on 4th Street, officers successfully deployed a spike strip, puncturing the vehicle’s tires. Evans continued driving, turned southbound onto Broadway, and eventually came to a stop on the 2400 block of Broadway.

Upon stopping, Evans immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers detained him after a brief struggle. No officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.

Evans was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance prior to being booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges:

• VC 23152(f) – Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
• VC 2800.2(a) – Evading a Peace Officer with Wanton Disregard for Safety
• VC 2800.4(a) – Evading a Police Officer While Driving the Wrong Way
• VC 14601(a) – Driving on a Suspended License
• PC 148(a)(1) – Obstructing, Delaying, or Resisting a Peace Officer
• PC 1203.2(a) – Violation of Probation
• VC 21651 – Driving the Wrong Way on a One-Way Street
• VC 21657 – Driving on the Wrong Side of the Roadway
• VC 22350 – Unsafe Speed

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Eureka Police Department at 707-441-4300.