UPDATE: California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton launched a fierce attack on Democrats during a campaign visit to a prominent homeless encampment in San Jose, condemning the state’s handling of the homelessness crisis. The visit, filmed for social media, comes as the state grapples with a staggering 187,000 homeless individuals, a 24% increase under Governor Gavin Newsom‘s administration.
In a video posted on X earlier this week, Hilton walked through the Columbus Park encampment near the San Jose airport, pointing to the tents, RVs, and trash scattered throughout the area. “This is Gavin Newsom’s California,” he declared, criticizing the “third-world slum conditions” that he claims are rampant in Democrat-run California.
Despite spending over $27 billion to tackle homelessness since 2019, experts suggest that the funding has only prevented a worse crisis. Political analyst Dan Schnur noted that Hilton’s visit may be a strategic move to attract support from wealthy Silicon Valley donors who are increasingly leaning towards conservative candidates.
The Hilton campaign confirmed that the visit was intended to highlight the urgent needs of local residents. Campaign spokesperson Hector Barajas stated, “Residents have been asking their local and state representatives the same questions: What about us? What about our community?”
As Hilton criticized the Democratic leadership, he avoided direct mention of San Jose’s moderate Democratic Mayor Matt Mahan, who has also expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s response to homelessness. Earlier this year, Mahan introduced an ordinance allowing citations for homeless individuals who refuse shelter options.
San Jose officials are set to clear the Columbus Park encampment, which has recently seen incidents of violence, including a fatal stabbing last year. The city plans to invest $19.5 million in revitalizing the park post-clearance, aiming to create recreational spaces like soccer fields and pickleball courts. However, the fate of the estimated 250 residents living there remains uncertain, as local shelters and safe-sleeping sites are insufficient to accommodate everyone.
Hilton particularly criticized the “housing first” policy, which aims to provide permanent housing to homeless individuals without preconditions. He argued that this approach, backed by state officials, prevents effective treatment for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. “They make it illegal to solve the problem,” Hilton stated.
In a related development, former President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to halt federal support for housing first programs, emphasizing the need for accountability in addressing homelessness. Some California Democrats have also attempted to modify the state’s housing first policy to allocate funds for abstinence-only treatment programs, but these efforts have yet to gain traction in the Legislature.
As the San Jose city government prepares to act decisively to address the encampment’s challenges, Hilton’s campaign continues to highlight what they see as failures of the Democratic leadership in California. This urgent discussion around homelessness and governance is set to play a critical role in the ongoing race for governor, with significant implications for the future of California’s policies and its vulnerable populations.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
