Statement on Governor Newsom's Budget: Immediate and More Help is Needed to Ensure an Equitable Recovery from COVID-19

Press Contacts

Katie Smith, Advancement Project California, Director of Communications, 323-997-2194

Ronald Simms Jr., Advancement Project California, Communications Manager, 202-270-0936

LOS ANGELES, CA — On Friday, January 8th, Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2021-2022 budget as California deals with a worsening pandemic that has severely impacted communities of color across the state. While the proposed budget calls for helpful investments in school funding, deepens commitment to teacher training, and focuses on avoiding further loss in the Early Learning and Care system, it does not go far enough in supplying relief against the inequitable impacts of the pandemic.  

Governor Newsom has taken massive strides in prioritizing our youngest Californians and their families since taking office in 2019. Along with focusing billions of dollars on accelerating the safe return to in-person instruction and devoting money toward expanding the community schools network, the budget also builds on recommendations in the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. It expands access to childcare vouchers for more than 4,700 children.  

“We commend the Governor for proposing a budget that incentivizes the safe re-opening of in-person learning and tackles the learning loss and gaps experienced by our youngest learners most impacted by COVID-19; it must be done so equitably,” said Khydeeja Alam Javid, Director of Government Relations at Advancement Project California. 

However, the pandemic is raging out of control in Black and Latinx communities, with infections and death rates reaching unseen heights. California can do more for our Black and Brown. communities by increasing investments in community-based partners that are working in COVID-19 hotspots to support residents.  

“There can be no economic recovery without first ensuring that low-income families and communities of color are safe and secure,” said John Kim, Executive Director at Advancement Project California. “The Governor’s budget must prioritize families that have been hardest-hit and ensure we meet their basic needs, mitigate the risk of infection, and increase access to vaccination. We need targeted investments to ensure COVID sparked inequities do not get baked into future generations.” 

California has a staggering $26 billion one-time windfall for the state Legislature to spend in the next fiscal year. At this time, with millions of Californians suffering, we should not be holding back. We should instead pay for services low-income communities of color hardest hit by the pandemic desperately need to recover. 

“We look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure an equitable recovery and that the promise of the Golden State is available to all Californians, not just the privileged few,” said Karla Pleitéz Howell, Managing Director of Policy and Programs at Advancement Project California. “This requires long term investments in the whole child by prioritizing integrated and coordinated services for California’s youth and families. 

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Advancement Project California is a multi-racial, multi-generational racial justice organization with expertise in research, advocacy, and policy. We work with partners and communities to expand educational opportunities for California’s children, create healthy and safe neighborhoods, ensure communities of color have a voice in our democracy, strengthen movement-building, and shift public investments toward programs that benefit all Californians—not just the privileged few. 

For more information, visit www.advancementprojectca.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.