California is ready to weather the looming recession — and a more than $20 billion budget shortfall — without shirking its commitments in the crucial areas of education, homelessness and fighting wildfires and the drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom attempted to reassure Californians on Tuesday as he unveiled his proposed $297 billion budget.
Newsom’s presentation was decidedly more somber than those of last year and the year before, when California enjoyed massive surpluses that allowed Newsom to send checks directly to residents, while also pouring one-time funds into everything from climate change to homelessness. This year, the governor wants to balance the budget largely by cutting funds for climate and transportation