Governor Gavin Newsom’s mental health bond measure Proposition 1 continues to hang on to its narrow lead, prompting leaders of the opposition movement to concede likely defeat on Tuesday.
The measure, which requires a simple majority to pass, was supported by 50.4% of voters and opposed by 49.6% as of Tuesday afternoon’s vote update.
See the latest election results.
“We almost took down the bear, but it looks like we will fall short. Today, as the principal opponents of Proposition 1, we concede that it is almost certain to pass,” said Californians Against Proposition 1 in a Tuesday morning statement.
Prop. 1 is a $6.4 billion bond measure that seeks to overhaul the state’s approach to mental health by vastly increasing the number of treatment beds and supportive housing facilities.
It would direct $4.4 billion to create 10,000 new mental health beds and $2 billion for homeless housing projects. Half of the new housing units would would be reserved for veterans with mental illness or substance use issues.
In addition, the measure would require counties to spend 30% of revenue from the Mental Health Services Act on housing. This voter-approved act generates between $2 billion and $3.5 billion a year for mental health services through a 1% tax on incomes greater than $1 million.
Newsom touted the measure as a way to “fix our broken mental health system and provide those living on our streets and suffering from substance abuse the care they need.”
He raised over $20 million to promote the measure and rallied the support of many influential groups including the National Alliance on Mental Illness California, California Hospital Association, labor union SEIU California and the California Chamber of Commerce.
The “No on Prop. 1” campaign raised very little in comparison. It was led by mental health advocates such as Disability Rights California, who feared that changing funding priorities for the Mental Health Services Act would result in…
Read the full article here
