CONTRA COSTA, Calif. — The Golden State is getting a cleaning.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom kicked off the Clean California Day of Action in Contra Costa County Wednesday morning at an event in Contra Costa County. The event focused on state cleanup efforts and hiring events to "revitalize California’s streets and public spaces through litter abatement and local beautification projects."
According to a press release, Clean California is a $1.1 billion initiative that will offer jobs to "people exiting homelessness, at-risk youth, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, local artists and students."
"Clean California offers a historic opportunity to transform our streets and highways that have been blighted with litter and hazardous waste for decades, and with more resources than ever before to provide safer housing and shelter alternatives," Gov. Newsom said in the release. "With potential projects in all 58 counties, this is truly a statewide effort engaging and investing directly in our communities to create public spaces that all Californians can take pride in."
The state estimates roughly 11,000 jobs generated over the next three years with the program.
"Caltrans will award $296 million in matching grants to fund impactful projects on local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways and transit centers in underserved, rural and urban communities," the press release states. "The Department is developing a needs-based formula that will provide additional support to underserved communities, with a goal of funding more than 100 local projects a year."
The cleanup comes amid growing frustration with homeless encampments that have sprouted under highway overpasses and near freeway exit and entry ramps in recent years. Many are crammed with discarded sofas, mattresses and other trash.
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The event was livestreamed on the governor's YouTube page.
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