Gavin Newsom’s homelessness adviser overseeing high-speed rail

In a significant shakeup that places California’s beleaguered bullet prepare firmly underneath Gavin Newsom’s thumb, the governor has put in two of his closest allies to the Excessive-Pace Rail Authority board.

Jason Elliott, a longtime political adviser and former deputy chief of workers within the Newsom administration, was appointed Friday to the board together with Steve Kawa, who’s additionally served as an adviser after working as Newsom’s chief of workers throughout his time as mayor of San Francisco.

The pair will substitute outgoing board Chair Tom Richards and Vice Chair Nancy Miller.

Newsom’s appointments come because the high-speed rail venture confronts ballooning prices — a brand new report discovered the unique plan would price as a lot as $231 billion to finish, main the authority to make quite a few adjustments which have raised eyebrows.

Earlier than becoming a member of the governor’s workplace in 2019, Elliott served as chief of workers to former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, the place he labored intently on housing and homelessness points that later turned central to Newsom’s statewide agenda.

As considered one of Newsom’s high advisers in Sacramento, Elliott helped form the administration’s homelessness and housing technique throughout a interval when the disaster turned considered one of California’s defining political points.

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In a New Yorker profile printed earlier this 12 months, Elliott defended Newsom’s strategy to homelessness, arguing the administration inherited a decades-old disaster. He described Newsom’s early homelessness insurance policies as “an artifact of its period” whereas defending the governor’s efforts to broaden supportive housing and state intervention.

Elliott additionally instructed the journal that Newsom confided in him that he’d dreamed of being governor since he was younger. 

“He campaigned on bringing common well being care to California, having handed it in San Francisco as mayor,” the piece famous.

To this point, Newsom has not delivered common well being care to California and his beloved bullet prepare has been dismissed by critics as equally unlikely to be accomplished as promised.

Elliot declined remark when reached by The Submit, deferring remark to the governor’s workplace.

In a press release to The Submit, the governor’s spokesperson, Anthony Martinez, stated that Elliot and Kawa are “trusted advisors and modern leaders who mixed convey over 50 years of expertise navigating large-scale tasks via demanding political and monetary landscapes.”

“Because the venture enters its most seen and sophisticated part but — with tracklaying starting — the governor is dedicated to creating certain management is in place to shepherd each greenback and each mile of monitor with steady rigor and accountability.”

Prices of the high-speed rail line from Los Angeles to San Francisco had been initially described as being between $33 billion and $45 billion, and completion was anticipated by 2020. 

Present estimates after quite a few revisions — a few of which nonetheless want approval — place the total venture price at roughly $126 billion, almost triple the projected price. And there may be nonetheless no particular plan past the primary part, which is able to allegedly join Merced to Bakersfield by 2032.

The high-speed rail appointments additional cement Newsom’s affect over a venture that has grow to be a shining instance of inefficiency and a political legal responsibility. The governor is anticipated to launch a presidential marketing campaign after terming out of workplace early subsequent 12 months.

“I’m truly shocked,” Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Fresno) instructed The Submit.

“What expertise are they bringing to high-speed rail that’s needed or accessible aside from placating the wants of the governor?”

He added, “The most costly infrastructure venture taking place on the planet proper now could be being overseen by the closest allies of the governor. That’s simply madness.”

Building of the high-speed rail line stays underway within the Central Valley, the place the state is constructing an preliminary 171-mile phase. Newsom has defended the scaled-back strategy as probably the most reasonable path ahead after years of delays and mismanagement.

Newsom was mocked by Republican legislators and critics of the venture in February whereas posing in entrance of a freight prepare.

“He stands in entrance of a freight prepare saying ‘it’s coming’ — no, sir, it’s not,” stated Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, who represents components of the Central Valley. 

“Your privilege prepare is a cash pit and a boondoggle.”