Thursday, February 6, 2025

Clean California" program launched to eliminate trash and beautify spaces

Clean California" program seeks to eliminate trash and beautify public spaces.
Public spaces in California.
By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P

In an effort to revitalize and beautify the state's streets and public spaces through litter removal projects, Governor Gavin Newsom in partnership with local governments launched the Clean California, with a budget of $1.1 billion.

The program Clean California seeks to complement addressing the homeless crisis, the governor announced Wednesday.

Among other solutions to the problem, which together add up to a $12 billion investment, is the expansion of "Homekey," a program to increase the number of housing units for the homeless, along with strategies to ensure accountability and transparency in spending.

According to Newsom, Clean California will massively expand state and local litter reduction efforts and generate an estimated 10-11,000 jobs over the next three years, including for people coming off the street, at-risk youth, veterans, those returning to society from incarceration, local artists and students.

"It offers an historic opportunity to transform our streets and roads that have been plagued by decades of trash and hazardous waste, and with more resources than ever to provide safer housing and shelter alternatives. We are delivering on our commitment to move people from unsanitary encampments to safer, more stable housing," he said. 

Gavin Newsom, governor of California.

"With potential projects in all 58 counties, this is truly a statewide effort that directly engages and invests in our communities to create public spaces that all Californians can be proud of," he added.

The state program includes potential projects in all 58 counties, and nearly one-third of the funds will be invested directly in cities, counties and transit agencies to clean and improve local streets and public spaces. 

Caltrans will award $296 million in matching grants to fund projects that impact local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, trails and transit hubs in underserved, rural and urban communities. 

Clean California will remove 1.2 million cubic yards of trash or 21,000 tons of litter from state highways each year, the equivalent of filling the Rose Bowl three times or enough trash bags to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City.

The initiative also includes funding for a public education campaign to foster a sense of shared responsibility to prevent littering, as well as to protect waterways, natural resources, public health and safety.

You may be interested in: California eviction moratorium extension announced

Pamela Cruz
Pamela Cruz
Editor-in-Chief of Peninsula 360 Press. A communications expert by profession, but a journalist and writer by conviction, with more than 10 years of experience in the media. Specialized in medical and scientific journalism by Harvard and winner of the International Visitors Leadership Program scholarship from the U.S. government.

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