Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

Civics & Democracy

Governor Newsom Signs New State Budget With Over $100 Billion In Pandemic Relief

Gavin Newsom stands at a podium adorned with the seal of the governor of California, with the state and U.S. flags behind him
Governor Newsom introduced a new $268 billion budget on Tuesday.
(
The Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
)

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new, $268 billion state budget in L.A. on Tuesday, which includes more than $100 billion to spur the state's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

That spending package expands state stimulus payments to all households making up to $75,000 a year, as well as families with children, and to undocumented immigrants. It also provides more than $5 billion in rent relief for low-income Californians, and an additional $1.5 billion in grants for struggling small businesses.

Newsom says that spending is funded in part by what he called an "unprecedented" multi-billion dollar surplus.

"That allows us to do things that we couldn't have imagined doing," Newsom said.

Support for LAist comes from

In addition to pandemic relief, the budget also earmarks $12 billion to address homelessness in the state and nearly $3 billion for universal transitional kindergarten.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist