In California: Newsom pushes $12B to 'end family homelessness' in 5 years
Plus: Get your jab if you want to visit the Hollywood Bowl this summer. And check out this scary fish!
But first: You may not know Art Gensler's name, but you certainly know his firm's buildings. The San Francisco architect designed the prototype for the Apple store, working alongside Steve Jobs, and the first 100 stores. He also designed the boarding area at the new United Airlines terminal at San Francisco International Airport, the west wing at San Francisco's Moscone Center, and the terminal at Mineta San Jose International Airport. His firm, with 46 offices housing 4,000 employees in 14 countries, also designed the Shanghai Tower, the second-tallest building in the world. Gensler died this week at 85, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, telling the story of how this "regular guy" built his husband-and-wife firm into a global powerhouse.
Know someone who cares about the Golden State? Let them know they can sign up for the In California newsletter via this link. I'm Julie Makinen, California editor for the USA Today Network, bringing you Tuesday's key headlines.
Governor wants $12B to get homeless into housing
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proposed $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness in the state into housing and to “functionally end family homelessness” within five years.
"As governor, I actually want to get something done. I don't want to talk about this for a decade," he said at a former San Diego hotel that's been converted into housing for the homeless.
Newsom's proposal includes $8.75 billion to expand a California program created during the pandemic that converts hotel and motel rooms and other properties into housing for people in need. Roughly half of that money would go toward creating housing where mental health and other behavioral services are provided on-site to people living there.
The nation’s most populous state has an estimated 161,000 people experiencing homelessness, which is more than any other state.
A new state database shows that nearly 250,000 people sought housing services from local housing officials in 2020. Of that number, 117,000 people are still waiting for help while nearly 92,000 people found housing.
The first-term Democrat faces a recall election, mounted by Republicans and others unhappy with the way he has handled the pandemic, the economy and government.
New poll shows only 36% would vote to recall Newsom
A new poll should lift the spirits of the embattled Newsom. A new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the L.A. Times shows just 36% of registered voters in the state said they would vote to recall Newsom — unchanged from late January — while 49% of voters oppose removing the governor from office, a slight improvement over the 45% who opposed doing so in January.
The poll showed what the Times called "anemic" support for reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner and tepid backing for other Republican candidates hoping to take the governor’s place. Republicans with the most support (22% each) were former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom in the 2018 governor’s race. Ex-Northern California Rep. Doug Ose got 14% support.
Just 6% of Californians who took part in the survey said they would vote to have Jenner replace Newsom.
Slightly over half of California registered voters, 52%, approve of the job Newsom has been doing as governor, a small increase from January but still far below the findings in September when 64% gave him high marks, according to the poll.
Hollywood Bowl setting aside most seats for the vaccinated
If you want to sit in the front row of The Hollywood Bowl this summer, sounds like you better be vaccinated against COVID-19. The L.A. Times reports that for the entire Bowl season, which officially launches July 3 with Kool & the Gang and the traditional fireworks spectacular, 85% of seats will be reserved for those who have gotten their jabs. The remainder of the tickets (the cheap seats?) will be reserved for those showing proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of a given performance. Masks will be required for all patrons.
The bowl, a beloved L.A. summer tradition, has been shuttered for 18 months. Highlights of this summer's session include Christina Aguilera, Cynthia Erivo, Kamasi Washington, Yo-Yo Ma, H.E.R., Viola Davis and the Bowl’s first Marvel movie to be staged with live music to picture, “Black Panther.”
Beachgoer discovers rare terrifying 'football fish' on Southern California shore
Yikes. In case anyone needed a reminder of how scary the ocean is, a fish known as the Pacific Football Fish washed up on the shores of Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach, California, located 60 miles south of Santa Monica, last week.
If the appearance of this fish didn't spook you, then wait until you learn more about it.
"Their teeth, like pointed shards of glass, are transparent and their large mouth is capable of sucking up and swallowing prey the size of their own body. While females can reach lengths of 24 inches, males only grow to be about an inch long and their sole purpose is to find a female and help her reproduce. Males latch onto the female with their teeth and become 'sexual parasites,' eventually coalescing with the female until nothing is left of their form but their testes for reproduction," park officials said on Facebook.
A beachgoer named Ben Eslef noticed the creature on the shore, according to Davey's Locker Sportfishing & Whale Watching. The Pacific Football Fish is one of over 200 species of angler fish across the world, according to Crystal Cove State Park officials.
The species is known for the bioluminescent tips — which only females possess — it uses to entice prey as they are typically found in dark waters as deep as 3,000 feet. Park officials added it is extremely rare to find an angler fish intact, and they do not know how the fish washed ashore. The fish is currently in custody of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife.
In California is a roundup of news from across USA Today network newsrooms. Also contributing: Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle. Julie Makinen is California editor for the USA Today Network. Follow her on Twitter at @Julie_Makinen