#california-national-guard

#california-national-guard

After the California Department of Social Services notified counties across the state on Monday that the government shutdown could stall the state's food stamps program CalFresh, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday he will set aside $80 million in emergency funding to support food banks and deploy the California National Guard to assist in food distribution. "Trump's failure isn't abstract - it's literally taking food out of people's mouths," wrote Governor Newsom in a press release on the ongoing shutdown's impact on food assistance.

(President Donald) Trump's failure isn't abstract - it's literally taking food out of people's mouths. This is serious, this is urgent - and requires immediate action.

This action appears to intentional to circumvent yesterday's ruling by a federal judge,

Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement that California personnel were on their way Sunday and called the deployment "a breathtaking abuse of the law and power." "The commander-in-chief is using the U.S. military as a political weapon against American citizens," Newsom said in the statement. "We will take this fight to court, but the public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the president of the United States."

Half of the 4,000-strong California National Guard force deployed by President Donald Trump to Los Angeles a month ago is returning home, but 700 Marines are set to remain.

Daniel Morquecho, general manager of Perla Mexican Cuisine, noted the restaurant has faced significant declines in business due to nearby protests and the presence of the California National Guard.

"Donald Trump's government isn't protecting our communities - they're traumatizing our communities. And that seems to be the entire point."