"The spending includes $5 million in general fund money for a LGBTQ+ venue in high-cost San Francisco, $2.5 million for a private day school in Southern California and $250,000 for a private farm-animal rescue on the North Coast. Around $250 million of the local-project earmarks were funds taken from the $10 billion Proposition 4 climate bond California voters approved last year."
"Kristen Cox, executive director of the Long Beach Community Table foodbank, said the money lawmakers spent this year to enhance communities in their districts - often for projects that some would consider frills - isn't going to the neediest Californians. "It's misprioritization," she said. "My priorities are to help the people that need it the most. Their priorities seem to be 'Let's make this city look gentrified and pretty and beautiful.'""
California faces a $12 billion deficit while the Legislature allocated at least $415 million in local earmarks, many inserted into a single budget bill that included nearly 100 projects. Earmarks directed general fund money toward amenities in affluent communities and specific private entities, including $5 million for an LGBTQ+ venue in San Francisco, $2.5 million for a private day school and $250,000 for a farm-animal rescue. About $250 million of earmarks came from the $10 billion Proposition 4 climate bond, including $26 million for programs paying farmers for private land conservation. Earmarks were approved as state positions remained vacant, benefits were suspended and reserve funds were tapped.
Read at San Jose Inside
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