Sacramento, CA – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal of a $214 billion state budget plan today, State Senator Ben Allen (D –Santa Monica) released the following statement.

“As Californians navigate another frustrating twist in our pandemic-related economic recovery, Governor Newsom detailed a thoughtful budget proposal. On the precipice of the third year of COVID-19, children and families, renters and homeowners, schools, universities, colleges, and hospitals, nonprofits and businesses are counting on California’s government to help them survive. Simultaneously, we cannot lose sight of long-term challenges that predate the pandemic—the need to mitigate effects of the climate crisis, to alleviate the state’s homelessness crisis, and to expand reforms that build trust in our democracy. The California Legislature faces another tough year ahead. I’m ready to work with my colleagues to craft a responsible budget that balances many important needs and makes California a more just and equitable state.”

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Ben Allen represents the 26th State Senate District, which consists of the Hollywood, Westside, and South Bay communities of Los Angeles County, and serves as Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts.