Gavin Newsom made these 10 promises on the campaign trail. Can he keep them?

Democrat Gavin Newsom vowed while running for governor to tackle many of California’s biggest problems, from health care to homelessness to wildfires. We’re watching his efforts to keep his campaign promises.

1. COMBAT HOMELESSNESS

As San Francisco mayor, Newsom put tremendous effort into combating chronic homelessness, and he leaned on that experience in his gubernatorial campaign to highlight a statewide crisis: about 135,000 homeless people, a quarter of the nation’s total. He proposed creating a cabinet-level position to lead a “regional approach” for addressing homelessness. Many cities and counties have abdicated their responsibility to help those in need, he said, shifting the burden onto communities like San Francisco that provide robust services. Newsom told The Bee in July that he wants to tie state funding to increased development of supportive housing, as an incentive for local governments. He also wants to help them enroll more homeless people in the federal disability program that provides a monthly stipend.

2. BUILD 3.5 MILLION NEW HOMES BY 2025

California’s housing affordability crisis was central to the gubernatorial campaign. Newsom pledged to confront the problem with an ambitious goal: 3.5 million new housing units by 2025. Reaching that figure, which the building industry says is necessary to meet projected population growth, would require the state to quintuple its current rate of production. To boost construction, Newsom has proposed increasing tax credits for affordable housing development, bringing back the anti-blight local redevelopment agencies and streamlining the process for approving land use. He also said he would hold cities accountable for failing to meet their housing quotas set by the state and revamp the tax code, which he believes encourages commercial development over building new homes.

3. STRENGTHEN TENANT PROTECTIONS

Newsom opposed a November ballot initiative to repeal a state law that severely limits rent control in cities across California. He said the measure, which would have given local governments broad authority to craft new rent restrictions, could discourage housing development. It ultimately failed, but Newsom pledged to immediately begin working on a deal that would nevertheless expand rent control. Read more >>>