California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to clear homeless encampments doesn’t carry much heft, since he can’t force cities or counties to follow the directive. The governor’s scope is limited to state land, while most homelessness is experienced in urban and suburban settings, the city of San Francisco and Los Angeles County prominent among them.
But Newsom’s edict could accomplish something of real significance, even if it’s not the creation he intended. By framing the conversation about homelessness in urgent terms, he may open the door to broader thinking about the problem — and especially to some approaches that seem to be hiding in plain sight.
