Assemblymember Ward Statement on the 2021-22 State Budget

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – California State Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) released the following statement today after the Legislature passed and sent to Governor Newsom its 2021-22 State Budget.

“This last year demanded enormous sacrifices from Californians,” said Assemblymember Ward. “Given the exceptional budget surplus, now is the time to make significant, responsible investments in Californians as our communities begin to reopen. This was my first vote on our state budget, and I take great pride in the opportunities laid out to support our schoolchildren and higher education, address and alleviate homelessness through affordable housing and anti-poverty programs, expand public health resources, address drought and wildfire threats, and advance physical infrastructure and climate resiliency projects.”

Above other programmatic funding, San Diego will directly benefit from this budget through some of the following budget allocations:

• $30 million to support the University of California, San Diego Hillcrest Medical Center
• $3.6 million to Old Town State Historic Park facilities
• $67 million to add 6,200 enrollment slots across the UC System, and $81 million to add 9,400 slots at Cal State campuses
• $650,000 to the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office for a Resentencing Pilot Program
• $1 million to the San Diego City Attorney to support gun violence restraining order trainings statewide
• $2.5 million to support cliff erosion research

For questions or to schedule an interview with Assemblymember Ward, contact Ansermio Estrada.