Gov. Newsom Swears in Tomiquia Moss as Head of California Housing and Homelessness Agency
Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom has sworn in Tomiquia Moss as secretary of the newly established California Housing and Homelessness Agency, placing a longtime housing official at the helm of California’s efforts to expand affordable housing, reduce homelessness and coordinate housing policy across state government.
The appointment comes as Newsom implements the 2026-27 state budget, which funds the new agency, and a package of housing finance reforms, including the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026. The administration said the measures are intended to accelerate housing construction, preserve affordable homes, expand homeownership opportunities for veterans and middle- and lower-income households, and increase supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
“I’m proud to appoint Tomiquia Moss to lead the California Housing and Homelessness Agency,” said Newsom on June 30. “Tomiquia is a proven leader who understands that housing is foundational to opportunity, dignity, and economic security. We created this agency because California needed a single, coordinated strategy to confront homelessness, expand housing, and protect the rights of every Californian.”
Newsom said California has made progress through “historic investments and an all-hands-on-deck approach” but said the work is far from complete. He added that Moss has “the experience, the grit, and the vision to build on that momentum and drive the next phase of this work.”
Moss, who previously served as secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, said she plans to build a more coordinated and accountable housing system.
Before joining the Newsom administration, Moss spent more than two decades in nonprofit and public service leadership, including as founder and CEO of All Home, CEO of Hamilton Families, executive director of San Francisco’s HOPE SF Initiative, and chief of staff to the mayor of Oakland.
“As we expand opportunity, I’m committed to protecting the civil rights of every Californian while accelerating housing production and strengthening our homelessness response,” said Moss. “I look forward to working with the Governor, the Legislature, and local partners to deliver stability, fairness, and dignity across our communities.”
According to the governor’s office, California has increased annual residential construction by 59% since 2018, with about 111,000 homes built in 2024. The administration also said the state recorded its largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in 16 years and a 2.8% decline in overall homelessness.
The California Housing and Homelessness Agency will oversee the Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Housing Finance Agency, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Housing Development and Finance Committee and the Civil Rights Department as part of a long-term strategy to address the state’s housing shortage and homelessness crisis.
Lawmakers: $29 Million New Budget Allocation Will Help California Count Ballots Faster
Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
California’s 2026-27 state budget includes $29 million to help counties speed up ballot counting through investments in staffing, technology and equipment, part of a broader election funding package aimed at improving election administration ahead of future statewide contests.
The funding comes after criticism over the pace of vote counting following California’s June 2 primary election. Election officials and voting advocates say the new investment will help counties modernize ballot processing while maintaining the state’s extensive vote-by-mail system.
The budget agreement between Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers allocates $29 million for county election offices to upgrade staffing, technology and equipment. It also includes $5 million for county voter outreach and education, $5 million for statewide voter education through the Secretary of State’s Office and $750,000 to combat election misinformation.
Election officials welcomed the funding but said California needs a stable, long-term funding source to maintain election operations.
“You can’t just do things as a one-time fix,” said Jesse Salinas, president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials. “They have to be done as a real ongoing commitment. That is critical for us to maintain the quality of our democracy.”
Voting advocates had sought additional funding before the budget agreement. The California Voter Foundation requested $35 million for voter education and another $55 million to support staffing, equipment and expanded ballot-processing capacity.
Foundation President Kim Alexander said California’s lengthy vote-counting process is driven by state policies designed to ensure ballots are counted accurately.
“California has one of the most accessible voting systems in the world, but our long count overshadows our strengths,” Alexander said in a statement. “When results take weeks, it creates space for confusion and misinformation.”
Under California law, election officials have time to verify signatures and allow voters to correct certain signature issues on mail ballots. Following the June 2 primary, counties could not certify results before June 26, and the Secretary of State’s Office is expected to certify the statewide election by July 10.
Supporters say the new funding will help counties process ballots more efficiently while preserving safeguards intended to ensure every eligible vote is counted.
The California Secretary of State’s Office will accept ballot arguments supporting or opposing statewide measures through 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, with rebuttals due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. Arguments are limited to 500 words and rebuttals to 250 words, with no more than three signers per submission. Materials may be delivered in person, faxed to (916) 653-3214, or emailed to VIGarguments@sos.ca.gov. Faxed and emailed submissions must be followed by the original documents within 72 hours.
California Lawmakers Honor Dodgers’ Back-to-Back World Series Championships at State Capitol
On June 29, representatives from the Los Angeles Dodgers presented their consecutive 2024 and 2025 World Series trophies at the California State Capitol.
State lawmakers showcased the trophies in the Senate and Assembly chambers to honor the Major League Baseball franchise’s achievements and celebrate its impact across California.
The presentations were held while the Dodgers were in the Sacramento area to play a three-game interleague series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in 2024 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025 to win back-to-back championships. In total, the Dodgers franchise has won nine World Series titles.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who led the Dodgers to the World Series championships, told California Black Media (CBM) that he visited the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers on June 30 after a golfing outing with A’s manager Mark Kotsay.
“It was absolutely great. I enjoyed meeting with the legislators,” said Roberts, who has been the Dodgers’ manager for the last 11 seasons. “It was a nice occasion. Sacramento treated us really well for our first time playing here.”
