Opinion: California Must Step Up to Address Racism as a Public Health Crisis
January 18, 2022 Roots of ChangeGovernor Gavin Newsom and other California lawmakers took an important step toward improved public safety and racial justice this fall by passing the CRISES Act to fund community-based emergency response programs.
Police violence disproportionately victimizes people experiencing mental health or substance use crises. Solutions such as the CRISES Act provide funding to community groups to respond to emergencies in ways that provide better care and reduce harm. Newsom vetoed the bill in 2020 even after police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd and nationwide protests brought widespread recognition to the often-fraught role of police as first responders.
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health equity, racial justice