- California Assemblyman Corey Jackson, a Democrat, introduced a bill requiring state colleges to allow homeless students to sleep in campus parking lots by 2026, citing housing insecurity affecting 60 percent of community college students.
- Opponents, including Republican leaders, argue the plan is a superficial fix, blaming decades of restrictive Democratic policies for the housing crisis instead of addressing root causes like zoning laws and construction delays.
- California faces exorbitant rents (50 percent above the national median) and low homeownership due to bureaucratic hurdles, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's claims of progress on homelessness.
- Newsom's administration emphasizes temporary shelters (71,000 new beds), but critics demand permanent solutions, accusing the governor of failing to tackle affordability.
- The state's struggles serve as a national cautionary tale, with high taxes, overregulation and unaffordable housing driving residents away – reducing the "American Dream" to survival in parking lots.
In a state where housing affordability has reached crisis levels, a state lawmaker in California has proposed a shocking legislative "fix" – allowing homeless college students to sleep in their cars on campus parking lots.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-District 60), a progressive Democrat with a background in social work, introduced the bill in March. He framed it as a "practical, immediate relief" for students struggling with housing insecurity. But critics denounced it as nothing more than a band-aid on a bullet wound.
Jackson's bill would require California State University and community college systems to establish overnight parking programs by late 2026 – essentially turning campus lots into temporary shelter zones for students who cannot afford housing. According to a 2023 survey by the Community College League of California, three in five community college students face housing insecurity and one in four are homeless. These staggering numbers serve as irony in a state that touts itself as the world's fifth-largest economy. (Related: California mayor under fire for proposing FENTANYL distribution to address homelessness.)
Critics, including Republicans, have pointed out that the proposal is proof that decades of failed Democratic policies have left California unable to solve its housing crisis. California State Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher (R-District 3) said the bill proves that the Democrats' policies in the Golden State "have completely collapsed."
Fox News contributor and former California resident Hugh Hewitt shared the GOP state lawmaker's sentiments. According to Hewitt, Jackson's bill was inevitable under "50 years of no-growth, left-wing policies that are anti-housing."
The bigger problem: California's housing market collapse
California's housing crisis didn’t happen overnight. Decades of restrictive zoning laws, environmental regulations and bureaucratic red tape have stifled development while demand skyrocketed. Today, California has some of the highest rents in the nation – roughly 50 percent above the national median – and an abysmal homeownership rate.
Despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's repeated claims that his administration is outperforming national trends on homelessness – citing a three percent increase in California compared to 18 percent nationally – the reality on the streets tells a different story. Cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles remain mired in encampments, crime and squalor despite billions spent on "solutions."
Newsom's office declined to comment on Jackson’s bill, instead pointing to its own record – including 71,000 new shelter beds. But critics argue that shelters are not the same as permanent housing.
Even members of his own party like progressive advisor Brendan Hartnett blasted the governor for failing on affordability. "Newsom should spend more time governing and addressing California's housing crisis, so students don't have to sleep in cars," said Hartnett.
California’s dysfunction is more than a local crisis; it's a cautionary tale. For years, the state has pursued policies that prioritize government expansion over free-market solutions.
High taxes, excessive regulations and unchecked spending have driven businesses and residents to flee. Now, college students – the future workforce – are sleeping in their cars.
If this is the best Democrats can offer, how much worse will it get? The American Dream once meant owning a home, building stability and securing opportunity. Today, in the Golden State, it's being reduced to a parking space.
Watch this video about California borrowing $6.2 billion for migrant healthcare, proving that the Golden State is going broke.
This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Audit reveals billions in taxpayer dollars wasted as L.A. homelessness crisis worsens.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.
