Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $100 billion state budget that with a focus on getting money to those who have been impacted by the pandemic. Part of the budget plan includes an in-state $600 stimulus check, 100% rent relief and projects that would tackle homelessness.

The stimulus payment will make up $8.1 billion of the budget and send $600 to Californians making $75,000 or less.

Expanding the payments to middle class families, the new round of stimulus checks would potentially cover two out of every three Californians, as $600 checks were already being distributed to lower income residents under the Golden State Stimulus.

“We are tripling the Golden State Stimulus to get money in the hands of more middle-class Californians who have been hit hard by this pandemic,” Newsom made when proposing the payments in May. “Two in three Californians will receive a check from the state.”

Newsom highlighted that “any person affected” by the pandemic will have 100% of their rent paid as part of a $5.2 billion portion of the budget. Californians affected as far back as April 2020 and going forward to September 30, will have a chance to use the rent relief program.

“People who have been directly impacted by this pandemic- any of you that have been directly impacted by this pandemic, we will pay 100% of your rent,” Newsom said in Los Angeles Tuesday. “You got to take advantage of that. Folks don’t believe it.”

Budget Going Toward Los Angeles

Another $2 billion will be dedicated to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which will aid customers who are behind on their water and power bills.

“We’re paying 100% of those bills as well,” Newsom said about the utility bills.

One of the largest portions of the bill will be dedicated to homelessness initiatives, as $12 billion will go to multiple California cities and an additional $2.5 billion going to Project Homekey, which provides hotels and motels for unhoused people to stay in.

“We are running a surplus in the state of California, that is the largest surplus that has ever been recorded in American history,” Gov. Newsom said in Los Angeles Tuesday. “An $80 billion-plus operating surplus that allows us to do things that we couldn’t have imagined doing six years ago, let alone six months ago.”

More than $600 million will be allocated to various Los Angeles-based initiatives, $555.4 million to expand summer youth employment opportunities.

The Los Angeles Mayor’s office also highlighted that California budget funds will go toward:

$2 million to support Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development program
$11 million for the Potrero Canyon Pacific Coast Highway Pedestrian Bridge
$5 million for the Southeast San Fernando Valley Roller and Skateboard Rink in Sun Valley
$3.25 million to revitalize the Canoga Park Arts District
$6.5 million to advance Destination Crenshaw in South Los Angeles through infrastructure and public art improvements
$2 million to renovate Salazar Park in East Los Angeles
$2.3 million to upgrade pedestrian access and finalize a complete streets project at the Louise Avenue 101 Freeway overcross in Encino
$14.9 million for restoration of the Breed Street Shul
$5 million for the Colorado Bridge Undercrossing East Bank River Way Project
$10 million to support the Museum of Tolerance, which aims to help residents understand the Holocaust and the history of bigotry and discrimination.