Becerra, Thurmond, and Villaraigosa share views on redevelopment, accountability, and more at Cal Cities’ gubernatorial forum

By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, and Antonio Villaraigosa discussed their views on housing, public safety, and other top issues at Cal Cities’ first-ever gubernatorial forum. The series of conversations, moderated by KQED’s Scott Shafer, also delved into the values of each candidate, along with some of the race’s twists and turns.  

Cal Cities invited the top ten candidates based on publicly available polling. Five accepted. Betty Yee suspended her campaign just before the forum, and Matt Mahan backed out due to a scheduling conflict.

Shafer and Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman kicked off the forum with a quick look at where the race stands after Eric Swalwell’s exit. Shafer noted that even though some candidates “left for dead have catapulted to the front or at least the middle of the pack” — it’s anyone’s game.

When asked about the candidates not in the room, he said that every candidate he has spoken with for the Political Breakdown podcast has something to offer. He also doubts Democrats will get locked out of the November election — as some party insiders fear.  

“For voters, it's better to have a real race than to have a coronation,” Shafer said.

Becerra vows to focus on results

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has surged to the front of the race in recent days. Shafer followed up on Becerra’s responses during a televised debate on Wednesday, where he gave Gov. Gavin Newsom an A for effort on homelessness. 

“I’m not going to condemn someone for trying,” Becerra said. “Results matter, and that's why I followed that up by saying it's all about accountability. At the end of the day, the most important A is the A in accountability.”

He said that voters want to see results more than anything else. And all they see are people on the streets; they don’t see the work that goes into getting people off the streets.

“That's fair, because they don't do your work,” Becerra said. “They paid you. They voted for you, so you would do it. They just want to see the result. We owe them results.”

Becerra promised he would focus on keeping Californians from becoming homelessness — which he says is far cheaper. He also vowed to break ground on 40,000 affordable housing units in his first 100 days in office and noted that new housing laws need time to work.

Becerra floated a tax credit as one way to incentivize new housing. He promised to complete the state’s high-speed rail project and noted that, after overseeing the largest budget of any federal agency, he has learned to both live within his means and provide services that people need.

Thurmond promises to bring back development

Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent, emphasized his ties to local government, working-class roots, and legislative chops. He told city leaders he would bring back redevelopment and not just mandate housing. He noted that, as a local official, he thought that lawmakers make life harder, not easier, for cities by passing unfunded mandates.

“I think it's important that a governor partners with our communities, listens to our leaders, and builds policies that actually work for the things that you need to take care of your constituents,” Thurmond stated.

He pointed to surplus public land as one way the state could build housing and promised to close what he called loopholes in Proposition 13 that make it harder for cities to provide services. He also said the state needs to fully fund the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Grant Program.

“Aren't you all tired of getting mandates passed down to you from the state with no resources to get anything done?” Thurmond asked, later noting, “Our cities and counties need more, not less, and that they should increase the allocation.” (In January, the Governor proposed cutting the program to half its historic levels.)

Thurmond also noted that there needs to be some accountability tied to state funding and focused on the need to improve outcomes for schools and low-income students.  

Villaraigosa leans on public safety record

Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, promised to build housing on surplus public land and remove regulations. Villaraigosa, who has positioned himself as a problem-solver from California’s days as a purple state, said that the state needs a “course correction” and that the state’s environmental planning law is “absolutely broken.”

“I believe in local control,” he noted. “That doesn't mean [on] housing, that we're not going to push. We will, but we're not going to dictate every little detail the way we do, because that's not the way you build.”

Villaraigosa repeatedly emphasized his support for Proposition 36 and promised not just to fully fund the initiative but to boost the number of law enforcement personnel in the state. He stated that the job of a governor — like a mayor — is not to just set goals, but to complete them.

“I believe that the state needs to focus on supporting our cities who are struggling right now,” he said.

Villaraigosa repeatedly noted the need for accountability — but as governor — and often stated that he left things better than he found them as mayor and while in the state assembly.

The forum was recorded and is available online. Cal Cities will continue to engage the state’s gubernatorial candidates as the race progresses.