On June 26, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) reached an agreement on the framework for the 2022-23 State Budget. In the State Budget, Assemblymember Alex Lee advocated for and secured $2.5 million for the City of Milpitas, which will help fund the City of Milpitas’ Homeless Prevention and Unhoused Services ($1.5 million) and Bike Lanes Facilities Enhancement ($1 million).
“As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I’m honored to have secured millions of dollars to support my hometown of Milpitas, as well as throughout the Assembly district,” said Assemblymember Lee. “This important funding will go toward supporting our most vulnerable residents, providing services to our unhoused community members, and improving road safety for our cyclists.”
The City requested funding in the amount of $1,500,000 to continue serving those at risk of homelessness and the unhoused population. The City currently contracts with Santa Clara County to provide outreach and assessment services to the unhoused population in Milpitas. Some of the services currently funded by the City draw upon various one-time funding sources. The State allocation will support continuing and expanding the City’s mobile shower and laundry services, twice a week, for a period of 3 years ($300,000), establish a Milpitas Resource Center as a 2-year pilot program ($500,000), and provide rent relief to vulnerable Milpitas residents ($700,000).
The City also requested funding in the amount of $1,000,000 to support safer bicycle traffic. The allocation will help upgrade existing bike lane infrastructure with green-colored pavement at intersections and through conflict areas, establish green-colored intersection bike boxes, buffered bike lanes, and/or separated bikeways marked with bollards, posts, or on-street parking.
The funding responds directly to two important City Council Priorities in Milpitas. It will help strengthen the City’s ability to care for families, youth and individuals with no place to call home and help the City improve existing bicycle facilities to promote multi-modal nature of roadways and increase bicyclist comfort.
Mayor Rich Tran shared, “Thanks to Assemblymember Lee’s advocacy, the City of Milpitas will be better equipped to humanely and effectively implement homeless outreach, permanent housing, and supportive services as well as improve the community’s bicycle safety and mobility.”