{"id":245944,"date":"2026-04-01T01:11:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/245944\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T01:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:11:08","slug":"gavin-newsoms-emo-belonging-campaign-harshly-rejected-by-california-auditors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/245944\/","title":{"rendered":"Gavin Newsom’s emo ‘belonging campaign’ harshly rejected by California auditors"},"content":{"rendered":"

California auditors ripped into part of Gavin Newsom\u2019s plan to pump millions into a youth volunteer program, saying the governor failed to properly explain why a \u201cbelonging campaign\u201d is needed during a budget crisis that numbers in the billions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In an unusually weepy news conference<\/a> last week, Newsom announced a recruitment drive to add 10,000 participants to the California Service Corps, a statewide initiative that places volunteers in roles ranging from tutoring students and disaster response to environmental work.<\/p>\n

\u201cForgive me, this is embarrassing,\u201d Newsom said, wiping his eyes. \u201cAll the noise, we just need to turn off. Listen to this \u2014 this is it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The governor\u2019s plan would pump millions into a youth volunteer program. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The effort is specifically aimed at pulling more young men into community service as a pathway to careers and social connection. In. a statement before the event, the governor noted that \u201ctoo many boys feel isolated and without direction,\u201d framing the initiative as part of a broader campaign to address declining employment and worsening mental health among young men.<\/p>\n

In his State of the State speech<\/a> in January, Newsom reeled off stats on the crisis for young men. <\/p>\n

The governor\u2019s proposed 2025-26 budget includes $225 million for GO-Serve.<\/p>\n

But a report from the California Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office casts shade on whether the infrastructure behind those efforts \u2014 including partnerships with outside organizations \u2014 makes sense when the state\u2019s budget is on tilt.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne out of seven men has no friends,\u201d Newsom said, \u201cand half of young men have not even asked a woman out on a date in person.\u201d Newsom says \u201cmen are struggling, boys are struggling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newsom is proposing a $5 million, one-time general fund to conduct an outreach campaign about state programs, and the goal is to help Californians develop an \u201cimproved sense of belonging.\u201d <\/p>\n

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\u201cBased on a lack of clarity around what problem the proposal is intending to address, why more outreach about state programs is needed, how funds would be used, or how success could be measured, we recommend the Legislature reject this proposal,\u201d auditors wrote.<\/p>\n

The LAO report examining California\u2019s service programs<\/a> found that the state has built out its own staffing and administrative structure to support volunteer initiatives, and it flagged concerns about oversight, coordination and long-term effectiveness.<\/p>\n

Newsom poses in 2022 with the first class to be sworn-in as #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. AP<\/p>\n

Auditors specifically singled out a $5 million general fund for the \u201cbelonging campaign,\u201d which would be overseen by the Governor\u2019s Office of Service and Community Engagement, a.k.a. GO-SERVE.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on a lack of clarity around what problem the proposal is intending to address, why more outreach about state programs is needed, how funds would be used, or how success could be measured, we recommend the Legislature reject the proposed $5 million for GO-SERVE to conduct a belonging campaign,\u201d officials wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a year with limited available general fund, we recommend the Legislature set a particularly high bar for approving new discretionary spending,\u201d the report continued. \u201cYet, even were the budget condition to improve, we do not believe the administration has provided sufficient justification for the Legislature to prioritize funding this proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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GO-Serve was created as part of a reorganization of the Governor\u2019s Office starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The governor\u2019s proposed 2025-26 budget includes $225 million for GO-Serve, with $184 million coming from the state\u2019s general fund.<\/p>\n

The governors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report panning Newsom\u2019s \u201cbelonging campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

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