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Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> says he\u2019s not taking his \u201cfoot off the gas\u201d to solve homelessness, but his critics say he should look at the disgusting mess in his rearview \u2014 as shocking pictures of Sacramento river encampments have emerged.<\/p>\n The California Post has obtained photos of tons of trash left by homeless encampments last month along the banks of Sacramento\u2019s Steelhead Creek, from makeshift dams built from shopping carts to mounds of trash that include bicycles, tires, a baby carriage, cardboard, and trash bags.<\/p>\n The creek is governed by a patchwork of local, state and federal agencies, including the state\u2019s Department of Water Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n A sea of trash is left along the bank of Sacramento\u2019s Steelhead Creek by San Juan Avenue in early March. River City Waterway Alliance<\/p>\n Shopping carts were discarded in Steelhead Creek in Sacramento to create a dangerous makeshift dam. River City Waterway Alliance<\/p>\n Despite these disturbing images, Newsom\u2019s office on Wednesday was touting a 9% drop in unsheltered homelessness as it announced more than $145 million in new funding to address California\u2019s entrenched homelessness crisis<\/a>. The governor said in a statement that his administration is \u201cproducing real results.\u201d<\/p>\n Not everyone agrees.<\/p>\n Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political strategist, called out the governor\u2019s office on social media Wednesday while posting a picture of trash along the American River \u2014 and he doubled down in an interview with The Post.<\/p>\n \u201cLiterally, this is a human and environmental tragedy in the governor\u2019s backyard, and we\u2019ve got nothing but finger-pointing and zero action,\u201d Maviglio told The Post.<\/p>\n He added that state Assemblymembers Angelique Ashby and Maggy Krell have implored the governor\u2019s office to take greater action with little effect.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this were a highway underpass, Gov. Newsom would be there in five minutes for a photo-op,\u201d Maviglio said.<\/p>\n Democratic strategist Steven Maviglio slammed the governor for not doing more on homelessness in Sacramento.<\/p>\n In 2024, Newsom joined Caltrans workers to clear out a homeless encampment in Los Angeles County in a made-for-TV appearance as he wore Ray-Ban aviator shades<\/a>.<\/p>\n Newsom\u2019s new round of funding to address homelessness will go to eight regions \u2014 Lake, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Solano, Yolo and Yuba counties \u2014 in an effort to move people off the streets and into interim and permanent housing, as well as provide supportive services.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re making critical investments through programs to help local communities expand housing, strengthen services, and better support people experiencing homelessness,\u201d Newsom said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cBut just investing money is not enough \u2014 we have to invest in programs and local governments that are producing real results.\u201d<\/p>\n Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking credit for adressing homelessness, but his critics say he should look in his own backyard. AP<\/p>\n Local environmentalists say Newsom should also take a closer look at holding his own departments accountable.<\/p>\n David Ingram, president of the River City Waterway Alliance, noted that his group has fished out 3.85 million pounds of trash and debris from rivers and creeks since it started organizing cleanups in 2023.<\/p>\n The haul for Steelhead Creek alone has included 724 shopping carts, 897 tires, and 172 mattresses.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say 90-95% of the debris we remove is from homeless encampments,\u201d Ingram said, adding that the health of Steelhead Creek is vital for repopulating the local chinook salmon population.<\/p>\n A junkyard of trash piles from a homeless encampment near Steelhead Creek in Sacramento in mid-March. River City Waterway Alliance<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, some of the state policies that came down from the top ranks created some of these problems in the first place,\u201d he added. \u201cThe state should be more involved in trying to abate some of the problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Joseph Countryman, a member of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, was furious during a recent meeting when informed of how local waterways are being inundated with trash, feces and other debris \u2014 and no agency is stepping up to the plate to solve the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen significant damage to the levees, we\u2019ve seen defecation and urination in the river itself, untreated,\u201d Countryman said. \u201cThese are things I personally can\u2019t accept.\u201d<\/p>\n He added, \u201cThe problem is it\u2019s multi-jurisdictional. It\u2019s a really complex thing, and I am 100% for finding our way through the maze and removing the homeless from the floodways.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryan Endean, a spokesperson for the state Department of Water Resources, issued a statement to The Post saying the agency \u201cdoes not have general authority over illegal dumping, encampments or abandoned property.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat responsibility typically falls to local city or county agencies unless a condition directly impacts flood control infrastructure or significantly obstructs flood flows.\u201d<\/p>\n Endean and Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for the governor\u2019s office, did not respond to pictures of the trash and debris along the banks and inside the water of Steelhead Creek.<\/p>\n Gallegos told The Post in an email that the state has cleared 21,103 encampments on \u201cstate right of ways\u201d since 2021, adding that Newsom\u2019s office has \u201cprovided unprecedented financial support and partnership to local communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Ingram suggested that these investments are important for addressing California\u2019s \u201chumanitarian crisis,\u201d but he\u2019d like to see the governor\u2019s office and Sacramento\u2019s city and county agencies act on homeless encampments with greater unity and urgency.<\/p>\n \u201cIn our opinion,\u201d he said, \u201cprogress is still not fast enough, and there are still large encampments causing issues in terms of pollution and infrastructure damage.\u201d<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7470ee7e6b05b9a5d0db641e48e474fd.jpeg\"\/)
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