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Promise Neighborhoods, CalFood and diaper bank advocates press Subcommittee for one‑time and ongoing funding
Summary
Numerous public commenters and organizations urged funding to prevent a funding cliff for Promise Neighborhoods, to sustain CalFood and to continue diaper bank investments; advocates provided program outcomes and requested specific dollar amounts.
During public comment, more than a dozen community organizations, food banks and Promise Neighborhood grantee partners urged Subcommittee support for several items: a one‑time package to prevent an abrupt end to state funding for Promise Neighborhoods, ongoing funding for the CalFood program, continuation of diaper bank funding, and restart or expansion of targeted pilots such as the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT pilot.
Multiple representatives said California's initial state investments in Promise Neighborhoods are expiring at the end of the fiscal year and asked the Legislature to approve a $17,500,000 request championed by Senator Wahab to sustain services for roughly 130,000 children and families across the four Promise Neighborhoods. Speakers including Jose Mindelez, Edgar Chavez, and others described education and health outcomes tied to the grant work and warned of job losses and program closures if funding lapses.
Food bank leaders — including Becky Silva (California Association of Food Banks), Chris Carter (LA Regional Food Bank), Kevin Bufalino (Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services), and others — urged the Legislature to sustain CalFood baseline funding at $60,000,000 annually and to continue diaper bank funding (advocates asked for $16,500,000) that has supported statewide diaper distribution. Silva said CalFood helped food banks purchase 80,000,000 pounds of California‑grown food last year and warned that a 90% cut in CalFood funding at the end of next month would sharply reduce fresh food availability.
Advocates also urged funding to restart or expand the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT pilot; witnesses reported that an earlier $10,000,000 appropriation enabled months of operations and demonstrated strong participants' demand. Public commenters requested the Legislature consider specific one‑time and ongoing investments during the budget process to avoid sudden service interruptions.
Committee members did not take votes on public comment requests during the hearing; staff said written testimony can also be submitted for the official record.
