California Governor Plans To Boost Funding To Help Secure Houses Of Worship

BY ARI FELDMAN - Forward

California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing to earmark $15 million in his next budget to supporting security efforts at places of worship...

On Monday, Newsom said he plans to set aside the money for California’s “State Nonprofit Security Grant Program.” The program funds security updates for non-profit organizations that are the potential targets of hate crimes, such as religious institutions, community centers, LGBT institutions and advocacy groups. The program has been funded at much lower levels in previous years.

Newsom announced the boosted funding after the California Legislature’s Jewish Caucus requested the $15 million amount. Last year the program was allocated $500,000. If approved, this level of funding will be the largest in the program’s history, the Times said.