1 min read
Sources:
press and public records, Kevin's account, his own videos
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Short answer
The platform he announced on May 17, 2021. Its headline items: no state income tax on the first $250,000; end street homelessness in 60 days with 80 emergency shelters in vacant malls and warehouses and National Guard deployment; “Future Schools” that make students job-ready by 18 with no debt and pay stipends after 18; one statewide building-permit process replacing 482 local departments; legalize gambling; a carbon tax offsetting income tax; tunnels and toll roads; cancel high-speed rail; small-claims limits raised to $100,000; and more water infrastructure. 12
Announced: May 17, 2021 (with the candidacy)
Taxes: $0 on first $250K (state income tax)
Homelessness: 60 days (80 emergency shelters, National Guard)
Permits: 1 statewide process (replacing 482 departments)
The plan, from the announcement
No state income tax on the first $250,000
End street homelessness in 60 days: 80 emergency shelters from vacant malls and warehouses, National Guard deployment
Future Schools: consolidate about 70% of high schools and colleges; career and financial education by 18 with zero debt; about $2,000 a month stipends for students over 18
Housing: consolidate 482 building-and-safety departments into one statewide permitting process
Legalize physical and online gambling
First state to implement a carbon tax, offsetting income tax
DMV reform; tunnels and toll roads to end traffic; cancel high-speed rail funding
Community policing using non-violent inmates as supervised workers
Court reform: small-claims limit raised to $100,000
Prioritize legal immigration and local manufacturing, including California H-1Bs
Plus water infrastructure, including the Mississippi-to-Colorado pipeline he raised at the debate while admitting it sounded outlandish, HEPA filters in every building, and a gun safety chapter. 1
What he still believes
Kevin’s account
Homelessness: courts have since upheld public-camping bans and emergency actions have become far more common. Water: during the Palisades fire, reservoirs were found lacking. Future Schools: job-ready education looks ahead of its time with AI. Housing: high prices are driven by permitting failures, not investors, which is why my startup bets on California staying hard to build in. 2
What critics said
A UCLA law professor called the 60-day homelessness pledge the poorest substitute for a policy he had seen in 38 years; a UC Irvine professor called the permitting takeover vague promises. Those quotes are on the criticisms page.
In his own videos
A 20-item list built around taxes, housing, homelessness and schools. He still stands behind the housing and schools items; experts panned the 60-day pledge. 12
Simply put
✅ The big items
➡️ No state income tax on your first $250,000.
➡️ Fix street homelessness in 60 days with emergency shelters.
➡️ Schools that get kids job-ready by 18.
➡️ One statewide permit office instead of 482.
✅ The odd ones
➡️ A carbon tax. Legal gambling. Toll tunnels. A water pipeline from the Mississippi.
Sources
Newswire, official campaign announcement and platform, May 17, 2021, Open
Kevin's account, The 20-part plan: “Looking back, I think the campaign was extremely forward-looking” Read the excerpt
Kevin on YouTube, "I'm Officially Running for Governor. Here's my 20-Part Plan." (2021-05-17), at 0:00: “I'm Officially Running for Governor. Here's my 20-Part Plan.” Watch from 0:00
Kevin on YouTube, "Running for Governor to cut Taxes to $0 | California Exodus" (2021-01-26), at 0:00: “Running for Governor to cut Taxes to $0 | California Exodus” Watch from 0:00
