Will Newsom finally listen to California's clear call for public safety?
For years, Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed an image of himself as a defender of democracy and touted how much he respects the will of the people. This week, the governor has the opportunity to prove he's all of that by funding the anti-crime initiative Proposition 36 during his presentation of the May Revise.
My Senate Republican colleagues and I urge the governor to set aside $400 million in his May Revise to implement Prop. 36, passed by California voters in November, which increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes.
Opinion
Prop. 36's fiscal impacts were transparently spelled out for voters, as the Legislative Analyst made clear that it would lead to 'increased state criminal justice costs, likely ranging from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually.'
Newsom actively campaigned against Prop. 36, claiming it would further 'mass incarceration.'
Having heard both sides, the anti-crime initiative's results were decided by state voters: Almost 70% of California voters voted for the proposition.
From Lassen and Kern to Marin and San Francisco, counties conservative and liberal spoke with a single voice. For the first and only time during Newsom's administration, every single county in California agreed on a ballot measure.
So far, however, the voice of the people has been entirely ignored by Newsom and Democratic leaders in the Legislature: In the governor's January budget, Prop. 36 received zero proposed funding. And as recently as early-April, Senate Democrats rejected an amendment that I introduced to add Prop. 36 funding to the state budget.
I believe public safety should always be the first role of government, and we owe it to the people of California to do better to keep our communities safe.
By passing Prop. 36 with such an overwhelming mandate, Californians proclaimed loudly and definitively that they are fed up with placing the rights of criminals over those of victims. California residents are fed up with increased rates of serial retail theft and drug use and with the ballooning number of homeless individuals on our streets.
Californians want people who need treatment to get it and those who don't to experience the consequence of their crimes. The success of Prop. 36's treatment-focused approach depends heavily on the availability of well-funded mental health and substance abuse services, which are critical for breaking cycles of addiction and reducing recidivism.
By addressing repeat offenses and prioritizing rehabilitation, Prop. 36 has the potential to improve public safety, reduce crime rates and alleviate the long-term strain on our state's criminal justice system.
Beyond just respecting the will of the people and making crime illegal again, there are numerous real benefits we can see by funding the anti-crime initiative reforms. We can make a real impact at making communities safer. Now is the time to stop the rhetoric and take action.
State Sen. Tony Strickland represents California District 36, encompassing parts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
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