In 2014, George Gascón co-authored Prop 47. It was deceptively titled “safe neighborhoods and schools.” It made no one safer. It also helped no one. It decimated state-run drug court. It turned possession of heroin, methamphetamine & fentanyl into minor misdemeanors. That then allowed Gascón not to charge those crimes at all. No arrests & also no treatment. It also prevented prosecutors from charging repeat theft offenders, smash n grab burglaries & many other theft crimes as felonies. I’ve been against it from the beginning. Prop 36 is a way to finally course correct.
If someone is charged with stealing less than $950, but they have 2 prior theft convictions, they can now be charged with a felony. It would also allow felony charges if the combined value of multiple thefts exceeds $950. There would also be additional time for large-scale organized retail thefts.
In addition, if a person has 2 prior convictions for possession or sales of certain narcotics, they could be charged with a felony on the third arrest. There would be a mandated drug treatment program offered. If completed, the felony would be dismissed. If not, they could go to prison. Further, anyone convicted of selling fentanyl would be given a court warning that if they do it again and someone gets poisoned to d*ath, they could be charged with m*rder. There would also be additional time added for selling large quantities of certain narcotics & possession of fentanyl while armed with a f*rearm.
Prop 36 isn’t perfect. But it’s a start. It will finally give prosecutors and judges the tools to deal with the smash n grab epidemic and also provide treatment and help if someone really wants to be rehabilitated.
You should vote “Yes” on Prop 36. It’s time to bring public safety back to Los Angeles. Prioritize the safety of children, families, family-run businesses and vulnerable members of our communities instead of focusing everything on the person committing the crime. Let’s take our county back.
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Tom |
