(San Diego, CA) Join us for an upcoming press conference.  When: Tuesday, August 27, 8:30am.  Where: San Diego County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101(outside) 

Background:

In 2014, California took a giant step forward when it passed Proposition 47, a ballot measure that removed thousands of felonies from people’s records and reduced the jail and prison footprint across California. But now, Proposition 47 is under attack. 

San Diego Supervisors Joel Anderson, Jim Desmond, and District Attorney Summer Stephan are misleading San Diegans by pushing the corporate retail lobby and law enforcement’s Proposition 36, which seeks to unravel the progress made by Prop 47 by creating longer sentences and enhanced punishment for theft and drug-related offenses. Their proposal uses expensive band-aids such as “treatment-mandated felonies" for repeated drug possession and sends San Diegans to prison for shoplifting instead of investing in people who are simply fighting to survive. 

The truth is that Proposition 36 has nothing to do with safety. Prop 47 has led to an overall drop in crime statewide and decreased rates of recidivism. There is zero correlation between Prop 47 and an increase in retail theft. In fact, San Diego County has seen a 21% decrease in shoplifting since 2019. Companies like Home Depot, Walmart, and Target have invested millions of their shareholders’ money in supporting Proposition 36 to exploit the false narrative of rising crime to deflect attention from their outdated industry practices. Unlike retailers like Best Buy and Costco that staff their stores with large numbers of employees, a practice shown to deter theft, proponents of Proposition 36 are instead relying on debunked stories about retail theft, engineered by corporations that refuse to address the shift in consumer practices. 

“Black and Brown people, especially those with disabilities, are most likely to be disproportionately impacted by these types of terrible policies and end up in the criminal legal system. People facing poverty, homelessness, and addiction are not responsible for any suggested increases in crime and we must consider other solutions to this perceived problem.” – Eric Harris, Associate Executive Director of External Affairs, Disability Rights California. 

“Prop 36, on the ballot this November, threatens to undo Prop 47 and introduce harsher penalties in San Diego. As I recently noted in an op-ed, 'Prop 47 is a public safety measure, fostering safer communities by addressing the root causes of crime.' We must defeat Prop 36 to protect San Diego's progress.” Geneviéve Jones-Wright, Executive Director, Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance.

Mandating drug treatment for individuals convicted of a drug-related offense does not effectively reduce drug use. Prop 36 will increase punishments for people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders, while providing no funding for treatment or housing. If law enforcement and the corporate retail lobby truly cared about safety, they would invest in healthier communities and affordable living, not misleading measures like Proposition 36 or legislative packages that achieve the same results.

The San Diego Board of Supervisors must oppose any measures that double down on punishment and incarceration and instead work towards building the people-led, healthy infrastructure that all San Diegans deserve. 

Media Contacts

Melody Pomraning
Communications Director
Disability Rights California
916-504-5938
Melody.Pomraning@disabilityrightsca.org

Geneviéve Jones-Wright
Executive Director
Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance
(619) 736-0179
director@moralgovernance.org 

Disability Rights California (DRC) – Is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of DRC is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities. 

Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance (MoGo) promotes good governance. MoGo is committed to engaging in litigation and various forms of advocacy that will make government more just and fully accountable to all people, particularly those who have been marginalized from society.