The California Community Safety Alliance recently held its first online briefing to announce the initiative to amend Proposition 47, achieving a record-signing verification rate of over 80%.
On April 18, the Californians for Safer Communities Coalition announced that they had submitted over 900,000 voter signatures in support of the “Reducing Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Act.” Once the election office verifies 546,651 valid voter signatures, the initiative can be placed on the ballot for November.
However, currently, California Governor Newsom and Democratic leaders are attempting to remove this initiative from the November ballot.
The online conference was hosted by members of the California Community Safety Alliance team, including Tino Rossi, Emily Sissell, and Michaela Fritzsche.
Sissell mentioned that Proposition 47 brought about many unforeseen negative impacts, with rampant retail theft and a persistent worsening homeless issue in California, where a quarter of the nation’s homeless population resides.
Moreover, over the past decade, the fentanyl crisis has claimed over 100 lives of Californians weekly. Hence, despite Proposition 47 being passed in 2014, there is now a need to revisit and repair it.
She also mentioned that on June 13, the qualification confirmation for the “Homelessness, Drug Addiction & Theft Reduction Act” (initiative 23-0017A1) for entry into the November ballot will be announced. If all goes well, the initiative is expected to formally qualify on June 28. If successful, we need everyone to step up and mobilize more community members to participate in voting.
Fritzsche stated that the new initiative has achieved a record-signing verification rate of over 80%, far exceeding the actual required number of valid signatures. This means that the initiative has a real chance of making it onto the November ballot.
The new initiative does not change the $950 minimum felony theft threshold in Prop 47. It focuses on three key points: first, anyone arrested for theft three times, regardless of the amount, will be considered a felony; second, enhancing punishment for drug dealers, especially fentanyl traffickers, to further deter drug addiction and homelessness issues; and lastly, anyone arrested three times for possessing opioids, cocaine, or other hard drugs will be required to undergo mandatory rehabilitation, or face felony charges.
Fritzsche mentioned three ways in which people can participate in this movement. Firstly, contact local legislators by phone or email, whether in the assembly or senate, to thank them for their support or urge them to support the measure. Secondly, engage with the California Safer Communities Alliance’s social media, crucial for spreading information and attracting more supporters. Lastly, submit your stories to the alliance, as these stories are the rationale behind this new initiative.
Rossi stated that they plan to hold such briefings monthly on the first Wednesday of each month. They also need to raise funds to educate voters about the impact of this measure, having already raised over $8 million to support the initiative in the voting process.
He also mentioned that after June 29, they will receive a proposal number, and all information will be updated. Once the proposal number is obtained, they will immediately create a supporter toolkit, develop various logos, and ensure that voters understand the content of their support.
The California Community Safety Alliance is a large alliance consisting of nearly 3,000 members, including small and local businesses, minority-owned business organizations, social justice and community advocates, judicial and victim advocacy groups, local governments and elected officials from across California, state-wide business and trade associations, public safety leaders, senior organizations, and taxpayer groups.
The top sponsors of the alliance include Walmart, Target, and Home Depot.