Dozens of elected officials, candidates at all levels, community leaders, and hundreds of residents gathered at the Cupertino Public Library on September 29th to show their support for Proposition 36.
Over 35 mayors, city council members, local prosecutors, candidates, and community representatives, including Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, Mayor Karry Klein of Sunnyvale, Mayor Yan Zhao of Saratoga, Mayor Carmen Montano of Milpitas, and Vice Mayor Sherry Hu of Dublin, gave speeches at the event. The gathering drew active participation from hundreds of local residents and volunteers.
Mayor Mahan expressed his confidence in Proposition 36 despite opposition groups raising over three million dollars against it. He pointed out that Proposition 47 has resulted in the downgrading of property and drug crimes to misdemeanors, leading to a significant increase in drug use and overdose deaths over the past decade.
Last year, 12,000 Californians died from drug overdoses, with drug overdoses being a leading cause of death for the 15-44 age group. Courts specializing in drug cases have seen a 60% drop in participation, homelessness has increased by nearly 60%, and retail theft, vandalism, and property crimes have risen in some cities.
He emphasized that Proposition 36 is necessary to address these issues. With California having a $300 billion budget, the proposal may cost a few hundred million dollars at worst. The state has already seen a reduction of nearly 40,000 inmates, and even in the worst-case scenario, only a few thousand additional inmates would be expected, often individuals facing life-threatening situations due to drug overdoses on the streets.
He urged continuous grassroots organizing both online and offline leading up to the election day to ensure Proposition 36’s successful passage through publicity, signage, and engaging with neighbors.
Mayor Klein mentioned that the Sunnyvale City Council approved a resolution supporting Proposition 36, providing lawyers and judges with tools to address repeat offenders and ultimately tackle the community’s drug problem.
Mayor Zhao stated that the proposal would alleviate the economic impact of theft and drug-related crimes and provide treatment opportunities for all drug addicts.
Mayor Montano of Milpitas shared her observation that theft often goes unaddressed at Walmart, questioning the state of law enforcement in the country and emphasizing that public safety is a non-partisan issue affecting everyone and society as a whole.
The event was organized by the Equal Rights for All PAC, in collaboration with the Silicon Valley Chinese Association, Better Cupertino, and the Business and Housing Network.
Currently, the Equal Rights for All PAC is actively fundraising to install yard signs supporting Proposition 36 in areas heavily impacted by “zero bail” policies across the state, increasing awareness of the proposal’s importance among voters. So far, residents of 18 cities in the Bay Area have displayed these yard signs in their own yards.