SAN DIEGO — As California approaches the November ballot, the spotlight is on Proposition 36, a measure that seeks to amend the repercussions of Proposition 47, which was passed by voters a decade ago. This earlier legislation reclassified several crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, a decision that has drawn significant criticism from small business owners across the state.
Beth Booth, owner and designer of Spaces Renewed, believes that Proposition 36 presents a crucial opportunity to rectify the unintended consequences of Prop 47. “Once Prop 47 went into effect, crime basically became legal,” she asserted, emphasizing the challenges faced by local businesses in the wake of these changes.
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez echoed Booth’s concerns, stating, “Prop 47 decriminalized not only drug offenses but many theft offenses.” While the intent behind Prop 47 was to reduce prison populations, the reality has led to rising crime rates that negatively impact small business owners. “We’ve normalized drug use and theft offenses; people don’t think anything of either,” Martinez added.
Business owners are increasingly frustrated with the lack of actionable responses from law enforcement. “You can call the police all day long, but they can’t do anything, leaving business owners completely deflated,” Booth noted.
At a press conference, San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan outlined the objectives of Proposition 36. The measure aims to hold repeat offenders accountable for hard drug offenses and retail theft. “Prop 36 provides a real solution,” Stephan explained. “It maintains that a first conviction will still be treated as a misdemeanor, but upon a third conviction, offenders will face stricter consequences.”
Under the proposed law, repeat offenders would have two options: they could seek treatment for addiction and mental health issues, potentially leading to an expunged record, or face incarceration. “I hope people read the proposition thoroughly and understand that law enforcement supports it,” Sheriff Martinez stated.
However, not all organizations are on board with Proposition 36. The ACLU of Southern California has expressed opposition due to concerns about potential funding cuts for treatment programs. FOX 5/KUSI has reached out to the organization for further comment and is awaiting a response.
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