Mahan: Let California judges require drug treatment that ends suffering on streets
Proposition 36 would not return state to mass incarceration; it would keep people alive, out of jail and off the streets This article was originally published in the Mercury News Fentanyl and drug addiction are overwhelming California communities. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Californians aged 15-44. Addiction is fueling the homelessness crisis and creating […]
Mercury News: Statewide poll shows runaway support for Prop. 36 measure to toughen theft, drug crime penalties
This article was originally published in the Mercury News. By ROBERT SALONGA PPIC findings show ballot initiative borne out of frustration with property crime, fentanyl dealing has 71% support from likely voters A new statewide poll shows that Proposition 36, a ballot measure aimed at rolling back criminal justice reforms from the past decade and instituting harder penalties for theft and […]
California needs Prop. 36 to help bring accountability to the fentanyl crisis
By Tom Wolf This article was originally published in Cal Matters Proposition 36 qualified for the November ballot in California with over 900,000 signatures. Simply put, this ballot initiative will reform aspects of Proposition 47 that in 2014 reclassified several “quality of life” crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. The most obvious was shoplifting — where the threshold for […]
Cal Matters: It’s now significantly more deadly to be homeless. Why are so many people dying?
This article was originally published in Cal Matters. By MARISA KENDALL For many people, living on the streets of California is a death sentence. That’s according to a recent study that took the first deep look into mortality rates in homeless communities throughout the country. It found the death rate more than tripled between 2011 and 2020. […]
Sacramento leaders: Prop. 36 would begin an ‘era of mass treatment’ for drug addiction | Opinion
By: Thien Ho And Bobbie Singh-Allen This article was originally published in the Sacramento Bee In 2014, Californians enacted Proposition 47 — criminal justice reforms designed to end the era of mass-incarceration for non-violent crimes and ease prison overcrowding. Now, a decade later, we can see that for all of the good intentions in this […]
Mercury News Editorial: Prop. 36’s smart response to crime, addiction, homelessness
By: MERCURY NEWS & EAST BAY TIMES EDITORIAL Measure provides much-needed adjustment to well-intentioned criminal justice reform measure state voters passed in 2014 California faces rapidly increasing homelessness, steadily rising retail theft and a startling escalation of opioid-related deaths. The three are interconnected and must be addressed. Proposition 36 provides a thoughtful and tempered response. Voters should back the measure on […]
‘Devastated’: Longtime S.F. restaurant mourns irreplaceable vintage cash register taken in burglary
This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle By Carolyn Stein Hamburger Haven, an Inner Richmond restaurant that has been operating since 1968, was burglarized early Sunday morning with thieves taking a beloved and irreplaceable antique cash register. Owner Roozbeh Falahati described the cash register as a “centerpiece” of the establishment. “It’s been there since […]
Owner of iconic L.A. deli says he could close his doors in a week, calls on city to take action
This article was originally published in ABC 7 By Anabel Munoz LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Located across the street from MacArthur Park, Langer’s Deli just celebrated its 77th anniversary. “It is probably the best pastrami sandwich I’ve ever had,” said customer Tina Nelis. The restaurant sees a steady flow of customers throughout the day. But owner […]
Lisa Middleton: Proposition 36 is a step toward safer California communities
This article was originally posted in the OC Register By: Lisa Middleton For years, the Inland Empire has been facing a crisis of rising crime, fueled by fentanyl-related overdoses, organized retail theft, and homelessness–and it’s being felt in communities across the state. According to an analysis published last year, retail theft and commercial robbery rates […]
San Jose mayor: Prop. 47 needs to be overhauled
This article was originally published in the San Francisco Examiner By Matt Mahan Every single person reading this will likely pass by someone living, and suffering, on the streets today. I could not have said the same thing with certainty 10 years ago. Because in 2014, the rate of homelessness in California began to spike, […]