STEVE MANOS
CITY OF Mayor
BRIAN TIDALE
LAKE COLSINORE Mayor Pro Tem
DREAM EXTREME NATASHA JOHNSON
Council Member
BOB MAGEE
Council Member
TIMOTHY J. SHERIDAN
Council Member
SENT VIA EMAIL
April 19, 2024
Californians for Safer Communities
[email protected]
Re: Letter in Support of the "Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act" Initiative 23-0017A1)
Dear Coalition Members,
Please accept this letter from the Lake Elsinore City Council in support of "The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act".
With the passage of Prop 47 in November 2014, many communities throughout the State, experienced an increase in Part I crimes and equally alarming, an increase in repeat offenders. Prop 47 reclassified certain types of felonies to misdemeanors, including drug crimes and all retail theft under $950. Prop 47 authorized defendants serving sentences for felony offenses that would have qualified as misdemeanors under the proposition to petition courts for re-sentencing. It authorized defendants to retroactively apply their new reclassified convictions to past sentences, resulting in reduced sentencing. Prop 47 has had negative impacts on communities like Lake Elsinore, due to a lack of accountability, which has resulted in higher crime, homelessness, drug addiction, and theft from our local businesses.
The City of Lake Elsinore has continued to prioritize safety for our residents, businesses, and visitors. We realize that the laws must adapt to the circumstances we see on our streets today. Retail theft and drug offenders repeat their crimes without any accountability or consequence.
951.674.3124
130 S. MAIN STREET
LAKE ELSINORE, CA 92530
WWW.LAKE-ELSINORE.ORG
Support Letter for Initiative 23-0017A1
April 19, 2024
Consequences act as a deterrent while at the same time, this measure prioritizes effective drug treatment and rehabilitation programs.
This ballot measure will provide the tools our city needs to improve community safety, which is why we are supporting the "Homeless, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act".
The new proposed measure aims at reforming laws that have dramatically increased homelessness, drug addiction, and theft throughout California. Drug and mental health treatment for people who are addicted to hard drugs such as fentanyl will be provided under this new measure, as well as increased penalties for people who repeatedly engage in theft. The initiative will reduce crime, restore accountability for repeat theft offenders, incentivize those who possess hard drugs to receive treatment and face stricter punishment and address the fentany! crisis.
Thank you for your valuable time and attention to this correspondence.
Sincerely,
Steve Manos
Mayor
City of Lake Elsinore
cc: Honorable Senator Kelly Seyarto, 32nd District
Honorable Assemblymember, Bill Essayli, 63rd District