Sabha, Tamer
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Jessica Farris - -. -
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 3:21 PM
Sabha, Tamer; Stevenson, Garrett
Agenda Item #2 (Prop 36 resolution)--0ppose
10.1.24 ACLU SoCal Written comment for Pasadena CC Prop 36.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email frorLearn why this is important ^\] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. For more information about the Phish Alert Button view article "KB0010263" on the DolT portal.
Hello,
Ptease find my written comment for today's Legislative Committee meeting. We are urging the committee not to support Prop 36.
Thanks,
Jess
1 October 1, 2024
Via e-mail
Members of the Pasadena City Council Legislative Committee Re: Agenda Item 2- Request that the Pasadena City Council Legislative Committee oppose Proposition 36
Dear Members of the Pasadena City Council Legislative Committee:
ACLU of Southern California urges you to not to support Proposition 36 ("Prop 36).
Prop 36 is wrong for the city of Pasadena and harmful to the state of California.
Californians deserve to feel and be safe. Prop 36 is a dangerous step away from safety. It would roll back large swaths of Proposition 47 ("Prop 47"), which, by all measures, reduces incarceration without increasing crime, decreases recidivism, and delivers around 100 million dollars in annual funding for services proven to help people with addiction issues, alleviate houselessness, and reduce crime.
In Pasadena, Prop 47 dollars have helped fund Flintridge Center and Learning Work' organizations working to help people get and stay on their feet—as well as services that police, firefighters, and public health departments use for unhoused people in Pasadena and substance use disorder programs. Prop 36 could gut that funding.
Prop 36 would also add new, counterproductive, and harmful penalties which would allow third dmg possession and petty shoplifting to be charged as felonies, despite study after study showing that longer sentences do not deter crime and that just one day in jail is so destabilizing it increases the likelihood ofre-arrest.
In short. Prop 36 passing would mean fewer services proven to keep Califomians safe and more Califomians' lives devastated by incarceration and harm. "Prop. 36 is not the solution; it's a step backward," according to Santa Clara County District Attorney JeffRosen.
For all these reasons and more, Proposition 36 is opposed by Governor Newsom, the California Democratic Party, Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate Pro Tern Mike McGuires, League of Women Voters, California Nurses Association, California Teachers Association, National Union of Healthcare Workers, Disability Rights California, SEIU, Smart Justice CA, and many other elected officials and organizations.
We urge you to join the legions of Prop 36 opponents and resoundingly vote no to supporting Prop
36.
Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jessica Farris
Senior Policy Counsel
ACLU of Southern California