SAN DIEGO — Mayors throughout San Diego County came together to gather signatures and inform people about a new measure they want on the November ballot. They say it's a fix to address the loopholes stemming from proposition 47.
“It really made what should be illegal … legal,” San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan said.
About a decade ago, voters passed prop 47 in California. One of its biggest components changed the line between a felony and misdemeanor. This law made it that thefts with a retail value under $950 is considered a misdemeanor.
“That was something that voters, at a time when crime was at a 40-year low in California, made a lot of sense to voters,” UC San Diego Political Science Professor Thad Kousser said.
The idea was to focus prison spending on violent and serious crimes. Supporters of the law argue it offers social justice to marginalized communities.
But since prop 47 passed, leaders have noticed some unforeseen issues. Summer Stephan says fentanyl deaths tripled, the homeless crisis has intensified and many businesses have had to close because of thefts.
“In California, homelessness has gone up by 51 percent and the researchers say it's directly tied to this proposition to this fact that there's no incentive,” Stephan said.
On Sunday, leaders informed the community about a new measure called the 'Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act'. If passed, it would better hold repeat retail thieves accountable after two or more convictions, provide addiction or mental health services for people facing felony charges and add consequences for fentanyl dealers who cause injury or death.
Local officials and business leaders hope it will get enough support and signatures to be on the ballot this fall.
“Proposition 47 was put in to solve the problem but created more problems,” Ocean Beach Business Owner, Basil Zetouna said.
Kousser talked about prop 47 and its accomplishments since it went into effect. He said that combined with the help of other policies in the state, there has been a lot less people put in prisons.
“Prop. 47 led to a lot fewer people being in state prison and it closed that racial gap between black Americans and white Americans and that the supporters of prop. 47 say was very worthwhile benefit,” Kousser said.
This measure needs nearly 550,000 signatures by mid-April to make it onto the ballot. They've collected 360,000.
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