The San Diego Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Terra Lawson-Remer, have voted to study Proposition 36 rather than support it. On August 27, 2024, in a 3-2 partisan vote, the Board kicked the can down the road rather than endorse a common-sense criminal reform that 71% of Californians support. At the September 24 Supervisor meeting, Terra Lawson-Remer stated, “We don’t need Prop 36.” When our elected leaders don’t support the people’s wishes, San Diegans have a right to ask why.
Video Clip: Terra Lawson-Remer “We don’t need Prop 36”
In that spirit, former Mayor Kevin Faulkner has criticized Terra Lawson-Remer’s delay and now opposition to endorsing Prop 36. Faulkner, who is running to replace Lawson-Remer, slammed the supervisor for opposing “the most important criminal reform measure that’s on the ballot in California…Prop 36 is essential to getting California back on track.” Supervisor Lawson-Remer countered that Faulkner, like Donald Trump, deals in deceit and not facts.
The voters of California will decide the facts for themselves and what’s in their own best interests for public safety this November. And the facts speak very clearly for themselves.
California’s 2024 ballot brings voters a pivotal opportunity to address two of the most pressing issues facing our communities: rising smash-and-grab crimes and the deadly surge of fentanyl. Proposition 36, a common-sense measure, represents a clear path forward, offering stronger penalties, more resources for law enforcement, and proactive efforts to curb these crises. This initiative deserves our collective support as it prioritizes both safety and accountability while protecting vulnerable communities from being further victimized.
Prop 36 aims to reform the mistakes of Proposition 47 passed in 2014. Prop 47 sought to reduce penalties for non-violent crimes and thereby reduce the burdens and costs of overcrowding in California prisons. It made all personal property theft under $950 a misdemeanor, and decriminalized certain drug possessions. In San Diego, the Police Department reported a 12% increase in shoplifting cases just one year after the law went into effect, and 28% over the last five years. With drug possession downgraded to a misdemeanor, law enforcement has found it difficult to detain and hold habitual offenders accountable.
In 2014, we did not have smash and grab crimes, nor did we have the scourge of fentanyl, a deadly drug that has since eviscerated our sons and daughters. California voters have paid attention.
To that point, in September 2024, The Public Policy Institute of California released a poll that found 71% of Californians across the political spectrum support and intend to vote for Proposition 36. 85% of Republicans said they would vote yes on the measure, as would 73% of Independents and 63% of Democrats. Why? Could voters have tired of seeing mobs of shoplifters rampaging through jewelry stores and malls, smashing and grabbing goods with impunity? Or perhaps they can only shake their heads at how small businesses must close due to the decriminalization of theft, or how grocery stores and pharmacies must raise their prices to cover their losses. As if inflation and gas taxes in California don’t already burden the family budget…
Curbing the Smash-and-Grab Epidemic
Proposition 36 reimposes felonies for repeat offenders; right now, any theft under $950 equates to a misdemeanor, and the justice system has no authority to prosecute those who have repeated the same crimes.
Prop 36 takes a direct approach to combating this surge in theft. By enhancing penalties for these types of crimes and ensuring that organized retail theft is treated with the seriousness it warrants, this measure delivers a much-needed response to offenders who currently exploit loopholes in our legal system. However, it goes beyond punishment. The proposition also provides resources for local law enforcement, allowing them to better coordinate and respond to these large-scale criminal operations. This is critical for sending a message that crime will not be tolerated and that justice will be served.
For small business owners and workers, the passage of Prop 36 would mean renewed peace of mind. It reassures our local businesses that their contributions to the economy and community will be safeguarded, giving them the confidence to thrive without the constant threat of criminal activity.
Taking on the Fentanyl Crisis
Proposition 36 aims to curb the trafficking of fentanyl by imposing felonies on those who sell the deadly drug. The measure focuses on serious and violent offenses. By keeping repeat offenders accountable, it ensures that those who pose a threat to public safety get properly detained, it stills allows room for rehabilitation of nonviolent offenders.
Californians have also taken notice of the deadly effects and rising death rates caused by the drug fentanyl. Fentanyl is up to 40 times more addictive than heroin, and now has become the leading cause of death among 18–35-year-olds. Mexican cartels manufacture the drug to look like ordinary pain medications. China sells the precursors to the cartels, who also lace recreational drugs with the poison.
Over 710,000 Americans have died from fentanyl overdoses. Because California shares a border with Mexico, and our border patrol has become overwhelmed by processing illegal immigrants at what amounts to an open border, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have used this opportunity to flood our state with fentanyl.
The fentanyl epidemic has wreaked havoc on California, claiming thousands of lives, devastating families, and straining our healthcare system. This deadly synthetic opioid has become a public health emergency, with overdose rates soaring in recent years. Prop 36 takes decisive action to combat the fentanyl crisis, strengthening penalties for those who traffic and distribute this lethal drug while also enhancing public education and intervention programs aimed at prevention.
Critically, this proposition strikes a balance by focusing its toughest penalties on large-scale traffickers and dealers, rather than targeting individuals who are struggling with addiction. By going after those who profit off others’ misery, Prop 36 sends a strong message that California will no longer tolerate the distribution of this deadly substance.
At the same time, the measure invests in drug treatment programs, recognizing that addiction is a health issue that requires support and rehabilitation. This dual approach of punishment for traffickers and treatment for those suffering from addiction demonstrates the measure’s nuanced and humane approach to the problem. It addresses the root causes of addiction while holding those responsible for fueling the epidemic accountable.
A Vote for Public Safety and Justice: We Muat Hold Lawson-Remer Accountable
Prop 36 offers a rare opportunity for Californians to make a meaningful impact on the safety of our streets and the future of our communities. It targets two of the most dangerous and destabilizing issues we face—smash-and-grab crimes and fentanyl distribution—by offering real solutions grounded in justice, fairness, and the protection of vulnerable populations. Contrary to Supervisor Lawson-Remer’s conclusion, we do need proposition 36.
This proposition is not about expanding punitive measures indiscriminately; it’s about ensuring that our justice system works for everyone, including the victims of crime, the small businesses trying to recover from theft, and the families devastated by the fentanyl epidemic. By supporting Prop 36, San Diegans can send a clear message that Californians have committed to creating safer, healthier communities for all.
