A coalition of activists said Thursday that it will submit over 900,000 voter signatures to qualify an anti-theft and drug measure for the November general election.
To qualify the measure — a response to 2014’s Proposition 47, which reduced penalties for certain nonviolent crimes with plans to shift the savings from incarceration to rehabilitation programs — for the November ballot, the law requires just 546,651 valid signatures.
The Californians for Safer Communities Coalition made the announcement in San Diego and in coordinated press conferences across the state.
Once the petitions are filed with the elections offices in San Diego County and beyond, the submissions trigger a process that involves the Secretary of State’s Office and verification that signatures came from registered voters. If enough are validated, the measure will make the ballot.
The coalition — backed by the mayors of Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Escondido, Coronado, Chula Vista, National City, Oceanside, Poway, El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee — is made up of small business owners, social justice leaders and community organizations.
Retailers such as Target and Walmart have pumped millions into the effort to place the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act on the ballot.
The initiative focuses on accountability measures for repeat theft offenders and those who traffic in drugs like fentanyl, while incentivizing and encouraging individuals to participate in and complete drug treatment programs, according to the coalition.
Backers maintain that the measure creates a deterrent for repeat offenders and redirects addicts towards treatment rather than incarceration.
They also argue that Proposition 47 led to unintended consequences over the past decade, including repeat and often organized retail theft ad inner-city store closings.
In addition, according to the coalition, the proposed ballot measure will deter smash-and-grab offenders who are driving up costs, with the potential to chase retailers out of state.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, in a statement, said that “responsible reform” is needed.
“This is a balanced, commonsense initiative that addresses the fentanyl crisis by going after drug dealers who are killing our loved ones and imposes stronger penalties for repeat offenders of organized retail theft, which is hurting far too many families and local businesses,” she said.
Californians for Safety and Justice, which sought and backed Prop. 47, has criticized the new tough-on-crime effort “as the wrong approach.”
— Staff and wire reports