Mom Bares All: ‘Our Son is a Product of the Failed Prop 47’

Ten years of increased drug and serial theft crimes across California has taken its toll on the state’s residents and businesses. Because of Proposition 47, there is no accountability when it comes to these crimes, theft is underreported and some stores are even told not to report theft crimes. Drug crimes are not prosecuted, nor are drug addicts getting the help they need. But help is on the way – a proposed ballot initiative to amend Prop. 47 is currently collecting signatures for the November 2024 ballot.

A California Globe reader recently sent me an email about the effort to heavily amend Proposition 47 via ballot initiative, and how close to home the failed initiative has hit her family. I have met this woman and worked with her some years ago on issues in her region of the state.

What she had to say was like a gut punch:

“I follow you on the social media sites and enjoy your articles. The most recent article about, ‘Prop 47 being Cataclysmic,’ hit home and is spot-on,” she said.

“You could say, our son is a product of the failed Prop 47.  Not sure if he would benefit from jail time or not, but something needs to be done or else he might end up dying on the streets,” she said.

“I have sent letters to all of the Assembly members on the Public Safety Committee and those on the Select Committee on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction, and Overdose Prevention.”

“I received a very nice response letter from Assemblyman Juan Alanis, Vice Chair on Public SafetyCommittee, after mailing my first round of letters. The second round of letters were sent a few days ago to the Select Committee.

“I sent cover letters to all the representatives with the letter I am sharing with you regarding our broken criminal justice system.

“I wanted to let them hear from the voice of a very concerned mom.

“The latest information I have found was a recently passed bill, SB 43 (attached). This bill might help our son. (The Governor’s office says The law updates the definition for those eligible for conservatorship to include people who are unable to provide for their personal safety or necessary medical care, in addition to food, clothing, or shelter, due to either severe substance use disorder or serious mental health illnesses.)

“Not sure exactly why I’m sharing this with you,  but I know you’re frustrated with the homelessness problem and all that goes hand-in-hand with it, like so many others.

She said she hoped that sharing her family’s experiences might be insightful to others. She asked that I refrain from using their names. She continued:

“So many homeless drug addicts on the streets these days with many of them having co-occuring conditions.

“We know that there is crime associated with the homeless drug addicts, but due to Prop 47, many of crimes committed by these individuals are considered misdemeanors and they just cite and release them so they can return to the streets to do more drugs and commit more crime. It’s a vicious circle without anything being accomplished.

“Two new programs are being implemented in our County of San Bernardino; CARE Court Act and Laura’s Law. Both programs address the mental illness issues. It will be a few months before either of the programs will be up and running. Both programs involve the court system, which I’m afraid there could be a backlog in that process too.

“A new bill was recently passed SB43, which might help with our son’s situation, and others like him. I guess time will tell.”

“Our son is not thinking rationally because of the darn drugs. This is why we are trying to step-in and take charge, but then their civil liberties always come into the mix.”

She attached a video interview (below) Siyamak Khorrami with the Epoch Times did with El Dorado District Attorney Vern Pierson on California Insider, in which they discuss how the state ended up where we are with the escalating crime, and homeless drug addicts living on the streets, and what can be done to fix it.

“CA Insider” videos that explains our son’s situation to a tee, and the many others like him,” she said.

“Housing these types of individuals before they receive treatment, is not the solution (discussed in one of the videos), which some cities are trying to do to clear the streets.”

As the Globe has reported, Proposition 47, was passed by tragically misinformed voters in 2014, and flagrantly titled “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” by then Attorney General Kamala Harris, which reduced a host of serious felonies to misdemeanors, including drug crimes, date rape, and all thefts under $950, even for repeat offenders who steal every day.

Prop. 47 also decriminalized drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, removed law enforcement’s ability to make an arrest in most circumstances, as well as removing judges’ ability to order drug rehabilitation programs rather than incarceration.

The commensurate escalation of crime throughout California is stunning, and especially serial theft, used by many to feed a drug habit. There is no coincidence that during this same time period, the exponential escalation of homeless vagrants and drug addicts on the streets occurred.

The proposed ballot initiative to amend Prop. 47 is currently collecting signatures for the November 2024 ballot. There are petition signing events across the state.

In addition to DA Vern Pierson, Yolo DA Jeff Reisig, elected prosecutors and law enforcement officials across the state, and Mayors, along with a bevy of volunteers, Rep. Kevin Kiley has been a stalwart on getting the word out about Fix 47, and has a link to request a petition by mail:

“We’re nearing the final month of signature gathering for the initiative to end Prop. 47. Request a petition at http://End47.com and we’ll mail it to you. Every signature counts. This is our chance to stop rampant crime and return sanity to California.”

We're nearing the final month of signature gathering for the initiative to end Prop. 47. Request a petition at https://t.co/CKrrYorr6d and we'll mail it to you.

Every signature counts. This is our chance to stop rampant crime and return sanity to California.

— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) March 14, 2024

Read more about how Prop. 47 has been cataclysmic for California here: When Will Democrats Admit California’s Prop. 47 Has Been Cataclysmic? Make crime illegal again.

You can read more about Fix Prop. 47 here: “California Ballot Initiative Collecting Signatures to Make Crime Illegal Again”

We are expecting thousands of people at our drive through “Californians for Safer Communities/Fix Prop 47” petition signing event tomorrow, March 14, in Roseville, CA. Join Mayors, Sheriffs, District Attorneys and other community leaders from noon until 6 pm at The Roseville Auto… pic.twitter.com/mnUkKCnHwH

— Jeff Reisig (@jeffreisig) March 14, 2024

The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, campaign reports that a survey of likely California voters found that 70% of voters support the title and summary of the Homeless, Drug Addiction, Retail Theft Reduction Act. The overwhelming support was consistent across every demographic and geography including the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Furthermore, 89% of likely voters support amending Proposition 47 for stronger penalties for those engaged in repeated retail theft and trafficking hard drugs like fentanyl.