California Proposition 36

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22                                                                                                                                          PROGRAM #10558 11:00 AM PT 

California Proposition 36. 

In 2014, Proposition 47 changed some theft and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. A new Proposition in the November ballot would allow felony charges and higher sentences for certain drug and theft crimes. Warning that serious drug addiction is driving retail theft and leading to a rise in both drug overdose deaths and homelessness in California, proponents of Proposition 36 argue that getting more people into drug treatment can help tackle retail theft, save lives, and get people off the streets. Opponents say that the measure will make the state less safe as it would fill the state’s prisons and cut resources for important public safety, public health, and rehabilitation programs. Supporters and opponents discuss the initiative.

Guests: Alejandra Ponce de León, Senior Manager for Political Voice, NO on Prop. 36, Catalyst California, City of Jurupa Valley, CA; Antonio Villaraigosa, Former Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, YES on Prop. 36, Los Angeles, CA.

California Propositions. A political journalist explains the following initiatives in the California ballot: Proposition 4 would issue $10 billion in bonds to pay for drinking water improvement, state and local parks, flood protection and other environmental projects in communities that are lower-income or affected by climate change and disasters. Proposition 32 would raise the minimum wage to $18 an hour. And Proposition 33 would expand rent control protections to keep people housed during the current housing crisis. Also, a state legislator comments on Proposition 6, a measure that would amend the state constitution to end a provision that allows jails and prisons to force incarcerated people to work, stating that it’s time to end forced labor and promote rehabilitation in California’s prison system.

Guests: Araceli Martínez, Reporter, Los Angeles, CA; Daniela Rodríguez, UC Berkeley Fellow Reporter, Radio Bilingüe, Fresno, CA; Dr. Joaquín Arámbula, State Assemblymember, D-Fresno, Fresno, CA; Michael Mendoza, Prop. 6 Consultant, “Yes on Proposition 6: Ending Modern Slavery.”

Photo: Rainer Bleek/Unsplash  

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