Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

4 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

4 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

4 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
Prop 47 Reformers Send Nearly a Million Signatures to Sacramento
Edward Smith updated website photo 2024
By Edward Smith
Published 1 year ago on
April 18, 2024
Play Video

A Prop. 47 reform measure received 900,000 signatures and appears headed to the November ballot. It is backed by many DAs, including Fresno County's Lisa Smittcamp and Tulare County's Tim Ward. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

A bipartisan group looking to undo what Proposition 47 did to California’s legal environment submitted more than 900,000 signatures in Sacramento on Thursday for the ballot measure reformers say will reduce theft, homelessness, and drug addiction.

Pamela Smith, founder of Mothers in Grief Support Group, said the reform provides treatment to drug addicts, a solution she says is desperately needed. In 2016, her son Jackson Smith died after taking a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl.

Proponents of the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act need just under 550,000 verified signatures from registered voters to qualify for the November ballot.

District attorneys throughout California said the measure gives more discretion to prosecutors and judges in penalizing criminals and creates pathways to treatment for drug addicts.

“With the submission of what we hope will be the necessary signatures for this ballot measure, Californians have quickly and decisively made their voices heard that our state needs a return to accountability,” said Tim Ward, district attorney for Tulare County. “The glaring deficiencies of Proposition 47 can only be fixed at the ballot box.”

Prop 47 Revise Returns Felony Punishments for Theft, Offers Addiction Treatment

Pamela Smith, founder of Mothers in Grief Support Group, said the reform provides treatment to drug addicts, a solution she says is desperately needed. In 2016, her son Jackson Smith died after taking a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl.

“He died that day at the age of 22,” Smith said. “So ever since then, I have been fighting this fentanyl crisis and doing as much as I can in the community to educate others on the dangers of fentanyl and the use of Narcan.”

Smith gets the medication Narcan — used to reverse drug overdoses — from the state. She attends regular conferences with government agencies such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency on drug trends.

Homeless rates increased drastically after the passage of Prop. 47. Smith said much of that can be attributed to the increase of drug addiction. Prop. 47 not only stopped thefts of goods worth less than $950 from being prosecuted as felonies, it also stopped many drug possession crimes from being prosecuted as felonies.

Under the measure, those caught in possession of hard drugs can be charged with felonies. People can choose to either go through drug rehabilitation programs or go to prison.

Smith said access to treatment can get people beyond their addiction.

“Drug addiction is not a moral failing,” Smith said. “It is a disease and they need treatment. So it’s really important and then I think what will happen is hopefully the homelessness rate will drop, the theft rate will drop because if we have less addicted, we’re going to have less problems in these areas.”

District Attorneys, Mayors, Business Leaders Back Prop 47 Reform

Carlos Mendoza owns Bird Dog Cards and Comix at Bullard and Fresno avenues. Since opening a year-and-a-half ago, he has had three break-ins.

After losing $10,000 in product, Mendoza spent another $8,000 on a retractable gate to prevent break ins at night.

“We’re just trying to build a space so families can come and enjoy card games and hang out, you know? But we have to deal with all that stuff,” Mendoza said.

The measure gives prosecutors and judges more discretion in increasing punishments to felonies. District attorneys have said the inability to threaten serious punishments for thefts incentivizes more theft.

“The overwhelming number of people who eagerly lined up to sign these petitions are speaking to the legislators in Sacramento to tell them they are not satisfied with their soft-on-crime policies and that they want repeat offenders to be held accountable by police, prosecutors, and judges,” said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.

“We are moving with great momentum to the November ballot, where Californians will have their chance to vote for change.”

Huge Election Issue Across California

California’s approach to crime is poised to be a major political issue in November’s election. Beyond the ballot measure, Democratic San Francisco Mayor London Breed faces a tough reelection bid against competitors who say she’s allowed the city to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price faces a recall election, and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón faces a challenger who has criticized his progressive approach to crime and punishment.

Top Democratic state leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have repeatedly shut down calls to repeal Proposition 47. Newsom argued California already has tools to sufficiently go after criminals and urged lawmakers to bolster existing laws and go after motor vehicle thefts and resellers of stolen merchandise. Lawmakers have introduced a slew of bills aiming to tackle retail theft and online resellers.

Opponents of the ballot initiative called the effort a misinformation campaign by giant retailers that would undo criminal justice progress in the state.

(Associated Press contributed to this article.)

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Trump Executive Order Seeks End to Wind and Solar Energy Subsidies

DON'T MISS

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

DON'T MISS

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

DON'T MISS

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

DON'T MISS

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

DON'T MISS

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

DON'T MISS

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

DON'T MISS

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

UP NEXT

Trump Executive Order Seeks End to Wind and Solar Energy Subsidies

UP NEXT

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

UP NEXT

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

UP NEXT

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

UP NEXT

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

UP NEXT

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

UP NEXT

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

UP NEXT

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

UP NEXT

Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July

Edward Smith,
Multimedia Journalist
Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

1 hour ago

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

1 hour ago

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

1 hour ago

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

2 hours ago

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

2 hours ago

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

3 hours ago

Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July

3 hours ago

US Proposes Rules That Could Boost Oil, Gas Output in US West

4 hours ago

Trump Administration Acknowledges Lack of Evidence From Epstein Documents

4 hours ago

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV – President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for White House talks on Monday, while I...

5 minutes ago

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 7, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
5 minutes ago

Netanyahu Meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas Discuss Ceasefire

A wind farm is shown in Movave, California, U.S., November 8, 2019. (Reuter File)
39 minutes ago

Trump Executive Order Seeks End to Wind and Solar Energy Subsidies

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testifies before a Senate Appropriations hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump's budget request for the Department of Education, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

US Threatens California With Legal Action Over Transgender Sports Law

United States Department of Veterans Affairs logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

A group of search and rescue workers paddle a boat in the Guadalupe River in the aftermath of deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 7, 2025. (Reuters/Sergio Flores)
1 hour ago

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

1 hour ago

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

Attendees visit the 23andMe booth at the RootsTech annual genealogical event in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., February 28, 2019. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

California Fails to Stop 23andMe Founder From Re-Acquiring Company

Jose Efrain Guardado, 32, was arrested Thursday, July 3, 2025, at an Atwater Walmart after repeatedly evading law enforcement and now faces multiple felony charges. (Madera County SO)
2 hours ago

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend