​Prop 20 is an Important First Step to Taking Back our Streets

The Oceanside Chamber recommends a vote of YES on Proposition 20 as an important first step in addressing the criminal behavior associated with homelessness on our streets… behaviors including violence and repeated acts of theft.  These behaviors have been a tremendous burden on our small businesses, a distraction they can ill afford as they focus on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposition was designed to make changes to AB 109 (2011), Proposition 47 (2014), and Proposition 57 (2016)—three measures that were each intended to reduce the state’s prison inmate population. The initiative is a measured, common-sense solution to a growing problem in California that requires sexual predators and violent offenders to serve their full sentences in prison and holds criminals accountable for repeated acts of theft.
 
Fixing the Flaws in Proposition 57

• Recent changes to parole laws under Proposition 57 allow the early release of dangerous criminals by its failure to define certain crimes as “violent.”
• Under Prop. 57, individuals convicted of sex trafficking of children, rape of an unconscious person, felony assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a police officer, and felony domestic violence are considered “non-violent" offenders.
• The Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act will reform the law so that these so-called "non-violent' crimes are re-classified as "violent" — and that felons who violate the terms of their release can be brought back to court and held accountable.
• The initiative does not put any new people in jail or prison — it simply requires those convicted of these violent crimes to complete their court ordered sentence.
• At least 13 bills have been introduced in the legislature over the past 10 years to reclassify these so-called "non-violent" crimes as "violent" — crime like sex trafficking a child, murder for hire, rape of an unconscious person, etc. The legislature has rejected them all, so this initiative is our only hope to fix this injustice.

 
Addressing Prop. 47's Crime Spree

• Prop. 47 reduced certain felonies to misdemeanors, while also raising the threshold for felony theft from $450 to $950.
• Since Prop. 47, California has seen an explosion of retail theft, smash-and-grab auto break-ins, and other misdemeanor crimes — where offenders are typically not arrested, but given a citation, thus deceptively impacting arrest rates.
• The retail, auto and property theft crimes that have increased since passage of Prop. 47 are so prevalent, many businesses and residents in communities around the state have given up reporting them, skewing crime data.
• Approximately $78 worth of property is stolen every second in California under these new laws — totaling $7.5 billion and counting since passage of Prop. 47.
• The "Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act" will fix the flaws created by Prop. 47 and restore accountability — revising the theft threshold by adding a felony for serial theft when a person is caught for the third time stealing with a value of $250.

​For More Information about Prop 20, visit https://keepcalsafe.org/about/

Here's what Oceanside’s Councilmembers are saying about Prop 20…
 
Peter Weiss, Mayor
“Safety of our people is among the City Council’s highest priorities. Proposition 20 is carefully designed to fix specific, but very serious and dangerous flaws contained in AB 109 and Propositions 47 and 57. Recent changes to parole laws allow for reduced penalties and even early release of dangerous criminals by the law’s failure to define certain crimes as ‘violent’ including individuals convicted of sex trafficking of children, rape of an unconscious person, felony assault with a deadly weapon, and felony domestic violence, to name a few. 
 
As a result, so-called ‘nonviolent’ offenders are back on the street sooner than they otherwise would be putting our cities’ residents, workers, visitors and law enforcement at greater risk.  Fortunately, Proposition 20 will help fix these problems.  Help us build a Safer California - join me in voting Yes on Proposition 20”.

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Jack Feller, Deputy Mayor
“I support Proposition 20. Between 2011 and 2016, three measures were passed that allowed early release of state inmates and drastically increased our homeless population. Passage of Prop 20 would right a wrong, keeping criminals in prison and require a DNA sample be submitted for certain misdemeanors.  The safety of our residents, families, and businesses is my priority. The public’s safety first.”

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Ryan Keim, Councilmember
“Proposition 20 is the first crucial step in an effort to address our rising crime and quality-of-life issues in California. The proposition will address some of the glaring issues and unintended consequences created by the passage Propositions 47 and 57 by ensuring violent and/or career criminals are held accountable for their actions. Oceanside residents, businesses and law enforcement have worked together to bring our crime to historically low levels and we need Prop 20 to ensure it stays that way going forward.”

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Christopher Rodriguez, Councilmember
“I fully support Yes on Prop 20. Prop 20 will fix flaws that Prop 47 and 57 plagued California with since 2014 that has greatly contributed to the homeless crisis. Crimes such as shoplifting, grand theft, and illegal drug possession will be treated as felonies again and law enforcement will have the legal tools to fight crime”.
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​Note: All Oceanside City Councilmembers were invited to submit comments. Councilmember Esther Sanchez did not respond.

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