Kevin Faulconer Holds Media Availability on Crime                                     ...back >
Sept. 9, 2021 - Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer held a media availability focusing on crime in front of the Los Angeles Court, Metropolitan Branch on S. Hill St. in Los Angeles.  Faulconer said he is "ready to bring Democrats, Republicans and Independents together, just like I did as Mayor of San Diego."  Faulconer was joined by former San Diego Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman, Covina City Councilman Walter Allen, and retired San Francisco police officer and Crime Victims United board member Mike Favetti.  Two of the other leading Republican recall candidates, John Cox and Larry Elder have also held media events on crime in recent days.
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California legislators and voters have been grappling with changes to criminal sentencing for a decade.  Speaking this event, Zimmerman and Allen were sharply critical of provisions of Proposition 47, the "Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative," approved by California voters in 2014 (1, 2).  Allen noted that that California League of Cities had opposed Proposition 47 but "it passed anyway because of misinformation to the public."  Allen said Prop. 47 had undercut the drug court program.  Additionally in 2016 voters approved Proposition 57, the "Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements Initiative," which Allen said "continued the downslide of public safety in California."  Allen also pointed to AB109 California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011.  Allen said that, "Now, none of the drug offenders are being prosecuted.  They're cited out, and then repeat offend, and nothing's happening."  Zimmerman added, "There are no incremental penalties under Prop. 47 so what used to be a felony if you were using methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, other dangerous drugs—it used to be a felony...  It literally has caused the near death of drug court, which is an incredibly successful program that is not successful anymore because of this misguided legislation that was voted on because of misinformation that is out there.  There are no incremental penalties.  So it's a misdemeanor and a ticket, the first day, you're using methamphetamine, the 30th day, the 40th day, and that's all it is and so it really has enabled the drug offender to stay drug addicted."  In Nov. 2020 voters defeated Proposition 20, the "Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative," which Zimmerman said would have modified the "worst parts" of Proposition 47 and Proposition 57.