Tom Wolf, Recovery Advocate, Calls for Prop 47 Reform, Urges Support for Prop 36
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (August 30, 2024) – Yesterday, The Voice of San Francisco published a column, “Why do we need Proposition 47 reform? It’s the drugs, stupid,” by Tom Wolf, a recovery advocate and director of West Coast Initiatives for the Foundation For Drug Policy Solutions. The piece highlights the growing calls for reform to Proposition 47. The column explains that since the implementation of Proposition 47, there has been a noticeable increase in open-air drug use and property crimes, with communities and local businesses feeling the strain.
Law enforcement officials and local governments are pushing for changes, citing the need for a balance between criminal justice reform and public safety. As crime remains a major concern for voters, the political landscape is shifting, with growing support for common-sense reforms to Proposition 47 that address these challenges.
Highlights from Tom Wolf’s column are below. You can read the full piece here on The Voice of San Francisco website.
“It is estimated that more than 5,000 people are on the street on Skid Row and 4,000 in just two neighborhoods in San Francisco. And if half or more are struggling with addiction or mental illness, we’re going to have problems. And I don’t just mean overdose deaths, but violence, theft, assault, and trafficking… Those adverse consequences often require accountability.”
“Proposition 47 removed or reduced that accountability to the point that often police no longer respond or arrest individuals committing a misdemeanor offense when a response is exactly what they need. Proposition 36 will bring back the use of drug courts and offer the choice of drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. This will help an untold number of people on the street get a second chance at life.”
“Simply, Proposition 36 will require courts to warn people convicted of selling or providing illegal drugs to others that they can be charged with murder if they keep doing so and someone dies (Alexandra’s law). It would also require prison time for those convicted of selling or trafficking large amounts of fentanyl.”
“Proposition 47 did more harm than good. It opened the door to organized drug dealers to take hold of entire cities. Proposition 47 kept people out of county jail but failed to provide the infrastructure needed to keep them off the street.”
“Vote Yes on Proposition 36. Get people into treatment. Hold drug dealers accountable. Take your city and state back. After all, accountability is a cornerstone of recovery.”
For more information, please visit VoteYesProp36.com.
