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September 17th, 2024 <br />Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />ecommentna ,santa-ana. org <br />Via Email <br />RE: OPPOSE ITEM 21: Resolution in Support of Proposition 36 <br />Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, <br />The Orange County Rapid Response Network urges you to vote NO on Item 21, the resolution <br />supporting Proposition 36. Approving this resolution will have harmful consequences for the City <br />of Santa Ana's (City) most vulnerable communities and roll back years of progress in criminal <br />justice reform. Proposition 36's punitive approach will not only lead to increased incarceration <br />but will disproportionately affect communities of color and perpetuate racial inequities in our <br />justice system. <br />Proposition 36, which seeks to undo the gains of Proposition 47, is a misguided measure that <br />emphasizes punishment over prevention. Proposition 47, passed by the voters in 2014, has saved <br />the state over $800 million', reduced racial disparities2, and directed savings toward crucial <br />services like drug treatment, mental health care, and homelessness prevention. The City has <br />directly benefited from Proposition 47's programs, with organizations like Project Kinship and <br />Neutral Ground providing essential re-entry services to help residents successfully reintegrate <br />into the community after incarceration.' These services are critical to reducing recidivism and <br />supporting public safety. <br />' Koseff, Alexei, Prop. 47's Impact on California's Criminal Justice System. KQED (2024), <br />hUs://www.kqed.org/news/I1975692/prop-47s-impact-on-califomias-criminal-justice-system <br />2 Lofstrom, Magnus., Martin, Brandon., Raphael, Steven, Proposition 47's Impact on Racial Disparity in Criminal <br />Justice Outcomes. Public Policy Institute of California (2020), <br />https://www.ppic. ore/publication/prol2osition-47 s-impact-on-racial-disparity-in-criminal-justice-outcomes/ <br />s Courtney, Leigh., Reimal, Emily., Peterson, Brynce, Urban Institute: Evaluation of Orange County's Proposition 47 <br />Grant -Related Services. Orange County Health Care Agency Report, Board of State and Community Corrections <br />(2019), https://www.bscc.ca.goy/wp-content/uploads/Orange-County-Health-Care-Agency.pdf <br />