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9/1/2024 <br />Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />ecommentaa .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 />Underground GRIT promotes change in prisons, jails, and juvenile institutions through <br />innovative in -reach and transformative re-entry services. Underground GRIT provides a voice to <br />men, women, and youth who have been system impacted and who are breaking cycles <br />perpetuated by trauma. Through our personal and professional experiences, we recognize the <br />gaps in our system, and the needs of our most vulnerable individuals and families. we realize the <br />importance of working with each member to create independent, empowering care solutions that <br />fits their unique needs. <br />Underground GRIT urges you to vote NO on Item 21, the resolution supporting Proposition 36. <br />Approving this resolution will have harmful consequences for the City of Santa Ana's (City) <br />most vulnerable communities and roll back years of progress in criminal justice reform. <br />Proposition 36's punitive approach will not only lead to increased incarceration but will <br />disproportionately affect communities of color and perpetuate racial inequities in our justice <br />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 />1 Koseff, Alexei, Prop. 47's Impact on California's Criminal Justice System. KQED (2024), <br />https://www.kQed.org/news/11975692/prob-47s-impact-on-californias-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.or�,Y/publication/proposition-47s-impact-on-racial-disparity-in-criminal justice -outcomes/ <br />1914 W. Orangewood Ave Suite 101, Orange, CA 92$68 <br />(714) 345- 2299 i nfo a@u ndergrou ndgrit. org www.undergroundgrit.org <br />GROWING DAILY REGAINING INDEPENDENCE. INVESTING IN FUTURE GENERATIONS. TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY <br />