XPost: alt.politics.elections, sac.politics, alt.los-angeles
XPost: alt.politics.immigration, alt.society.liberalism

https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/25/california-voters-demanded-action- sacramento-must-now-fund-proposition-36/

Six months ago, nearly 70% of California voters sent a clear and urgent message: they want real, lasting solutions to the overlapping crises of addiction, homelessness, and repeat crime. With overwhelming support, they passed Proposition 36 � a landmark measure that diverts low-level,
nonviolent drug offenders away from jail and into court-supervised
treatment programs that address the root causes of addiction.

As Los Angeles County District Attorney, I see every day how addiction
drives the cases that enter our justice system. Substance use disorders
fill our jails with individuals who need treatment more than punishment.
Their addictions tear families apart, contribute to chronic homelessness,
and put communities at risk. Californians understood that the status quo
wasn�t working�and they voted for a better path.

Prop. 36 represents a practical and compassionate shift in how we respond
to nonviolent drug offenses. It reflects a consensus that treatment works,
and that for many offenders, rehabilitation is a smarter, more cost-
effective alternative to incarceration. This is not new or untested. Drug courts and other diversion programs have long shown they can reduce
recidivism, save taxpayer dollars, and enhance public safety.

But our current system isn�t scaled to meet the need. Prop. 36 builds on
these proven models by expanding access to drug courts and giving
prosecutors, judges, and treatment professionals the tools they need to
hold people accountable while helping them rebuild their lives. Crucially,
it creates treatment-mandated felonies � ensuring that individuals cannot simply cycle through the system without consequences, but must finish
treatment or face sanctions.

Unfortunately, the clearly stated will of the people cannot be implemented without resources. That�s why I was alarmed to see that the Governor�s
revised $322 billion state budget, released this week, includes no funding whatsoever for Prop. 36�s treatment and diversion programs.

This is a glaring � and dangerous � oversight. Without funding, counties
will be forced to turn away eligible individuals. Existing programs will
be overwhelmed. The cycle of addiction, crime, and incarceration will
continue unbroken. And the voters who demanded change will be left with an empty promise.

To their credit, many lawmakers have shown real commitment to implementing Prop. 36 in good faith. But the governor�s budget, as currently written, undermines that progress. There�s still time to correct course � and doing
so must be a priority for the State Legislature.

This is not simply about line items or budgetary math. It is about lives. Treatment isn�t just more humane � it�s more effective. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, every dollar invested in addiction
treatment yields up to seven dollars in reduced criminal justice and
healthcare costs. People who complete treatment under court supervision
are significantly less likely to reoffend. That�s real public safety,
delivered more compassionately.

Addiction is a disease, not a character flaw. Californians know this. They believe in second chances, and in giving people the support they need to recover and contribute. Prop. 36 wasn�t just a policy reform � it was a declaration of values. And those values now demand follow-through.
To the Governor and the Legislature: I urge you to listen � to the voters,
to law enforcement, to judges, probation officers, and treatment
providers. They are ready to implement this law. But they need the
resources to do it right.

If we are serious about reducing crime and homelessness, restoring accountability, and offering hope to those caught in addiction, then we
must fully fund Prop. 36. It is fiscally smart, morally right, and overwhelmingly supported by the people of California.

Voters don�t want more rhetoric. They want results: safer streets,
healthier families, and a justice system that works for everyone. There
is still time to honor that vision.

Nathan Hochman is district attorney of Los Angeles County.


--
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

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