2008 California Proposition 6

none the 1998 animal welfare legislative initiative California Proposition 6 (1998) the 1978 attempt to ban gay schoolteachers in California public schools Briggs Initiative the 2018 transportation repeal measure California Proposition 6 (2018) California Proposition 6, also known as the Safe Neighborhoods Act and The Runner Initiative, is a statutory initiative that appeared on the November 2008 ballot in California. This proposition was rejected by voters on November 4 of that year. Proposition 6 would have placed additional penalties on gang related and drug crime. Provisions of Prop 6 Proposition 6 would: Require new state spending on various criminal justice programs, as well as for increased costs for prison and parole operations. This funding is equivalent to 0.3% of California's General Fund. Authorize prosecution as an adult (rather than in juvenile court, if a juvenile court judge consents) of any youth 14 years old or older who has been convicted of a gang-related felony. Require that all occupants who are recipients of public housing subsidies submit to annual criminal background checks and lose housing if convicted of a recent crime in order to free up housing for non-criminals. Increase penalties for several crimes, including violating gang injunctions, using or possessing to sell methamphetamine, or carrying loaded or concealed firearms by certain felons. Eliminate bail for illegal immigrants charged with violent or gang-related felonies. Establish as a crime the act of removing or disabling a monitoring device affixed as part of a criminal sentence. Change evidence rules to allow use of certain hearsay statements as evidence when witnesses are made unavailable due to actions by the defendant.Legislative Analyst's Office's Report Requires a 3/4 vote to amend. Estimated fiscal impact The California Legislative Analyst's Office has arrived at the following summary of Prop. 6's estimated costs: Net state costs likely to exceed a half billion dollars annually primarily for increased funding of criminal justice programs, as well as for increased costs for prison and parole operations. Unknown one-time state capital outlay costs potentially exceeding a half billion dollars for prison facilities. Unknown net fiscal impact for state trial courts, county jails, and other local criminal justice agencies. Funds to pay for these costs, should Prop. 6 pass, will come from 0.3% of California's general fund.ca.gov https://web.archive.org/web/20081019052841/http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/BudgetSummary/SUM/1249561.html 2008-10-19 "California's Budget 2008" California Department of Finance In the current California state budget, $600 million (0.6%) is set aside to assist with local law enforcement. If the initiative passes, an additional $350 million (0.3%) will be required to enforce some of its provisions.http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/runner_4259___article.html/initiative_safe.html Runners support initiative against gender law, Daily Press, Dec. 30, 2007 2008-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20081121111907/http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/runner_4259___article.html/initiative_safe.html 2008-11-21 dead Authors of Prop. 6 Three-Strikes Law Author Mike Reynolds San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitthttp://www.sbcounty.gov/bosd4/default.asp Supervisor Gary Ovitt 2008-10-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081114223738/http://www.sbcounty.gov/bosd4/default.asp 2008-11-14 dead California State Senator George Runnerhttp://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/17/ Senator George Runner 2008-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20081007103427/http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/17/ 2008-10-07 dead http://www.cagop.org/index.cfm/capitol-update_285.htm A Message From Senator George Runner, Oct. 27, 2008 2008-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20081008235153/http://www.cagop.org/index.cfm/capitol-update_285.htm 2008-10-08 dead Safe Neighborhoods Statistics and Facts Supporters of Prop. 6 The name of the official campaign committee supporting Proposition 6 is the Committee to Take Back Our Neighborhoods.Prop 6 Will Smith (not to be confused with the actor of the same name)California Secretary of State National Tax Limitation Committee Crime Victims United Crime Victims Action Alliance Patricia Wenskunas, Founder, Crime Survivors, Inc. Angie Vargas, Mothers Taking Action Against Gang Violence The California State Sheriffs Association The California District Attorneys Association The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs The Peace Officers Research Association of California Los Angeles Police Protective League All 58 Sheriffs in California Arguments in favor of Prop. 6 Creates tougher punishment for gang crimes, drive-by shootings, meth distribution and victim intimidation Creates more effective and accountable intervention programs to stop young kids from joining gangs. Helps victims who have been intimidated by gang criminals It provides additional funds for victim-witness protection programs. Prohibits bail for illegal aliens who are charged with violent or gang crimes. Ensures additional funding for local police, sheriff, district attorneys and probation officers. Radio ads Excerpt of Radio Ad from the Committee to Take Back Our Neighborhoods Radio Ad from the Peace Officers Research Association of California Path to the ballot The petition drive to place the measure on the ballot was conducted by National Petition Management, at a cost of $1.022 million.Campaign expenditure details Supporters turned in over 750,000 signatures on April 25 to qualify the measure for the November 2008 ballot, and the measure was subsequently approved for the ballot.,The Appeal Democrat, Crime initiative could hit ballot https://web.archive.org/web/20080501105114/http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/initiative_63319___article.html/local_yuba.html 2008-05-01 , April 30, 2008http://www.hometownstation.com/runner-safe-neighborhoods-2008-03-18-04-23.html KHTS-AM, "Runners Looking To Target Gangs In Ballot Initiative", March 18, 2008 2008-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20091101010028/http://hometownstation.com/runner-safe-neighborhoods-2008-03-18-04-23.html 2009-11-01 dead Donors who support Prop. 6 As of July 14, 2008, eight of the largest donors to Prop. 6 included: Henry Nicholas, $1,000,000 Larry Rasmussen, $200,000 Taxpayers for George Runner and George Runner for Senate 2008, together, $89,000 Committee to Elect Gary Ovitt, $50,000 The Golden State Bail Agents Association for Public Safety, $40,000 California Association of Healthcare Underwriters, $35,000 The Pechanga Band of Mission Indians, $25,000 The Peace Officer Research Association, $25,000Details of donations to the Yes on 6 committee Nicholas, who was arraigned on June 16, 2008 and pleaded not guilty on charges that included drug use, security fraud and conspiracy and has withdrawn from active support of the initiative, though the campaign has stated they will not return his $1,000,000 contribution. Ironically he is also charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, meaning he himself would receive the tougher penalties of this initiative.http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0605082nicholas1.html "Henry Nicholas charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute"http://news.muckety.com/2008/06/13/indicted-billionaire-henry-nicholas-iii-crusaded-for-tough-penalties-for-criminals/3401 https://web.archive.org/web/20080928053502/http://news.muckety.com/2008/06/13/indicted-billionaire-henry-nicholas-iii-crusaded-for-tough-penalties-for-criminals/3401 2008-09-28 "Indicted billionaire Henry Nicholas III crusaded for tough penalties for criminals"Los Angeles Times "The Two Henry Nicholases" Los Angeles Times "Initiative sponsor in spotlight" http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/013300.html https://web.archive.org/web/20081012160233/http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/013300.html 2008-10-12 "Nicholas pleads not guilty" Opposition to Prop. 6 The official committee opposing Proposition 6 is known as No on Propositions 6 & 9, Communities for Safe Neighborhoods and Fiscal Responsibility. California Democratic Party The California Professional Firefighters, The California Labor Federation, Former Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks, The California Teachers Association, The California National Organization for Women, The Los Angeles City Council, The League of Women Voters, California Church IMPACT The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.http://www.defeatrunner.org/?p=ourpartners List of Prop 6 opponents 2008-10-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20080909071923/http://www.defeatrunner.org/?p=ourpartners 2008-09-09 dead Arguments against Prop. 6 It diverts billions from California's schools, hospitals and childcare centers by funding failed prison and policing policies, deepening the state's ongoing budget crisis.Tabulations from a survey of California Registered Voters about the State's Budget Deficit http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2008/06/09/16/0609tabs.source.prod_affiliate.4.pdf Field Research Corporation https://web.archive.org/web/20200904041453/http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2008/06/09/16/0609tabs.source.prod_affiliate.4.pdf 2020-09-04 2008-06-10 dead It targets youth for adult incarceration by deeming any youth 14 years or older who is convicted of a "gang-related" felony must be tried as an adult. It targets poor people by requiring recipients of public housing subsidies to submit to annual criminal background checks and withdrawing the housing subsidies of people with recent criminal convictions. It targets illegal aliens by denying bail to those that are charged with violent or gang-related crimes and requires local sheriffs to inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the arrests. Individuals who are not affiliated with gangs are listed in gang databases and may be falsely prosecuted under this provision.http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/07-07_Ch3_GangWars_GC-PS-AC-JJ.pdf Gang Wars: The Failure of Enforcement Tactics and the Need for Effective Public Safety Strategies, Loren Siegel, 2003 2008-10-08 2020-09-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20200904030925/http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/07-07_Ch3_GangWars_GC-PS-AC-JJ.pdf dead Donors who oppose Prop. 6 The name of the official campaign committee opposing Prop. 6 is No on Propositions 6 & 9, Communities for Safe Neighborhoods.http://www.defeatrunner.org/ Defeat the Runner Initiative 2008-07-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20080727013727/http://www.defeatrunner.org/ 2008-07-27 dead As of September 5, 2008, the five largest donors against Prop. 6 consisted of the Ella Baker Center and four labor unions: California Teachers Association (Labor Union), $72,805 California State Council of Service Employees (Service Employees International Union) (Labor Union), $47,805 California Federation of Teachers (Labor Union), $25,000 Ella Baker Center, $25,000 California Professional Firefighters (Labor Union), $1,950Details of donations to the No on 6 & 9 committee Newspaper endorsements Editorial boards opposed Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times, "No on Proposition 6", September 26, 2008 Results thumb|250px|Electoral results by county. Proposition 6http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/sov_complete.pdf Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election PDF California Secretary of State 2008-12-13 2009-02-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20121018225250/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/sov_complete.pdf 2012-10-18 dead 3824372 12384019 8559647 79.42 1359158 Basic information California Voter's Guide for Proposition 6 Official language Smart Voter Guide to Proposition 6 California Voter Online guide to Proposition 6 References External links Proposition 6 on Ballotpedia Yes on Prop 6, supporters of Prop. 6 Defeat the Runner Initiative, opponents of Prop. 6. Further reading State Sen. Runner throws support behind anti-gang proposition, June 27, 2008. Ella Baker Center contributes to campaigns against two propositions, July 9, 2008. 6 Category:Initiatives in the United States