(SACRAMENTO) – Assemblymember Sandré R. Swanson (D-Oakland) joined with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the California Federation of Teachers, the NAACP and California Church Impact to oppose a November ballot initiative by Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster), called the 'Safe Neighborhoods Act'.

“At a time when we’re facing this historic budget crisis, the Runner initiative is a misguided attempt to support incarceration without rehabilitation. It will directly take general fund money away from our ability to fully fund education,” Assemblymember Swanson stated.

The initiative proposes nearly $1 billion in funds for prisons, probation, and police. $600 million would be mandated from existing General Funds, with an additional $365 million to be appropriated.

Among the new regulations the initiative mandates are provisions to try juveniles over 14 years old who commit gang-related felonies as adults, and the requirement that those who receive public housing subsidies submit to annual criminal background checks.     

Jakada Imani, Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center For Human Rights, added, "Senator George Runner isn't waging a war on crime. He is waging a war on our schools, on health-care and on social services in the state. In the end, Senator Runner's initiative makes us less safe." 

“This initiative is a bold attempt to institutionalize the ineffective approaches to criminal justice that has failed to address the root causes of crime, produced a recidivism rate of 70%, and is driving is deeper into financial debt.  It will force us to throw children into prisons and throw away our ability to rehabilitate, educate and divert them from crime. I strongly oppose this initiative.” Swanson concluded.