Governor should ‘wake up’ and support the will of California voters, advocates say

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – State lawmakers, law enforcement, and district attorneys say they need more money to ensure a proposition passed by the voters actually makes a difference.

They are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to fully fund Prop 36 after nearly 70% of voters backed it last November.

For the last six months, anyone with two prior theft or drug-related charges has been eligible to receive a felony for their next offense. The law also mandates that repeat drug offenders undergo state-funded mandatory treatment.

“When it comes to the governor and his priority, when it comes to the will of the people is zero,” said State Senator Roger Niello.

Frustration and disappointment are the messages from lawmakers in Sacramento, after it was announced on Monday that the state will only fund Prop 36 with a one-time payment of $100 million.

That is far short of the $400 million requested each year that supporters say is needed to fund the mandatory treatment required by the law.

Without the money, Central Valley DAs say the bill for the mandatory rehabilitation will fall on the counties and their partners.

“We do have really good partnerships and people are trying to make things work; however, they can only ask for so long, there are only so many beds available,” said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.

Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward says it is time for the governor to “wake up.”

“Fund efforts to entities across the state which are actually burdened with giving the treatment.”

YourCentralValley.com asked the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom for comment, but did not receive a response.

In February, the governor released a statement regarding funding for Prop 36 saying in part:

“Despite predictably increasing costs, Prop 36 did not contain any funding mechanisms. Nonetheless, the governor will ensure the law is operationalized and his proposed budget provides additional funding.”

This all comes with the fast-approaching deadline to pass next year’s state budget – while facing a $12 billion deficit.