Gavin Newsom accused of sidelining California’s tough-on-crime measure after voters’ landslide passing
California Democrats claim they’ve funded the state’s voter-approved crime crackdown, but critics say the numbers don’t add up and blasted Governor Newsom for ignoring the voter mandate.
Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, which increases penalties for repeat thieves and drug dealers, in 2024. The prop also created an option for those convicted to get mental health or substance abuse treatment through a court-mandated treatment program.
But Newsom, who opposed Prop. 36 over fears it would increase mass incarceration, has been reticent to allocate money for counties to fully enforce the law, critics said.
“Californians spoke loud and clear when they overwhelmingly passed Prop. 36 to crack down on repeat thieves and drug dealers,” said Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R). “Two years later, and Sacramento still hasn’t provided the funding needed to fully implement it.”
Last year, the governor said he put aside $100 million in that budget for Prop 36, though many said that was far from sufficient to pay for the sweeping crime crackdown, which raises costs for county law enforcement agencies and service providers.
One Republican state senator, for instance, has tried to push a bill to fully fund the proposition at $400 million.
This year, Newsom was blasted by law enforcement groups for seemingly ignoring Prop. 36 entirely in the May version of the budget.
In the final approved budget, legislative leaders claimed they appropriated $375 million for Prop 36, but budget documents only show $50 million directly for Prop 36, aimed at probation and helping courts with increased workloads from the law.
Newsom has claimed that funding for related initiatives should count as supporting the implementation of Prop. 36.
“Prop. 36 still has money from the $100 million a few years ago,” Newsom said at a budget presentation. “It still has the ability to attach billions of billions of dollars of new funding that has flooded the zone in all of these other areas that can be used to address the need.”
For instance, part of that larger total is $90 million in savings from Prop 47, a soft-on-crime ballot measure that sparked the backlash for Prop 36, the Daily Journal reported. There’s also other funding for behavioral services and pretrial services that could assist in implementing the law.
“This is money they’re pulling from other sources, and they’re saying it’s 36 money,” said Greg Totten, president of the California District Attorneys Association. “Make no mistake about it, they’re starving the funding of the initiative.”
Even some Democrats have criticized Newsom for not appropriating completely new funding dedicated to Prop 36.
“It is working. But without funding, it doesn’t go anywhere,” said Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooperon the measure. “It’s just frustrating that people are hesitant to do anything.”
The money approved last year for Prop 36 was late as well and was slowed down by a complex distribution process, according to the California State Association of Counties.
Newsom’s slow pace to commit money ignores the will of the voters, said Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R).
“The voters in California have made themselves clear. We want our leaders to prioritize public safety and safe neighborhoods,” he said. “Yet once again, we are being ignored.”
Newsom’s office told The Post in a statement that the idea Proposition 36 is unfunded is a false narrative and that there are “billions” already invested in behavioral health, treatment, housing and public safety.
“The measure created new local responsibilities without establishing its own ongoing funding source, which is why the state has already provided significant resources to help counties implement it,” a spokesperson said. “California will continue partnering with local governments to ensure they have the tools they need to protect public safety while expanding access to treatment and recovery.”
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