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A breaking new! Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll released Thursday shows an unprecedented 73% of California voters support Prop 36, marking a significant shift in public sentiment toward criminal justice reform in the state.
Rising Crime Concerns Drive Support
The surge in support for Proposition 36, which aims to substantially modify California’s drug and theft laws, comes amid growing public concern over crime rates and retail theft. The measure represents a direct response to the controversial Proposition 47, passed in 2014, which reduced many theft and drug felonies to misdemeanors.
With public safety a huge concern in California, it’s easy to see why this has so much support,
explains Rita Walker, a pollster specializing in crime-oriented initiatives.
Voters want harsher laws against criminals, and here, they obviously think the state has been down a bad path.
Key Provisions of Proposition 36
The proposition introduces several significant changes to existing law:
- Reclassification of certain misdemeanor thefts back to felonies
- Extended felony sentences with mandatory prison time
- Implementation of a new treatment-focused court process for drug possession cases
Broad Bipartisan Support
Perhaps most striking is the measure’s ability to bridge California’s typical political divide. The latest PPIC poll reveals:
- 86% support among Republicans
- 72% support from independent voters
- 67% approval from Democrats
This broad-based support represents a rare moment of political consensus in California’s often polarized electoral landscape.
Geographic Unity
The proposition has achieved remarkable support across California’s diverse regions, with no area showing less than 70% approval. Notably, the San Francisco Bay Area, traditionally resistant to stricter criminal justice measures, now shows 73% support. This represents a significant shift from previous months, when the region reported 64% approval.
Political Opposition and Controversy
Despite the overwhelming public support, some prominent figures remain opposed. Governor Gavin Newsom has emerged as a leading critic of the measure. In a statement on the official Stop Prop 36 website, he argues:
Prop. 36 takes us back to the 1980s, mass incarceration, it promotes a promise that can’t be delivered. […] Twenty-two counties don’t have one residential treatment facility. They’re lying to you.
Unusual Political Alliances
The proposition has created unexpected political alignments, uniting:
- The California Republican Party
- San Francisco Mayor London Breed
- The California District Attorneys Association
This coalition of supporters spans traditional political and ideological boundaries, suggesting a fundamental shift in California’s approach to criminal justice.
Historical Context
The path to Proposition 36 began with the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014, which established the $950 felony/misdemeanor threshold for theft crimes. The subsequent decade saw increasing concerns about the impact of these reforms on public safety, particularly in urban areas experiencing rises in organized retail theft and “smash-and-grab” incidents.
Recent Legislative Efforts
Recent attempts by state lawmakers to address crime concerns through enhanced legislation have failed to diminish support for Proposition 36. As Walker notes:
Newsom and state Democrats tried to appease voters by passing a bunch of laws last month, but that was like trying to stop a freight train with a bicycle.
Looking Ahead
With the election just 12 days away, polling experts consider the measure’s passage virtually certain. The proposition’s 48-point lead represents one of the strongest showings for any California ballot measure in recent history.
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