PRISONERS ON THE STREETS. CALIFORNIA'S AB109 & PROP 47

[Karen Margrave]

The 3 Shastas (Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, Mt. Shasta) 

 When the market crashed we moved from Redding, CA to southern California, knowing that the crash was unlike any recession we had ever seen. We also knew southern California would lead a rebound. We were right. 

Redding is a beautiful area, with the Sacramento River running through it, and home to an architectural masterpiece, and mutli million dollar bridge called the Sundial Bridge. Within a short distance is Lake Shasta with over 365 miles of shoreline, Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Caverns, Burney Falls, and the mainlands only 2 active volcanoes (Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen) It should be a tourist haven, as it once was, but no more.

Redding is much like many other areas in California, reeling from the crash of the market, and crushed by the AB109 and Prop 47, both of which have released tens of thousands of criminals back onto the street, many of them violent offenders. The costs of dealing with the increase in crime are tremendous. Governor Brown would rather fund the Bullet Train than address the dangers in our small towns. The City Manager and Police Chief throw up their arms and say there's nothing they can do.

Due to the low cost of living in areas such as Redding, many of the homeless and ex cons make their way there to live off their government subsidies. The local governments are overburdened. County jails are now the new State Prison system, but state funding isn't there and local services are cut. In Redding, the Police Department can take hours to respond to calls, and the Sheriff Department is even worse as they cover hundreds of square miles with only a few Sheriffs. Thieves can walk into stores and steal, if the value is under $950 they aren't even prosecuted. Lawlessness ensues. Robberies, assaults, home break ins are common. Drug addicts in parks leave syringes on the ground, and it's unsafe for kids. The multi million dollar river trail system is a haven for transients and unsafe to use.

The larger cities are able to absorb the influx of these prisoners, and deal with the fallout. Smaller communities are not. 

QUESTIONS: 

1.  Has AB109 and Prop 47 Affected the area where you live? 

2. How?