HomeMy WebLinkAbout15. Receive and File Outreach Report - Taking Back Our Community Coalition} •IA .t r' � � r
FROM -OFFICE OFTHECITY MANAGER
BY: MARIA 1. IkIVAS, ADIONISTRATIVE AIDE
12018
SUBJECT: REPORT ON `TAKING BACK OUR COMMUNITY' COALITION OUTREACH
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council receive and file a report on the outreach for the "Taking Back our
Community" Coalition.
In January 2018, the City of Downey City Council unanimously voted to become a member of
"Taking Back Our Community," a coalition of local cities dedicated to educating the public and
improving law enforcement's ability to address the unintended consequences and public safety
threats occurring due to new legislation, including Assembly Bill 109, and Propositions 47 and
57.
A new coalition of California cities, called Taking Back Our Community, has formed to identify
solutions to some of these unintended consequences. Its stated objectives include efforts to:
- Raise public awareness of why crime is increasing
- Provide a consistent message regarding the facts and impacts of AB 109 and Props 47
and 57
- Advocate for state legislative changes to improve law enforcement's ability to respond to
crime
Staff has collaborated with the Police Department and compiled an outreach plan for the Taking
Back Our Community Coalition -- educating the community about AB109, Prop 47 and 57
legislation and how it affects our community. More importantly, informing the community how
they can help take back their community:
• Host a booth at National Night Out distributing brochure and letter templates for
residents to send to state legislators
• Social media campaign on social mediaplatforms
• Place 'h page ad in the next Parks and Recreation Guide
• Create webpage on city website with information, brochures, letter templates and three
minute informational video
The Taking Back Our Community Coalition is a positive step to mitigate the rising public safety
concerns related to changes to California's criminal justice system.
RESCIND NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL FROITTI ICRITlA
JANUARY • 2018
PAGE 2
FISCAL IMPACT
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State Capitol
PO Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0058
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During the past several years, State legislative changes have made fundamental alterations to the
fabric of California's criminal justice system. And many of those changes have been needed and
necessary, as not all crimes should be punished with jail sentences.
However, the changes that have been enacted by AB 109, Proposition 47, and Proposition 57 have
created a situation where violent and career criminals are serving little to no prison time, which has had
the effect of eroding the safety of our communities.
In fact, in California today, our criminal justice system considers the following crimes as "non- violent,"
and offenders convicted of violating such laws are able to avoid appropriate prison sentences:
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• Rape
• Corporal injury to a child
• Hate crime causing physical injury
• Assault with a deadly weapon
In addition, the State legislative changes that have Occurred during the past several years have created
an environment in California where most property crimes are now considered misdemeanors.
Furthermore, court -imposed prison sentences for serious violent crimes can now be uniformly reduced
by the State, thereby allowing career criminals the opportunity to avoid serving an adequate amount of
jail time.
The negative impacts from these State legislative changes have been far reaching, and all throughout
California, crime rates and the number of victims are skyrocketing.
Former California Attorney General Kamala Harris reported that the State experienced a 10% increase
in violent crime and an 8% increase in property crimes in 2015 when compared with 2014 levels. This
increase means that we had 92,309 more victims in California than in the prior year.
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