HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - No. 2014-182RESOLUTION NO. 2014-182
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
OPPOSING CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 47 (CRIMINAL
SENTENCES. MISDEMEANOR PENALTIES. INITIATIVE
STATUTE.) ON THE NOVEMBER 4, 2014 BALLOT
WHEREAS, California Proposition 47, the "Criminal Sentences. Misdemeanor Penalties.
Initiative Statutue." referred to by proponents as the "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act", has
qualified for the November 4, 2014 Statewide General Election; and
WHEREAS, the proponents of this measure concede that Proposition 47 will make up to
10,000 felons eligible for early release; and
WHEREAS, with the implementation of Public Safety Realignment in 2011, which altered
sentencing policy by shifting all newly convicted non-violent, non -serious, non -sex offenders to
county supervision, there is currently a significantly diminished population of non-violent offenders in
California's prisons, and there is a legitimate question as to how many of the 10,000 inmates eligible
for early release could be classified as high-risk for committing subsequent violent offenses; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 47 contains provisions re-classifying a host of felony offenses or
felony/misdemeanor offenses as simple misdemeanors, representing sweeping sentencing reform
that would be better accomplished through the state legislative process; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 47 would redefine grand theft in such a way that theft of a firearm
would be considered a misdemeanor unless the value of the gun was greater than $950, and the
overwhelming majority of new handguns sold in California retail for significantly less than that
amount; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 47 would reduce the penalty for possession of illicit drugs, including
drugs used to facilitate date -rape, to a simple misdemeanor; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 47 may further burden our local criminal justice systems by shifting
responsibility for additional categories of offenders to already overcrowded county jails.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Lodi does
hereby oppose California Proposition 47, the "Criminal Sentences. Misdemeanor Penalties. Initiative
Statutue." on the November 4, 2014 ballot.
Date: October 1, 2014
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2014-182 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City
Council in a regular meeting held October 1, 2014, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hansen, Johnson, Mounce, and
Nakanishi
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Mayor Katzakian
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
NNIFER BISON
City Clerk
2014-182