SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — A group of California Democrats are throwing their weight behind Proposition 36, a tough-on-crime ballot measure that has sparked division within the party. Spearheaded by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, and Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, the newly formed fundraising committee aims to promote the initiative, positioning themselves against Governor Gavin Newsom and other prominent Democrats who oppose it.

Proposition 36 seeks to roll back parts of California’s 2014 Proposition 47, which downgraded certain theft and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Supporters argue that these changes have led to a surge in crime and a worsening homelessness crisis. Mahan, a key figure in the committee, has been particularly vocal about the need to enforce stricter drug laws as a solution to these intertwined issues.

“My great fear is that by decriminalizing low-level crime, we have allowed people’s conditions to deepen and worsen,” Mahan said in an interview. “We are seeing a growing number of chronically homeless individuals whose behavioral health issues are getting more severe.”

The measure, initially seen as a conservative push, has garnered unexpected support from several Democratic mayors, including London Breed of San Francisco and Todd Gloria of San Diego. It is also backed by major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot, which have invested millions in qualifying the measure for the November ballot. These supporters believe that stronger penalties are essential to curbing retail theft and drug use, which they claim have reached unmanageable levels in California’s cities.

“Public safety is not about partisanship,” District Attorney Ho said. “Public safety, at the end of the day, is about common sense.”

Despite the growing support, Proposition 36 faces staunch opposition from Governor Newsom and other top Democrats. Newsom has argued that the measure would reverse years of criminal justice reform, leading to a surge in incarceration rates and costing taxpayers millions. “It would increase the state’s prison population at a huge cost to taxpayers,” Newsom stated, reflecting concerns that the initiative could lead to overcrowded prisons and exacerbate existing disparities in the criminal justice system.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas echoed these concerns, warning that the measure could have a particularly harsh impact on communities of color. “We know from past experience the disparities that exist in our criminal justice system,” Rivas said, highlighting the potential for increased incarceration rates among Black and Latino populations.

Proposition 36’s proponents argue that the measure is necessary to restore “accountability” for repeat offenders and address the root causes of rising crime. They contend that the current approach has left local governments struggling to manage public safety effectively. “Cities feel like they’re the first line of defense when it comes to public safety,” said Marcel Rodarte, executive director of the California Contract Cities Association, which endorsed the measure earlier this year.

However, the measure’s support is not unanimous among Democrats. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson have refrained from endorsing it, with Richardson cautioning against scapegoating Proposition 47 for the rise in crime during the pandemic. “I will likely take a position between now and November,” Richardson told Politico, noting that crime rates are beginning to decline as the state emerges from the pandemic.

As Proposition 36 heads toward what is expected to be a contentious November vote, the split among California Democrats underscores the broader debate over how to balance criminal justice reform with public safety. While its supporters see the measure as a necessary correction to recent reforms, its critics warn of a return to the era of mass incarceration that many had hoped was behind California.