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RESOLUTION NO, 2024-050 <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF <br />SANTA ANA IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 36: THE <br />HOMELESSNESS, DRUG ADDICTION, AND THEFT <br />REDUCTION ACT INITIATIVE <br />WHEREAS, the safety and security of the residents of Santa Ana is of utmost <br />importance to the City Council; and <br />WHEREAS, Proposition 36, an Initiative Statute qualified for the November 5, <br />2024, ballot, proposes to increase penalties for certain theft and drug -related crimes; and <br />WHEREAS, under current law, Proposition 47 (approved by voters in 2014) <br />reduced the punishments for some theft and drug crimes, changing certain felonies into <br />misdemeanors; and <br />WHEREAS, Proposition 36 will address this issue by turning some misdemeanors <br />back into felonies, specifically targeting repeat offenders who have two or more past <br />convictions for theft crimes such as shoplifting, burglary, or carjacking, thereby enhancing <br />public safety by deterring habitual criminal behavior; and <br />WHEREAS, Proposition 36 includes provisions to increase penalties for property <br />crimes involving multiple offenders and provides that certain sentences for drug offenses, <br />such as the sale of dangerous substances like fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and <br />methamphetamine, be served in state prison, rather than county jail, to ensure that these <br />serious crimes are met with appropriate consequences; and <br />WHEREAS, Proposition 36 also introduces a new court process for individuals <br />charged with a "treatment -mandated felony" focused on treatment for individuals <br />convicted of drug possession crimes who have a history of drug offenses, offering them <br />rehabilitation and treatment options as an alternative to incarceration, thus balancing <br />enforcement with opportunities for recovery; and <br />WHEREAS, the Santa Ana City Council recognizes the need to give the courts <br />tools to address the rising concerns about illegal drug distribution, including a provision <br />within Proposition 36 that mandates a warning to individuals convicted of drug distribution <br />that they may face murder charges if their actions lead to a fatality in the future; and <br />WHEREAS, supporting Proposition <br />enhancing public safety and addressing the <br />combination of enforcement and treatment. <br />36 reflects the City's commitment to both <br />root causes of drug -related crimes through a <br />Resolution No. 2024-050 <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />