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CITY'S GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED IN LEGISLATION RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.AND AS OF JULY, 2024, THE CITY HAS TAKEN A POSITION ON A TOTAL OF 21 LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS CONSISTENT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RELATED TO THESE THREE CATEGORIES, SPECIFICALLY 11 PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS, NINE HOMELESSNESS RELATED BILLS, AND ONE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILL.
AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, OUR EFFORTS IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY SPACE RANGE FROM SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH THE FENTANYL MISUSE AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION TASK FORCE TO SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE POLICE OFFICERS WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR DEMENTIA.
SIMILARLY, WE TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ENGAGING IN LEGISLATION RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE THE PETS ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTED GRANTS PROGRAM TO, TOWARD GRANTS TO QUALIFIED HOMELESS SHELTERS AND QUALIFIED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS FOR FOOD AND BASIC VETERINARIAN SERVICES FOR PETS OWNED BY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR ESCAPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE RESOURCE FAMILY APPROVAL PROCESS FOR LGBT YOUTH BY REQUIRING A CAREGIVER WHO PROVIDES OUT-OF-HOME CARE FOR CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE TO DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THE CHILD'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION.
SO, PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE IN THE, UM, HOMELESSNESS SPACE AS WELL WITH REGARDS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEGISLATION.
UM, WE ALSO ENGAGED IN THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH AIMS TO EXPEDITE THE IDENTIFICATION ASSESSMENT AND LINCOLN'S, UH, JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
SO THAT'S JUST A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE, UM, BILLS THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN THUS FAR.
UM, BUT I'LL PASS IT OVER TO SARAH, WHO'S GONNA PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON PROPOSITION 47.
ALRIGHT, SO SNICK SAID THAT'S A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AND A LITTLE BIT WHAT WE'VE DONE.
UH, NOW WE WANNA GO OVER SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN, UH, PROPOSED AND, UM, A PROPOSITION THAT IS CURRENTLY, UM, ELIGIBLE ON THE BALLOT.
FIRST, TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND, UH, WE WANTED TO DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF PROPOSITION 47, WHICH PASSED IN 2014 BY THE VOTERS.
YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY, UH, FAMILIAR WITH IT, UM, AT, UM, AT THIS POINT.
UH, BUT A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
UH, PROPOSITION 47 DID A NUMBER OF THINGS INCLUDING, UM, UH, CRIMES THAT WERE AFFECTED, UH, INCLUDING SHOPLIFTING, GRAND THEFT, STOLEN PROPERTY FORGERY, FRAUD, UM, QUITE A FEW THINGS.
UH, ONE OF ITS MOST, UM, NOTABLE CHANGES IS RECLASSIFYING DRUG POSSESSION, UM, ALONG WITH THEFT, UH, OFFENSES WITH THE VALUE UNDER THAT NINE 50 LEVEL IS MISDEMEANORS.
UH, AND PROP 47, UH, DID CREATE A SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS FUND, UM, TO HELP SUPPORT THAT REHABILITATION PROGRAM, UM, AND FUND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.
UM, THE CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION, UM, ALONG WITH, UM, UH, QUITE A NUMBER OF COALITIONS, UH, HAVE COLLECTED OVER 900,000 SIGNATURES TO PUT A MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER, 2024 BALLOT.
AND THAT WOULD AMEND THIS PROPOSITION 47.
UH, AND THAT WOULD BE PROPOSITION 36, WHICH I WILL GO INTO RIGHT NOW.
SO, PROPOSITION 36, UM, AS MENTIONED WAS, UM, PUT ON THE BALLOT BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE, BETWEEN, UM, THE BACKERS OF THIS PROPOSITION AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
UM, SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HEADLINES ABOUT, UM, COMPETING PROPOSITIONS, CONVENING COMPETING LEGISLATION, WHICH HAVE ALL KIND OF SETTLED DOWN AND CULMINATED WITH THIS BEING ON THE BALLOT WITH THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY, UH, PULLING, UM, A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE THAT HE HAD ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED AND AN ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE AND A SENATE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
SO, PROP 36, UM, SOME KIND OF A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF IT.
WHAT ITS IMPLICATIONS WOULD DO IS, UM, MOSTLY FOCUS ON THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS.
UM, SO FOLKS WHO HAVE TWO PRIOR THEFT CONVICTIONS WOULD BE CHARGED WITH A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR.
AGAIN, WITH THAT NINE 50 LEVEL, UH, IT DOES, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS, IS IT DOES CREATE A TREATMENT MANDATED FELONY, UH, FOR, AGAIN, UH, FOR PERSONS WITH AT LEAST TWO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS OF HARD DRUGS.
AND ONE OF THE KEY ITEMS IS IT ADDS FENTANYL TO EXISTING LAWS THAT PROHIBIT TRAFFICKING OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF HARD DRUGS.
UM, SO AGAIN, WHEN THIS PACKED BACK IN, PASSED BACK IN 2014, FENTANYL AND THE OPIOID CRISIS WERE NOT A LARGE PART OF THE ORIGINAL PROPOSITION.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT, UH, THEY'RE LOOKING TO INCLUDE AS IT'S BECOME KIND OF A STATEWIDE EPIDEMIC.
UM, FOR SOME CONTEXT, THE FOLLOWING CITIES HAVE TAKEN A SUPPORT POSITION ON PROPOSITION 36.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, A LOT OF THESE CITIES ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLY
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SIMILAR TO LONG BEACH IN TERMS OF SIZE AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO JUST MAKE A NOTE THAT SINCE THIS IS A PROPOSITION, IF THERE IS AN INTEREST FROM THE COUNCIL TO, UM, TO EITHER SUPPORT OR OPPOSE IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A, A FULL COUNCIL.
UM, US AS STAFF CANNOT GIVE, UM, A SUP, YOU KNOW, A RECOMMENDATION ON IT.
UH, SO JUST WANTED TO, TO UNDERLINE THAT.
UH, AND THEN A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGES.
UH, SO THE ASSEMBLY, UH, PACKAGE IS THE CALIFORNIANS, UH, TOGETHER AGAINST RETAIL CRIME.
AND THE SENATE PACKAGE WAS THE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN.
UH, THE SENATE PACKAGE IS A LITTLE BIT LARGER WITH 15 BILLS IN THE ASSEMBLY.
UH, PACKAGE INCLUDED SEVEN AFTER ANALYSIS.
THE ASSEMBLY PACKAGE DOES SEEM TO FOCUS A, A BIT MORE ON REDUCING THAT RETAIL CRIME, UM, BUT MOSTLY THROUGH ENHANCING PENALTIES.
WHEREAS THE SENATE PACKAGE FOCUSES ON ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL CRISIS THROUGH TREATMENT AND PREVENTION, UH, AND DOING SOME COMBATING OF RETAIL THREAT, UH, THROUGH, UM, ENHANCING TOOLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO THINGS LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, STRIKE TEAMS AND, AND, UH, WORKING WITH CHP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BECAUSE OF THIS, AFTER REVIEWING OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, THE SE, UH, SENATE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN WOULD FOLLOW ALONG, UM, THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA MORE CLOSELY.
AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IS THAT IF WE WANTED TO, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE POSITIONS ON THE SENATE, UH, PACKAGE IMMEDIATELY.
THERE IS, UM, AN UPSIDE TO THAT BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE, UH, PROCESS, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET ANY, UM, SUPPORTER, OPPOSITION LETTERS TO OUR LEGISLATORS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT BEFORE THE END OF THE, THE LEGISLATIVE CYCLE.
UM, SO I JUST KIND OF MENTIONED IT THERE, BUT OUR RECOMMENDATION AS STAFF WOULD BE THAT DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT, UM, OF OUR STANDING LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND TO THE TIMELINE, WHICH IS A CRITICAL PART OF THIS, UH, WOULD BE TO SUPPORT THE SENATE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN.
UH, WE HIGHLIGHTED HERE THE ITEMS, UH, OR THE SECTIONS WITHIN OUR STANDING LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT.
UH, SO AREAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH CRIME AND IN PARTNERSHIPS, UM, LOOKING AGAIN TO SUPPORT EFFORTS IN COMBATING OPIOID OVERDOSES, UH, LOOKING TO PREVENT THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN OPIOID, UH, OPIOID DEATHS, EXCUSE ME, INCLUDING FENTANYL.
AND, UM, SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THOSE TASK FORCES, UM, TO COVER A, A WHOLE VARIETY OF ISSUES FROM ROBBERY TO, UH, SEX TRAFFICKING.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
LIKE I SAID, WE WENT THROUGH THAT RATHER QUICKLY.
UM, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO, TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, CITY PROSECUTOR DOUG HALPERT HERE, WHO ALSO, UM, LENT SOME, UH, CRITICAL INFORMATION TO THE MEMO THAT WAS RE, UM, THAT WAS RELEASED TO, UH, TO ALL.
UM, SO PROSECUTOR, I, I OPEN IT TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COMMENT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF REPORT THAT DISCUSSES PROPOSITION 47, BECAUSE ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHEN THE VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA ADOPT A LAW, IT CAN'T BE AMENDED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
IT CAN ONLY BE AMENDED BY A SUBSEQUENT, UH, MEASURE, A BALLOT MEASURE.
SO, PROPOSITION 47 CANNOT BE MEASURED, IT CANNOT BE AMENDED OR CHANGED OR MODIFIED IN ANY WAY UNLESS IT'S MODIFIED BY THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO PROPOSITION 36, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED HERE.
UM, IN THE 14 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THE CITY PROSECUTOR, I HAVE NEVER, UM, ADVISED THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT, UH, ANY BALLOT MEASURE, STATE OR LOCAL OR COUNTY.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE OF LA COUNTY AND OF LONG BEACH, WHO SUFFER UNDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A CAREER DECISION TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THEFT THROUGH SMASH AND GRABS OR OTHER TYPES OF, OF ACTION, OR PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN, UH, DRUG USE WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF, UM, INTERVENTION.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN CITY PROSECUTOR ON CREATING PROGRAMS THAT GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO TREATMENT PROGRAMS. WE'VE DONE THAT BY CREATING THE STATE'S FIRST LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION PROGRAM.
WE'VE DONE IT BY CREATING THE PAD PROGRAM, THE, THE, UM, PRIORITY ACCESS DIVERSION, UH, PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UH, A WAY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF CUSTODY INTO LIVE-IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS. UM, BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED WITH PROPOSITION 47.
WHEN IT WAS PASSED, NOBODY KNEW THAT THEFT PROBLEMS THAT WERE GOING TO RESULT, UM, NOBODY KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD CONTINUE TO STEAL OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW, UH, NO ONE COULD PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES.
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AND AS FAR AS THAT DRUG POSSESSION GOES, UM, THE DRUG COURTS IN LA COUNTY HAVE CLOSED, UM, DRUG ASSISTANCE, UH, THROUGH THE COURTS, UM, WHICH IS OFFERED TO EVERYBODY, WHETHER THEY'RE CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY, UH, ARE NOT BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.THE REASON THEY'RE NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, A PERSON WHO IS SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR DRUG POSSESSION IS RELEASED THE SAME DAY.
I WANNA REPEAT THAT, THAT THE MAXIMUM THAT CAN HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHO, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY'RE, THEY'RE CAUGHT WITH DRUGS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, IS THAT THEY WILL BE RELEASED THE SAME DAY.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY JAIL HAS BEEN FULL FOR SOME TIME, AND THE SHERIFF, UH, NOT THIS SHERIFF OR THE ONE BEFORE, I THINK IT'S GOING BACK, TWO OR THREE SHERIFFS, UH, HAVE HAD TO RELEASE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENTENCED TO 180 DAYS IN JAIL OR LESS THE SAME DAY.
SO 180 DAY SENTENCE DOES NOT MEAN 180 DAY SENTENCE.
UH, AND BY THE WAY, IT WOULDN'T MEAN 180 DAYS IN ANY COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA GIVES, UH, TWO CREDITS FOR EVERY ONE DAY SPENT.
SO IF SOMEONE IS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL IN ORANGE COUNTY, THE MOST THAT THEY WOULD SERVE WOULD BE TWO MONTHS IN JAIL.
BUT IN LA COUNTY, THE MOST THAT PERSON WILL SERVE WILL BE ZERO TIME IN JAIL.
WHEN YOU HAVE A DYNAMIC LIKE THAT, IT RESULTS IN PEOPLE NOT BEING INTERESTED IN ANY KIND OF TREATMENT.
WHY WOULD THEY BE INTERESTED IN A PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES THEM TO ABSTAIN FROM DRUGS OR ATTEND COUNSELING SESSIONS? UM, WHY WOULD THEY AGREE TO THAT IF THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO SIMPLY RELEASE THEM WITH, WITH NO FOLLOW UP, UH, WHATSOEVER? IT'S CREATED A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE STREETS OF, OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
AND THAT PROBLEM IS, UH, PEOPLE WHO CAN CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM ADDICTION, THAT, THAT WE JUST CAN'T HELP, AND WE CAN'T HELP THEM BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO, TO, UH, SEEK, UH, HELP.
UM, LA CENTERS FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING LIVE-IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.
FOR MY CASES FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
UM, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS OPENED UP MEDI-CAL FOR PEOPLE THAT SUFFER FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.
NOW, THEY CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR SOMEONE WHO'S IN A LIVE-IN, UH, DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM.
UH, AND THEY'RE AN AWFUL LOT OF, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CAPACITY THAT IS NOT BEING USED BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO ACCEPT SERVICES IF THE ALTERNATIVE IS SIMPLY RELEASE THAT PERSON.
AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THE DOMINO EFFECT WHERE POLICE OFFICERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO CITE OR ARREST SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO RESULT IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
SO, TO SUMMARIZE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 14 YEARS, I'M GONNA BE ASKING YOU TO TAKE A POSITION ON PROPOSITION 36.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT PROPOSITION 36.
AS I ALREADY MENTIONED, THERE'S THE LARGEST AND WIDEST COALITION I'VE EVER SEEN ON A BALLOT MEASURE.
IT INCLUDES CRIME VICTIM GROUPS, CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, VIRTUALLY EVERY PROSECUTOR IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
IT INCLUDES MAYORS OF CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, SAN DIEGO, SAN JOSE, SAN MONICA.
AND THE, I I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ANY CITIES HAD ALREADY ENDORSED IT FORMALLY THROUGH THE PROCESS.
BUT PROPOSITION 36 AS A MEASURE HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND, I THINK, TWO OR THREE WEEKS WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFIED THAT THERE WERE ENOUGH SIGNATURES.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF OF LONG BEACH WOULD DO THE SAME AS YOUR CITY PROSECUTOR.
I'M, I'M TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED IF WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS THAT, THAT I SEE ON THE STREETS OF, OF LONG BEACH.
SO I WANTED TO ADD THAT YOU'VE NEVER TAKEN A POSITION ON PROPOSITION 36, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T EXIST UP UNTIL RECENTLY.
IT JUST QUALIFIED FOR THE BALLOT.
IT WILL BE VOTED ON BY VOTERS, UH, IN NOVEMBER.
AND I, UH, HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN ME, UH, IN, IN SUPPORTING IT.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
UH, THANK YOU, MR. PROSECUTOR, AND WELCOME TO OUR COMMITTEE.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, OUR, UH, DUTY HERE IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
WE DO NOT THINK FLOOR CON POSITIONS HERE, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION AGAIN.
UH, WHAT, BECAUSE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT THANK YOU CERTAINLY FOR THE, UH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS, UH, VERY INFORMATIVE, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THEIR COMMENTS ON THE, UH, VARIOUS ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE US TO HERE TODAY.
I SAY THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND, UH, I'LL MAKE THE, UH, I MAKE THE MOTION.
CAN YOU HAVE, UH, ANY COMMENTS? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CUR I'LL DEFER TO VICE MAYOR ALLEN FIRST.
YEAH, I DEFINITELY, UM, I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE, AS IT GOES TO COUNCIL, THAT WE SUPPORT THIS.
UM, I, I, UM, I THINK, UM, YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB, UM, ON, UM, ON YOUR RESEARCH AND REPORTING.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH WORK HAS BEEN DONE, UM, AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING, UM, ALL OF THESE ISSUES.
UM, DOUG, YOUR OFFICE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB, AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING, UH, THE ISSUES
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AS THEY STAND WITH 47 AND WHAT, UH, 36 WILL DO.AND, AND I KNOW, UM, I KNOW OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, I TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT, YOUR HANDS HAVE ABSOLUTELY BEEN TIED.
AND, UM, SO I THINK THIS, THIS DOES, UH, FREE YOU UP.
UM, YOU KNOW, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, THE FENTANYL CRISIS, AND, AND I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY OUR NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN THAT OF LA COUNTY.
DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY DEATH RATES? THE DEATH RATES? YEAH.
WELL, I THINK THOSE WERE JUST NUMBERS FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I WILL TELL YOU THE NUMBERS ARE EVEN WORSE, AND I'LL SEND YOU AFTER THIS MEETING, AN LA COUNTY NUMBER.
SO COUNTYWIDE, THOSE NUMBERS WERE ONLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT COUNTYWIDE, THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP ABOUT 30 FOLD.
SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DOUBLING, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TRIPLING.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 30 TIMES THE NUMBER OF FENTANYL DEATHS.
FENTANYL IN 2014, WHEN PROP 47 WAS PASSED WAS THIS SMALL STORY ABOUT THE MIDWEST OF THE UNITED STATES, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, PEOPLE WHO WERE TAKING, IT'S A SYNTHETIC OPIOID.
SO IT'S SIMILAR IN ITS PROPERTIES TO HEROIN, BUT IT'S MANUFACTURED IN A FACTORY.
AND WHAT HA AND ALTHOUGH IT STARTED IN THE MIDWEST, PEOPLE WHO WERE TAKING OPIOIDS AND THEIR PRESCRIPTION ENDED WOULD GO TO THE STREETS TO GET SOME TYPE OF REPLACEMENT.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IS IT HAS NOW GROWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
METHAMPHETAMINE USE WAS SO HIGH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE PEOPLE TRANSITIONED FROM METHAMPHETAMINES TO OPIOIDS LIKE, UH, LIKE FENTANYL.
AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING A PILL.
IT DOESN'T SAY FENTANYL ON THE PILL.
IT'S A FACTORY PRESSED, USUALLY IT'S MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO WITH PRECURSOR DRUGS THAT COME FROM CHINA AND BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S 50 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN HEROIN.
IT CAN EVEN BE ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN.
SO A PERSON SIMPLY TOUCHING FENTANYL COULD HAVE AN OVERDOSE DEATH AS A RESULT OF IT.
SO IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
IT DIDN'T START HERE, BUT IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE WHO WERE NORMALLY ACCUSTOMED TO ABUSING METHAMPHETAMINES GOT THEIR HANDS ON PILLS THAT HAD JUST THE TINIEST AMOUNT OF FENTANYL.
AND SO IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE, UM, UH, BEFORE WE, WE SAW OUR OVERDOSE DEATHS, UH, SKYROCKET.
AND OUR, OUR DEATH RATE IS STILL PROBABLY LOWER THAN, THAN SOME OTHER STATES.
IN FACT, I'M, I'M CERTAIN THAT IT IS LOWER THAN SOME OTHER STATES BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO METHAMPHETAMINE, WHICH IS NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE AN OVERDOSE, FENTANYL AND OTHER OPIOID PRODUCTS, UM, HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF FATALITY.
AND I ACTUALLY KNOW A FAMILY WHO LOST A 25-YEAR-OLD SON, WENT OUT PARTYING WITH FRIENDS, WAS GIVEN SOMETHING HE DID.
I GUARANTEE HE DID NOT THINK IT HAD ANY KIND OF TYPE OF OPIOID IN IT.
HE PROBABLY THOUGHT IT WAS ECSTASY OR SOMETHING.
UM, AND THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS, UH, THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY IN LA COUNTY.
YEAH, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY, UH, TRA TRAGIC.
UM, WELL, I, I DO SUPPORT THE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN.
I THINK IT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE, UM, UH, USE DISORDER AND OPIATE OVERDOSES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS, AND THEN, UM, THE OVERALL, UH, RETAIL, UH, THREAT THEFT, UH, UH, PREVENTION.
AND I ALSO THINK IT ENSURES THAT WE HAVE A, UM, A BALANCED STRATEGY.
UM, AND, UM, IT COMBINES OUR HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY LIKE YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA SEE, I WANNA SEE PEOPLE GET HELP.
IT'S TRAGIC WHEN PEOPLE ARE ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND, AND THEY OVERDOSE.
BUT I ALSO, UM, THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE A BALANCE APPROACH WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE DOING THESE SMASH AND GRABS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT YOU'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND, AND YOU'RE, UM, AND YOU'RE ARRESTED.
SO, UM, I, I DO, LIKE I SAID, I RECOMMEND THAT WE SUPPORT THE SENATE, UH, SAFE TO CALIFORNIA PLAN.
AND, UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL, AGAIN, DOUG, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING OUT THERE WITH, WITH VERY LIMITED TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR, UM, THE TEAM.
UH, FIRST, UM, ON THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO IF I'M, IF I'M READING THE RECOMMENDATIONS CORRECTLY, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY IS AN IMMEDIATE SUPPORT OF THE SENATE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN.
WHICH IS SEPARATE THAN THE BALLOT MEASURE PROPOSITION 36.
SO I CAN EXPLAIN THAT BRIEFLY, UM, JUST IF IT HELPS CLARIFY.
SO THE REASON THAT IN THE RECOMMENDATION IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PROPERTY, PROP 36 IS THAT STAFF IS NOT, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
SO IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU, THE, UH, COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO DO, YOU COULD AMEND THE MOTION, UH, AND PASS IT ON TO CITY COUNCIL FOR SUPPORT OR OPPOSE WHATEVER YOU DESIRE.
UH, SO WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE, TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, UM, ABOUT, UH, THE SENATE PACKAGE SINCE IT IS, UM, UH, ALONG OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY, UM, IT'S INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDATION THE
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THE WAY IT IS.I ALSO WANNA MAKE ONE QUICK NOTE, JUST SO YOU'RE ALL AWARE, UM, THAT ALSO THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT IT WOULD GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SINCE I KNOW THAT THE REQUESTER OF THIS MOTION, UM, IS IN THAT COMMITTEE.
UNFORTUNATELY, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
AND DUE TO THE CRITICALNESS OF THE TIMING OF THIS, IN ORDER TO GET A LETTER TO OUR LEGISLATORS SO THEY KNOW THE IMPACT OF THIS, WE WANTED TO BRING THIS ITEM TO IGR RIGHT AWAY.
SO THERE AGAIN, KIND OF JUST WANNA REITERATE THE TIMELINE AND THAT CONCERN.
AND, AND THAT WAS GONNA BE MY ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION THAT A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION IS TO ASK THE FULL COUNSEL TO MAKE A, TO DO CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 36.
THAT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.
UM, SO I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT, I KNOW, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN SAID THAT AS WELL.
I JUST HAD A QUICK, A QUICK QUESTION ON A COUPLE OF THE DETAILS.
SO, UM, ON PAGE 12 OF THE SLIDE, YOU'RE TALKING, YOU'RE COMPARING THE, THE SAFER CALIFORNIA AND, UH, THE ASSEMBLY PACKAGE.
AND YOU TALK, IT TALKS ABOUT ENHANCING TOOLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND YOU TALKED SPECIFICALLY, I THINK, ABOUT STRIKE TEAMS, BUT COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, AND IS THERE DEDICATED FUNDING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE FAILURES OF PROP 47 WAS THAT THERE WAS NO DEDICATED FUNDING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SOME OF THE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE AROUND TREATMENT.
UM, SO IS THERE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE, UH, TO THAT PIECE OF IT, AND JUST A LITTLE MORE DETAIL? SURE.
LET ME PULL THAT UP IN MY NOTES HERE.
'CAUSE I WANNA SPEAK TO IT ACCURATELY.
WHAT I CAN DO AS I'M DOING THAT THOUGH, IS, UM, ALSO MENTION A FEW OF THE BILLS THAT ARE IN THE SAFER CALIFORNIA, UH, PLAN, WHICH AGAIN, WE KIND OF WANTED TO GO THROUGH QUICKLY, BUT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, A FEW OF THE THINGS, UM, IN THE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN, UM, IN RELATION TO THE RETAIL THEFT PART IS, UM, SO IT INCREASES PENALTIES FOR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.
SO THAT ITEM IS KIND OF TOUCHED ON HEAD ON.
UM, IT ALSO CEMENTS THE WORK THAT CALIFORNIA HAS DONE ALREADY ON ORGANIZED, UH, CRIME BY MAKING, UM, THE LAWS ON THEM PERMANENT.
UM, IT DISRUPTS SALES OF SO AND GOODS ONLINE, UM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, TO, TO SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFIC ITEM, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, THERE'S BEEN ABOUT 1.1 BILLION INVESTED SINCE 2019.
UH, BUT SPECIFIC THROUGH CHP, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE STATE'S, UH, RESOURCE THERE.
UM, AND I BELIEVE, UM, OUR RESEARCH SO THAT THEY'VE CONDUCTED ALMOST, UH, 2,500 INVESTIGATIONS AND BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER OVER 42, UH, MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STOLEN GOODS.
UH, SO THE INVESTMENT HAS GONE INTO TO THE CHP TASK FORCE.
UM, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A, A PRETTY, UM, SUBSTANTIAL SHOWING FOR, FOR THAT INVESTMENT.
UM, AND, AND SO HYPOTHETICALLY, IF WE SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THE SENATE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN, HOW DO THESE TWO PLAY TOGETHER IF, UH, PROP 36 WERE TO PASS, UM, BY THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER? RIGHT.
AND SO THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF KIND OF, UH, THE, THE BACK AND FORTH THAT HAPPENED.
UM, WHILE PROPOSITION 36 WAS QUALIFYING FOR THE BALLOT, THERE WAS, UM, SOME, UM, URGENCY CLAUSES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY ADDED TO THE LEGISLATION THAT HAVE NOW BEEN REMOVED, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, UM, AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR'S COMPETING, UM, LEGISLATION WHICH HAS BEEN REMOVED.
YOU'RE ASKING BASICALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE, THE PROPOSITION GETS PASSED? SORRY, MY, I I'M HAVING A, UM, A BRAIN MELT
SO THERE WAS A WEEK OR SO WHERE THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THESE TWO THINGS WOULD CONFLICT, BUT THAT WHOLE, UM, CONTROVERSY HAS BEEN SETTLED.
PROP 36 IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT, AND IT WILL NOT INTERFERE, UM, IN WITH ANY OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED SO FAR.
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN AMEND PROP 47 IS BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE THE WAY PROP 47 CURRENTLY IS, IS BY A SUBSEQUENT BALLOT MEASURE.
AND I WOULD JUST QUICKLY ADD TO, THEY'RE ON TWO SEPARATE TIMELINES.
UM, JUST IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS ITSELF.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE LEGISLATION, UM, TWO BILLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHAPTERED WITHIN THE SENATE'S LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
THAT'S SB 1320 AND SB 1385, WHICH MEANS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY SIGNED THOSE BILLS.
WE HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 31ST IS THE LAST DAY FOR EACH HOUSE TO PASS A BILL.
AND SEPTEMBER 30TH IS THE LAST DAY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN OR VETO A BILL.
UM, SO THAT IT'S, IT'S A SEPARATE PROCESS AS OPPOSED TO, UM, WHAT WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER,
[00:25:02]
MORE URGENCY ABOUT BILLS.AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK SOME OF THE CONFUSION THAT PLAYED OUT PUBLICLY AND IN THE PRESS, UM, MIGHT LEAD PEOPLE TO, TO BELIEVE SOMETHING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO SAY THAT, UM, THE SAFER INITIATIVE ALIGNS WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
WE'RE ASKING FOR RECOMMENDATION ON THAT, AND FOR CONSIDERATION TO GO TO THE FULL COUNSEL.
AND AS YOU SAID, PROSECUTOR HALBERT, THEY CAN LIVE HARMONIOUSLY, BUT THERE MAY BE PARTS OF, UH, A, A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT PASSES THAT SUPERSEDES SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE SIGNED.
AND ANYTIME A BALLOT MEASURE APPROVED BY THE PEOPLE CONFLICTS WITH LEGISLATION, IT WOULD SUPERSEDE THAT LEGISLATION.
BUT THERE'S NO CONFLICTS THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THE, THE TWO WILL, I THINK BOTH I'M SUPPORTING, UH, THE SENATE BILLS AS WELL.
I'M SUPPORTING THOSE, AND I'M SUPPORTING PROP 36.
BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICT.
UM, DON'T WANNA OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD A HEAVY DISCUSSION AT PROP 47 AND 36, THAT THERE'S OTHER LEGISLATION AS WELL THAT BEFORE US TODAY TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, REGARDING, UH, SMASH AND GRAB AND THOSE KINDS OF CRIMES AND, AND THE EFFECTS THAT, UH, THAT THE, UH, THE PROCESS HAS ON, UM, PROSECUTION OF THOSE CASES.
SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW THOSE PROSECUTIONS ARE GOING TO BE HANDLED IN THE FUTURE.
UH, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, ANY SUGGESTIONS ON THOSE? WELL, AND THE REASON I'M SUPPORTING PROP 36 IS IT DOESN'T MANDATE THE FILING OF A FELONY CHARGE.
PROP 36 WOULD MAKE A PERSON WHO HAS ALREADY TWO CONVICTIONS FOR DRUGS OR TWO CONVICTIONS FOR THEFT.
IT MAKES THAT THIRD CONVICTION A FELONY MISDEMEANOR WOBBLER.
SO IN A LOT, IN A PLACE LIKE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THEY MIGHT HAVE THE, THEY DO HAVE THE DISCRETION.
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOESN'T HAVE TO FILE THAT THIRD ONE AS A FELONY.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAY CONSIDER THINGS LIKE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE, HOW MANY PRIOR THEFTS A PERSON HAS.
UH, AND, BUT ANOTHER COUNTY MIGHT, MIGHT FILE THAT THIRD ONE AS A FELONY.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I DO LIKE ABOUT PROP 36 IS IT DOESN'T MANDATE A FELONY.
IT DOESN'T MANDATE SENTENCING.
UM, IN FACT, WHEN IT COMES TO THE DRUGS, EVEN IF IT'S, WHETHER IT'S A FELONY OR A MISDEMEANOR, THE CASE GETS DISMISSED IF THEY GO THROUGH TREATMENT.
SO THE MO, THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT FELONY MANDATED TREATMENT.
THE GOAL IS NOT TO PUT ANYBODY IN STATE PRISON OR COUNTY JAIL FOR A FELONY.
THE GOAL IS TO GET THEM INTO TO TREATMENT.
DID YOU I WOULDN'T BE SUPPORTING IT IF THE GOAL WAS TO PUT PEOPLE, UH, IN JAIL OR IN PRISON.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE OBSERVATIONS.
AND ON YOUR PART, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
JUST TO CLARIFY THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CUR, DID YOU SEEK TO REVISE THE MOTION TO INCLUDE? THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ASKED ME.
SO AS YOU ARE MAKER OF THE MOTION, YOU ARE LOOKING TO REVISE TO INCLUDE THAT, UM, PROP 36, GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, CORRECT.
AND DOES THE MAKE OF THE MOTION AGREE FOR, SORRY TO CLARIFY FOR SUPPORT OR FOR POSITION? I PUT FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO THE REVISED MOTION THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING WOULD BE TO SEND PROP 34 36 TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, ALLEN, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN AS A SECONDER ON THE MOTION, DO YOU ACCEPT, DO YOU AGREE THE REVISION? YES, I DO.
SO WE HAVE, UH, AN AMENDED MOTION WITH A SECOND AND A AND A, UH, WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
DO WE? NO, WE, WE HAVE A RE A REVISED MOTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE, THE SENDING OF PROP 36 TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO IT'S WHAT'S CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE WITH THE ADDITION OF SENDING PROP 36 TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
CAN WE HAVE A VOTE PLEASE? CAN I JUST CLARIFY SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY? I'M SORRY, CHAIR.
UM, SO CAN WE AS A, AS A COMMITTEE MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT 36? OR CAN WE NOT DO THAT? I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THAT.
SO FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS COMMITTEE CAN STAFF CANNOT, BECAUSE IT'S A PROPOSITION THAT WILL BE BEFORE VOTERS.
I JUST THINK AS A COMMITTEE, THAT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE DECISIONS WHETHER WE SUPPORT AND THEN HAVE GO TO COUNCIL.
SO I'M GONNA ASK FOR A FRIENDLY FROM MEGAN IF WE CAN ASK COUNCIL TO SUPPORT 36.
UM, AND, UM, IF SHE WILL ACCEPT THAT.
SO THE FRIENDLY TO SUPPORT 36 IS ACCEPTED BY THE MAKER OF THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
[00:30:02]
OKAY.UM, VO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW.
MOTION CARRIES, CITY PROSECUTOR.
VERY, VERY HARD OF DISCUSSION.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO AUR ITEM AT THE CITY COUNCIL LEVEL WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
ITEM THREE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A STAFF PRESENTATION ON PROPOSAL FOUR, WHICH IS A SAFE DRINKING WATER WHILE PREVENTING DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS AND CLEAN AIR BOND ACT OF 2024.
AND FORWARD TO COUNSEL FOR APPROVAL.
CAN I GET, CAN I GET A FIRST AND SECOND PLEASE? I HAVE A FIRST.
WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, STAFF REPORT.
UM, OUR NEXT ITEM IS ABOUT PROPOSITION FOUR OR MORE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE CLIMATE BOND.
UM, THIS ITEM IS BEFORE YOU, UM, AS A REQUEST FROM THE CHAIR.
UM, SO WE'LL GO OVER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS, UM, INCLUDED IN THE BOND.
UM, I DO WANTED TO MENTION A FEW THINGS, UH, VERBALLY JUST QUICKLY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL PARTS OF THIS UPCOMING PROPOSITION WOULD BE, UM, A HUGE INCREASE IN ABOUT, UH, FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY, FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY $5 MILLION FOR, UM, UH, WIND, UH, ENERGY.
AND SO THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE INTEREST FROM THE PORT, UM, ON THIS ITEM.
UH, AND THEN SIMILARLY TO OUR DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD JUST HAD, RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A PROPOSITION, UH, SO STAFF IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION.
UH, BUT IF IT IS SOMETHING OF INTEREST, UH, FOR THE FULL, UH, COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TO HAVE TO BE, UH, SENT FROM THIS COMMITTEE FOR, UH, TO THE COUNCIL, UM, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO NICK, WHO'S GONNA GO OVER ALL THE DETAILS.
SO THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS, AND CLEAN AIR BOND ACT OF 2024, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PROPOSITION FOUR, 'CAUSE THAT'S QUITE A MOUTHFUL, WOULD HAVE THE STATE BORROW, UH, $10 BILLION TO PAY FOR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.
SO $3.8 BILLION WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO WATER PROJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT, THAT PROVIDE FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER, RECYCLE WASTE, WATER, STORE, GROUND WATER, AND CONTROL FLOODING.
$1.5 BILLION WOULD BE SPENT ON WILDFIRE PROTECTION.
$1.2 BILLION WOULD GO TOWARDS PROTECTING THE COAST FROM SEA LEVEL RISE.
450 MILLION WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO ADDRESS EXTREME HEAT MITIGATION.
$1.2 BILLION WOULD BE SPENT ON BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION, SUCH AS NATIVE LANDSCAPING, INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL, UH, WILDFIRE CROSSINGS.
300 MILLION WOULD BE USED FOR CLIMATE SMART AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.
700 MILLION WOULD BE USED FOR PARKS AND OUTDOOR ACCESS.
AND LASTLY, 850 MILLION WOULD BE USED FOR CLEAN AIR AND ENERGY PROJECTS.
IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR LONG BEACH.
UM, IF THIS BOND WAS ULTIMATELY PASSED BY THE VOTERS, THE CITY CAN TAP INTO VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES OF INTEREST TO THE CITY.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, AS SARAH MENTIONED, WE COULD TAP INTO $475 MILLION FOR OFFSHORE WIND GENERATION PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD HELP FUND, UH, THE PORT OF LONG BEACH'S PIER WIND PROJECT.
WE CAN TAP INTO $610 MILLION FOR WATER QUALITY PROJECTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND HELP PROVIDE CLEAN, SAFE, AND RELIABLE DRINKING WATER.
WE CAN TAP INTO $110 MILLION FOR URBAN STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECTS TO ADDRESS FLOODING IN URBANIZED AREAS.
UH, THERE'D BE 75 MILLION TO ADDRESS SEA LEVEL RISE MITIGATION TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UPDATE LAND USE PLANS TO ACCOUNT FOR SEA LEVEL RISE AND IMPLEMENT THOSE PLANS.
AND A HUNDRED MILLION TO SUPPORT URBAN GREENING PROJECTS THAT CREATE AND EXPAND GREEN STREETS ALLEYWAYS, UH, GREEN RECREATIONAL PARKS AND GREEN SCHOOLYARDS AND PARKOUR COMMUNITIES.
AND LASTLY, $200 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE CREATION, EXPANSION, AND RENOVATION OF SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND PARKOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW KEY PROVISIONS, UM, RELATIVE TO PROPOSITION FOUR.
SO AT LEAST 40% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE ARE REQUIRED TO BE ALLOCATED FOR PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND DIRECT BENEFITS TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS OR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
AT LEAST 10% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE MUST BE ALLOCATED FOR PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND DIRECT BENEFITS TO SEVERELY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
AND IN TERMS OF THE, UM, BOND COSTS, THE TOTAL PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST COST OF THE BOND IS APPROXIMATELY $19.3 BILLION WITH THE AVERAGE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS OF 650 MILLION GENERAL FUND WHEN ALL BONDS ARE SOLD, AND ASSUMING A 30 YEAR MATURITY,
[00:35:01]
UH, AND AN INTEREST RATE OF 5%.SO WE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHY THIS PROPOSITION IS ON THE BALLOT.
UH, SO GOVERNOR NEWSOM PROPOSED SPENDING $54 BILLION ON CLIMATE EFFORTS IN 2022.
HOWEVER, DUE TO A $46.8 BILLION STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, GOVERNOR NEWSOM CUT FUNDING TO CLIMATE, UM, RELATED PROGRAMS. AND THE ADOPTED STATE BUDGET MAINTAINS APPROXIMATELY $44.6 BILLION OF CLIMATE RELATED INVESTMENTS OVER EIGHT YEARS.
SO TO FUND THE ADMINISTRATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES, THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTED LEGISLATIVELY PROPOSED CLIMATE BONDS AS AN OFFSET TO STATE CLIMATE CUTS IN TERMS OF, UH, SUPPORTERS OF THE PROPOSITION THAT INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, LABOR UNIONS, SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, WATER AGENCIES, AND THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA.
CITIES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE PRO, UH, PROPOSITION BELIEVE THAT THE BOND IS A NECESSARY INVESTMENT TO HELP CALIFORNIA BECOME MORE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
OPPONENTS OF THE PROPOSITION INCLUDE THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSITION IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE SINCE ISSUING BONDS TO PAY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS CAN MORE THAN DOUBLE THE COST DUE TO THE ADDED INTEREST EXPENSE.
SO THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR, UH, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR CLIMATE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
UM, AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE COMMITTEE TO, UM, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVE A SUPPORT POSITION ON PROPOSITION FOUR.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
UM, I, I MOVE THAT WE TAKE A SUPPORT POSITION FOR PROPOSITION FOR, UM, MAINLY BECAUSE OF ITS ROBUST, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS, UM, AT ADDRESSING SO MANY OF OUR, UH, PRESSING, UH, CLIMATE CHANGING.
AND I CAN, I KNOW THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS, UH, COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT PROPOSITION, UH, FOR HELP HELPS US ACHIEVE THAT.
UM, SO I, UH, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE, UH, SUPPORT.
UH, THANK YOU STAFF, ESPECIALLY FOR SLIDE THREE TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS SPECIFIC TO LONG BEACH.
UM, SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WIND PROJECTS, WATER QUALITY, URBAN STORM, WATER, SEA LEVEL RISE, URBAN GREENING, OUTDOOR, AND RECREATIONAL ASSETS, THOSE ARE NO ACCESS.
WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE PRIORITIES, UH, FOR THIS COUNCIL AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE A DIRECT BENEFIT, UM, FROM THESE DOLLARS IS REALLY HELPFUL TO NOTE.
AND I STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE MOTION.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW.
UM, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THEM, WITH THE, UH, STAFF POSITION ON THIS, THAT THEY'D BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR LONG BEACH, THAT, UH, WE SUPPORT THIS ITEM OF THE LEGISLATION.
UH, WE HAVE A SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT.
IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW.
NO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT CHAIR.
HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THANK YOU.
SO WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING TILL THE NEXT TIME.