CC RES 2016-050 RESOLUTION NO. 2016-50
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES IN OPPOSITION TO
PROPOSITION 57, THE "PUBLIC SAFETY AND
REHABILITATION ACT OF 2016"
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes considers it appropriate to oppose
actions or initiatives at local, state and federal levels that could jeopardize the public
safety; and,
WHEREAS, Proposition 57, known as the "Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of
2016" has qualified for the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot in California; and,
WHEREAS, Proposition 57 is intended to ease over-crowding in prisons,
incentivize rehabilitation and provide leniency to inmates who avail themselves of
meaningful rehabilitation opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, Proposition 57 attempts to establish a more reasoned approach for
our court system in its disposition of juvenile offenders, as welt as standardize and
streamline procedures for establishing an offenders' eligibility for parole; and,
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the objectives of Proposition 57, California has
experienced increased and sustained property crime in the aftermath of the 2011 public
safety realignment and the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014, leading to an increasing
number of crimes being treated as misdemeanors, aggravating a pre-existing shortage of
beds in county jails, and resulting in an increasing number of offenders being at liberty on
the streets of California's cities; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Los Angeles Times, violent crime in California rose
in California by 10% in 2015, a figure corroborated by crime statistics maintained by the
California Department of Justice, which indicate that over 15,000 more violent crimes
occurred in California in 2015 than in 2014; and,
WHEREAS, Proposition 57 would potentially lead to early release for offenders
convicted of "non-violent crimes," many of which seem more properly categorized as
violent, including throwing acid with the intent to disfigure, and discharging a firearm from
a motor vehicle, to name a few, and this triggers concerns that offenders who committed
offenses widely regarded as violent will be provided undue leniency; and,
WHEREAS, Proposition 57 could increase the likelihood of parole for persons
convicted of "non-violent" felonies after completing the full term for his or her primary
offense, and by disqualifying earned enhancements; and,
WHEREAS, the passage of Proposition 57 may result in undetermined but
negative consequences to public safety and well-being for California's cities and residents
alike.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes does
hereby resolve as follows:
Section 1: The City of Rancho Palos Verdes opposes Proposition 57.
Section 2: The City of Rancho Palos Verdes will join the "NO on 57" coalition.
Section 3: Staff is directed to email a copy of this adopted resolution to Dave
Gilliard of the "NO on 57" campaign at dave@gbacampaigns.com
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 1st day of November 2016.
Mayor
ATTEST:
cting City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Teresa Takaoka, Acting City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,
hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2016-50, was duly and regularly passed and
adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on November 1, 2016.
A ting City lerk
Resolution No. 2016-50
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