New anti-gang initiative aimed at November ballot

[BYNAME]By Robert Rogers
[BYSOURCE]Staff Writer
[BODY]VICTORVILLE — A signature drive for a far-reaching public safety initiative was officially launched Friday, with county and state leaders calling on voters to force state government’s hand in freeing hundreds of millions in new law enforcement spending.

The “Safe Neighborhoods Act: Stop Gang, Gun and Street Crime” needs about 434,000 signatures by April 21 to earn a spot on the November ballot.

“There is not a more important activity for a government to be involved in than protecting our citizens,” said State Sen. George Runner, R-Antelope Valley, who co-authored the initiative with County Supervisor Gary Ovitt and Mike Reynolds, the man behind 1994’s “Three Strikes” initiative.

“Unfortunately, that priority is not shared by all those in Sacramento.”

Runner was joined by his wife, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt and District Attorney Michael A. Ramos, who officially kicked off the drive in front of about 50 people inside the Mall of Victor Valley

Mitzelfelt and Ramos signed and spoke in support of the initiative. Mitzelfelt presented a $10,000 check toward the drive, which Runner said may cost $2 million.

The proposed act would be a major new spending measure and potential burden on the state prison system, which is groaning under escalating costs and overcrowding.

Key provisions in the act include increasing sentencing requirements for violent gang offenders, methamphetamine possession or sales, and gang members who recruit children. It also would strip public housing benefits from those convicted of drug, firearm or gang offenses.

Runner and his supporters stressed that the provision also provides money to aid local law enforcement youth programs, but noted that the measure significantly expands police and courts’ repertoire in lengthening sentences.

“It’s not all lock ‘em up,” said Charles Fennessey, Runner’s Sacramento-based consultant. “But we are pushing the envelop in fighting gang crime.”

In its review of the measure, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office projects $365 million annually in new spending, while sustaining $600 million in current law enforcement spending otherwise vulnerable to cuts.
At the mall Friday, speakers painted the state government as underfocused on crime.

“As we know, there’s a very liberal bent in Sacramento,” said Ramos, who also characterized his crime fight as a “gang war.”

But Runner and his supporters say the measure is worth the cost, which they insist will be offset by crime reduction.

“We think that the impact on the prison system will be marginal, and the deterrent effect will outweigh the burden,” Fennessey said.

The nonpartisan analyst’s office disagrees.

“Our analysis indicates the policy will increase the state prison population and thereby increase state prison costs,” said Dan Carson, director of LAO’s criminal justice section.

robert.rogers@sbsun.com (909) 386-3855.