Runner Initiative

 

The Runner Initiative: Running California's Economy into the Ground with Failed Correctional Policies

Jakada Imani(Executive Director of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights) speaking at Coalition to Defeat George Runner's Initiative Launch Press Conference with Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (back) and California NAACP President Alice Huffman
By Zachary Norris, Esq.
Books Not Bars
Notable elected officials, unions, and civil rights and faith-based organizations have joined forces in opposition to a proposed California ballot initiative that would bankrupt California by pumping billions of dollars into prisons and failed "anti-gang" laws and "tough on crime" policies of the past. The Coalition to Defeat George Runner's Initiative held a press conference May 7, 2008, announcing the formation of the new coalition, which includes the California Federation of Teachers, California Church IMPACT, the California NAACP, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. The press conference coincided with other coordinated events taking place throughout the state (Sacramento, Los Angeles, Fresno) in a coordinated Coalition Day of Action.
The “Criminal Penalties and Laws State Spending Statute”, a potential November ballot initiative introduced by State Senator George Runner, would bust the state budget by directing billions of dollars to fund prisons, probation, and police in the midst of a budget crisis that has caused drastic cuts to education and health care. This potential statewide ballot proposal, also known as the "Runner Initiative" or "Safe Neighborhoods Act," is a far reaching-measure that stiffens criminal penalties and introduces laws reminiscent of failed polices of the past that did not increase public safety, but instead substantially increased California's prison population and wasted California tax dollars.
"The Runner Initiative's name on the November ballot is as misleading as what it proposes to do for our community. The so-called 'Safe Neighborhoods Act' will not lead to safer streets, less crime or a reduction in drug dealing in our community," said United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee. "The Runner Initiative doesn't address the core problems or create real solutions. In light of the current California budget crisis, we cannot afford to irresponsibly spend even more California tax-dollars on a failed policy of only funding prisons and criminalizing youth."
The multi-billion dollar initiative would shift state resources away from education, crime and violence prevention and toward increased incarceration of youth and young adults from low-income communities of color who already have limited opportunities for education, employment and rehabilitation. The initiative would cost Californians one billion dollars in the first year, and half a billion per year thereafter; plus additional unfunded mandates that local and county governments will be forced to pay.
Jakada Imani, Executive Director of The Ella Baker Center For Human Rights, adds, "George Runner isn't waging a war on crime. He is waging a war on our schools; in this time of budget crisis, he is waging a war on health-care and social services in our state that will also drive local governments into a ditch. In the end, Runner's initiative makes us less safe. Effective public safety results from employment and a strong economy, which is based on a strong school system."
Senator Runner’s initiative employs scare tactics that deceive the public into believing that existing sentencing laws are not adequately protecting them. California’s penal code already provides for sentencing enhancements for gun-related and gang-related offenses. Opponents of the Runner Initiative have likened it to other "wedge" issues, and identified this stunt as an attempt by Senator Runner to divide Californians by distracting voters from real solutions that would address public safety issues, such as consistent investment in community-based crime prevention and after-school programs. The Coalition to Defeat George Runner’s Initiative is dedicated to uniting California voters -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- to defeat this fiscally irresponsible measure.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's projected $12 billion budget already exceeds that of higher education. Currently, California prisons house 170,469 people, with an additional 3,275 people shipped out of state due to overcrowding that has resulted from failed policies similar to the Runner Initiative. Many prisons are packed at more than 200 percent, forcing some inmates to sleep outside and on floors. Underscoring the prison system's failures is California's 70% recidivism rate, the highest in the country.
The San Francisco City and County Board of Supervisors and the City Council of Berkeley both passed resolutions against the initiative, joining United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee, State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, Latino Caucus Chairperson Assemblymember Joe Coto, Senator Leland Yee, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums in opposing the Runner Initiative.
Zachary Norris is the Director of Books Not Bars, a campaign of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
For more information or to participate in the coalition, please visit www.defeatrunner.org

 

California Prison system will eventually break California completely. Currently the federal receiver has approved the hiring of hundreds of officers under the assumption they are to assist in getting the inmates seen. This will cost the taxpayers billions. And make CCPOA much richer. But will it improve medical care? No. There currently is a substantial amount of officers that have little to do. Or the job duties are not even acceptable in any other prison system in any other state. Such as sitting for hours to open and shut a gate. The previous receiver hired ex-directors, some left CDCR and went to the receiver office under very questionable terms. Hiring of professionals such as teachers, nurses, physicians should to be the focus. This receiver has maintained all the same staff. Bottom line there has to be extensive mandatory job trainings attend by all inmates. A tougher approach on the drug rehab program also has to be addressed. You stay clean you get time off. You use in or out of the system you get a lot of time added on. But you will work or attend a job program otherwise you do your full sentence. No inmate should ever parole from a lock up unit. Medical needs to be ran specifically by medical staff, not custody. If custody can not ensure without adding hundreds of more officers per institution that the inmates can't get to their appointments then maybe its time California gets rid of CCPOA and hires private security from schools. It would be cheaper and you could hold the staff more accountable. It’s out of control and we are over due to make drastic changes. It’s affecting our schools and our communities. It’s draining every resource California has. I think it's about time the Teacher's Union finally woke up and saw that they were ALLOWING the governor to take their money to fund that which only creates more crime. Sending minor offenders to prison is like sending them to Crime College. They live with the BIG offenders, and then have new skills when they get out. There are much more effective and less costly means to accomplish what society truly needs - to continue doing what we've been doing and expecting different results is insanity. So, yes - let's put more money into prisons since it isn't working - we don't need more education/skill centers that just might create productive tax paying citizens. We must starting screaming our message out loud from every mountain top.

 

Take this as an open invitation to attend our monthly community meeting; Golden Age Complex 740 South 36 Street 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. last Thursday each month. All of Us or None is a national organizing initiative to strengthen the voices of formerly incarcerated felons, and our families. Discrimination against one group of society has collateral damage towards all groups. Plan on attending an All of Us or None meeting and become part of a movement towards an equitable solution. All of US or None - San Diego

 

Peace & Blessings,

 Rev. Dennis Malone