An inmate talks on a phone in Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail in downtown L.A.
This complaint is all about money for the cities, but California Governor Jerry Brown is going to live to regret this massive policy shift.
As California begins redirecting new inmates and parolees to counties this month, nine big-city mayors are asking the cash-strapped state for money to address a “brewing public safety crisis.”
The mayors, including Sacramento’s Kevin Johnson and Los Angeles’ Antonio Villaraigosa, contend in a letter they sent Thursday to Gov. Jerry Brown that his “realignment” plan will result in higher police costs. Villaraigosa led the charge earlier last week by calling the program “political malpractice” and saying his city needed to move 150 police officers to help the probation department supervise offenders.
The mayors have asked Brown for “an immediate guaranteed funding stream for city-related realignment costs.” Cities also want funding as part of a November 2012 ballot initiative being considered by the governor to enshrine realignment dollars in the state constitution, said Villaraigosa spokeswoman Sarah Sheahan.
“On behalf of millions of Californians who reside in our cities, we respectfully request your immediate attention to a brewing public safety crisis that could threaten the success of the recently-launched realignment program,” the mayors’ letter states. “As a result, we believe the safety of our cities could be at risk.”
Jerry Brown’s state budget was a “rosey scenario” and not based in reality. Under a federal court mandate to relieve state prison crowding rather than try to raise taxes, cut spending in other areas, or let a bunch of criminals out of prison and county jails, Brown derived this scheme.
It won’t work and will cost the cities and counties much more. This plan is nothing but a shell game with Brown shifting state costs to local governments who cannot pay for them.
So, what does this mean?
More criminals on the streets and a less safe California.
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