Initiative supported by DA Zimmer moves closer to being added to November ballot

MELANIE NGUYEN, The Bakersfield Californian
·2 min read

The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act has moved closer to appearing on the November ballot after it received more than 900,000 signatures from supporters throughout the state.

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer supports the initiative and volunteered to collect signatures. She said the act aims to reverse the effects of Proposition 47, called the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which was passed in 2014.

Proposition 47 reduced certain theft and drug-related offenses to misdemeanors in an effort to focus on violent crimes, according to the California Courts website.

But Zimmer said Proposition 47 reduced accountability for criminals.

“Everyone has suffered because of Prop. 47. Individuals have suffered who have gotten addicted to drugs, their families have suffered. Also the victims of crime have suffered,” Zimmer said.

Zimmer said the name “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act" was misleading and the “Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction” Act is more relevant because all three are interconnected, in her opinion.

“When you’re addicted to drugs, you steal to support your habit and then after a period of time, most people become homeless,” Zimmer said.

However, Zimmer clarified that the initiative does not aim to legislate homelessness, because being homeless is not a crime.

“Homelessness is just the consequence for many of these poor people,” Zimmer said.

She said this initiative aims to reinstate drug felony court and mandatory treatment centers, and to more strictly penalize repeat offenders of retail and drug-related crimes. She said California has very weak drug laws.

Zimmer supports the initiative, along with the Californians for Safer Communities Coalition, a group made up of several district attorneys, other elected officials and business owners.

The 900,000 signatures for the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act were submitted to California's secretary of state on April 22. The state has 60 days to verify the signatures. A total of 546,651 valid signatures are required for the initiative to appear on the November ballot.