For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jude Schneider (310) 497-7312 or
Eric Rose (805) 624-0572
Los Angeles, October 13, 2008 – The Los Angeles Police Protective League will begin running public radio announcements that will shed light on the devastating impact that Proposition 5 would have on Californians.
The state proposition, which Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley calls by “the worst public safety proposal ever,” is also opposed by the California District Attorneys Association, the California State Sheriff’s Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the California Police Chief’s Association and former Governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis.
“Proposition 5 is poorly drafted, deeply flawed and fiscally irresponsible. It takes up to a billion dollars annually out of the state's General Fund to fund a massive new bureaucracy and mandate a controversial drug treatment program for criminal offenders that provides no accountability and little likelihood of successful rehabilitation,” said Tim Sand, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
Drug treatment and rehabilitation advocates and experts, community leaders, civil rights organizations, crime victim groups, drug prevention organizations and California's leading law enforcement associations also oppose Proposition 5 because it will exacerbate the on-going fiscal crisis for state and local governments and inevitably lead to cutbacks for existing vital services.
“This long and complicated initiative is wildly unrealistic in how it is written and will impose a massive new burden on local governments and local public safety services. Incredibly, the initiative will cost $150 million in January from the just-signed state budget - money that has not been budgeted and will increase our current deficit. Start-up costs for Proposition 5 alone in 2009 are at least $600 million,” added Sands.
The LAPPL is taking this action because of the disastrous effects Proposition 5 would have on law enforcement in Los Angeles and in California. The proposition would restrict the ability of the criminal justice system to sentence hard-core criminals, would lighten sentences for criminals who deal large quantities of drugs and would eviscerate the tools needed to ensure drug users successfully complete drug treatment. The LAPPL urges all voters to oppose Proposition 5.
To listen to the ads online, please visit www.LAPD.com. A transcript of the radio ad is included below.
TRANSCRIPT OF RADIO AD LAPPL Prop 5 Radio spot
An urgent paid message from the Los Angeles Police Protective League
Proposition 5 has been called the “Drug Dealer’s Bill of Rights,” which is one big reason that LAPD officers are joining Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Police Chief Bratton and District Attorney Steve Cooley in urging you to vote NO on 5.
Proposition 5 shortens parole for drug dealers from three years to just six months, and it could allow those charged with domestic violence, child abuse, identity theft and vehicular manslaughter to escape prosecution altogether.
Prop 5 as written, could result in more drug abuse, addiction, and the elimination of any chance for long term rehabilitation.
Prop 5 will waste billions, but even worse, it’ll waste lives.
We need to find effective ways to lower drug use and addiction among our youth. But this initiative does the exact opposite.
Please. Join with law enforcement and Mothers Against Drunk Driving in voting No on Proposition 5.
About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com
