Gavin Newsom accused of sidelining Californias tough-on-crime measure after voters landslide passing

California Democrats claimed they’ve put money behind a voter-approved tough-on-crime law in Gov.Gavin Newsom’s final state budget this year — but critics from both sides of the aisle dispute the amount and blasted the governor for brazenly ignoring the voter mandate.Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, which increases penalties for repeat thieves and drug dealers, in 2024.

The prop also created an option for those convicted to get mental health or substance abuse treatment through a court-mandated treatment program.But Newsom, who opposed Prop.36 over fears it would increase mass incarceration, has been reticent to allocate money for counties to fully enforce the law, critics said.“Californians spoke loud and clear when they overwhelmingly passed Prop.

36 to crack down on repeat thieves and drug dealers,” said Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R).“Two years later, and Sacramento still hasn’t provided the funding needed to fully implement it.”Last year, the governor said he put aside $100 million in that budget for Prop 36, though many said that was far from sufficient to pay for the sweeping crime crackdown, which raises costs for county law enforcement agencies and service providers.

One Republican state senator, for instance, has tried to push a bill to fully fund the proposition at $400 million.This year, Newsom was blasted by law enforcement groups for seemingly ignoring Prop.36 entirely in the May version of the budget.In the final approved budget, legislative leaders claimed they appropriated $375 million for Prop 36, but budget documents only show $50 million directly for Prop 36, aimed at probation and helping courts with increased workloads from the law.Newsom has claimed that funding for related initiatives should count as supporting the implementation of Prop.

36.“Prop.

36 still has money from the $100 million a few years ago,” Newsom said at a budget presentation.“It still has the ability to attach billions of billions...