Crime initiative could hit ballot

A get-tough-on-crime initiative is likely to make the November ballot, supporters say.

Petitions for the Safe Neighborhoods Act were turned in to California counties Friday. Local politicians backing the initiative included 2nd Assembly District candidate Jim Nielsen, the regional co-chair, and Assemblyman Doug La Malfa, R-Richvale.

With 435,000 valid signatures needed and more than 750,000 obtained, supporters were confident the initiative would get on the November ballot.

Voters would get the chance to vote for a range of anti-crime measures including global positioning monitoring and tougher punishment for gang crime. The measure would also provide for more probation funding and early intervention for youthful offenders.

"This is a combination of carrot and stick," said Nielsen.

Local police and sheriff's departments could also see more funding from the Safe Neighborhoods Act, though the total fiscal impact on county jails and local criminal justice agencies is unknown, according to state estimates.

The initiative guarantees existing COPS grant funding that is sometimes used in budget negotiations, said Will Smith, chief of staff for state Sen. George Runner, R-Antelope Valley, one of the authors of the initiative.

"They can count on the money, that is the thing," said Smith. "It's the sustainability of the resources."

Police and sheriffs and probation departments in Yuba and Sutter counties could get another several hundred thousand dollars per year on top of COPS grants. Yuba City, for example, could get $60,000 more per year for police. Local jurisdictions would also get money for gang prosecution, adult and juvenile probation monitoring, and GPS gang monitoring.

Local law enforcement officials back the measure.

Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor said he fully supports the initiative, saying it stabilizes funding for vital programs. It also offers additional prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Marysville Police Chief Wallace Fullerton said there exists a number of provisions that would be helpful to law enforcement, including Section 8 provisions that would keep neighborhoods from deteriorating.

But even proponents wonder how the Safe Neighborhoods Act would be paid for when the state already faces a huge budget deficit.

"There are a lot of things I really like listed on this measure," said Fullerton. "I just wonder how do we pay for it."

Nielsen said "existing budget monies" would fund the initiative.

Ray Janssen, a Yuba City resident who has spoken before Yuba City City Council on the need for increased public safety, said the initiative "sounded like a tremendous program."

But after searching the initiative's Web site, he wondered how it would be funded.

"I couldn't find anything what I am voting for, how it's paid for, what's the process," said Janssen.