(April 16, 2018, 12:40 p.m.) -- Second district Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce has joined with a number of allied LB policy groups (listed below) in opposing an An April 16 release [lists as contact James Suazo, who happens to be Associate Director "Building Healthy Communities Long Beach"], indicates that "Community members with the Long Beach Coalition for Safety and Justice" urge rejection of the Mungo-Price agenda item. The release lists as opponents: Councilwoman Pearce; Tanu Ah You, Project ALOFA & All of Us or None & Long Beach Coalition for Safety and Justice; Amber Rose Howard, Californians United for a Responsible Budget & All of Us or None; Jose Osuna, Restore Ink & All of Us or None; Dale Lendrum, CSULB Rising Scholars; and Pastor Misi Tagaloa, Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization. The release states, "This City Council agenda item is a step in the wrong direction and a dismissal of the many community members who have received a second chance and changed their lives because of justice reform measures like Propositions 47 and 57," said Tanu Ah You of Project ALOFA and member of the Long Beach Coalition for Safety and Justice. "It's important that we double down on justice reform and continue to reduce our reliance on costly and ineffective incarceration. We have spent billions of taxpayer dollars every year on incarceration, failing to address the root causes of crime like mental health and addiction. This agenda item is a step in the wrong direction and inconsistent with our Long Beach values of fairness and inclusion." In agendizing the item, Councilmembers Mungo and Price wrote in pertinent part (details below): "To address the unintended consequences of recent state laws and further protect public safety and the safety of the visitors, businesses and residents of the City of Long Beach, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a resolution for Council consideration in support of the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018." A quick internet search shows a number of smaller cities have enacted similar resolutions, but it appears that Long Beach would be the largest CA city to date to do so. [Scroll down for further.] |
Councilwoman Pearce is currently the target of a signature-gathering effort seeking her recall. Councilmembers Mungo and Uranga fell short of majorities in multi-candidate April races and now face June 2018 runoffs. Councilmembers Price, Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Richardson and Mayor Garcia are safely re-elected to second terms. Along with incumbents Supernaw, Andrews and Austin, they'll decide what happens on Tuesday night.
The petition-initiated measure began collecting signatures in January. Councilmembers Mungo and Price filed paperwork with the City Clerk's office before noon April 9 to put their item agendizing support for the measure on the April 17 Council agenda. On April 10, 3rd dist. voters re-elected Price with roughly 75%+ votes and sent Councilwoman Mungo into a runoff with roughly 48%+ votes. For over a year and a half (considerably before the petition-initiative drive), Councilwoman Price, an OC Deputy DA, has cited aspects of the three current laws as contributing factors to homeless-related issues and neighborhood impacting crime. At a September 2016 public meeting organized by her office (with Police Chief Luna also speaking), Councilwoman Price detailed at length (without notes) her views on problems with the status quo (LBREPORT.com coverage includes audio here.) On March 25, 2018, coiciding with a "Spring Into Spring" concert presented by her office, Price offered event attendees an opportunity to sign initiative petitions for the "Reducing Crime and Keeping CA Safe Act." Councilwoman Mungo (whose campaign website says she "currently works for the County of Los Angeles" without further details but says she "has held leadership roles in the Chief Executive Office, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Animal Care and Control, the Assessor’s Office and the Fire Department") has previously mentioned AB 109/Props 47 & 57 as problematic but until now in less prominent ways than Price. An April 10 release from her office says, "The Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018 provides for several critical reforms including the prevention of early release of violent offenders, holding serial thieves accountable, reinstating DNA collection, and repairing the state’s broken parole system." The ballot measure committee now collecting petition signatures for the "Reducing Crime and Keeping CA Safe Act" has received significant funding from the Association for L.A. County Deputy Sheriffs as well as the Los Angeles Police Protective League...and incumbent Mungo (now facing a June runoff to retain her Council seat) is an L.A. County Reserve Deputy Sheriff. blog comments powered by Disqus Recommend LBREPORT.com to your Facebook friends:
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