With California facing a budget crisis of historic proportions, we
need creative, equitable solutions now more than ever. Instead, the
Governor has proposed balancing the budget on the backs of children,
disabled folks, the elderly, students, and teachers -- the people of
California.
But our state can't rise to economic recovery while its people are held
down and left out. That's why the Ella Baker Center has partnered with
the Center for Juvenile & Criminal Justice, Drug Policy Alliance, the American Civil Liberties Union California Affiliates, and Families to Amend California's Three Strikes to create
the People's Budget Fix,
a series of smart criminal justice reforms to increase public safety,
protect the social safety net and save the state billions.
For decades, prison spending has drained state resources and
devastated communities with a cycle of violence and incarceration. The
People's Budget Fix would help break that cycle by investing in
programs proven to help youth and adults rebuild their lives:
- Ella Baker Center's Books Not Bars campaign and the Center for Juvenile & Criminal Justice propose closing the state's dangerous and dysfunctional Division of
Juvenile Justice (DJJ) youth prisons and shifting responsibility and
funding to local programs proven to work. For more information, see our
memo to the Budget Conference Committee.
- Drug Policy Alliance proposes developing a community health-based response to minor drug
offenses by expanding proven addiction treatment programs that have
helped thousands turn their lives around. For more information, see
Drug Policy Alliance's memo to the Budget Conference Committee.
- American Civil Liberties Union California Affiliates propose
converting all current death sentences to sentences of life without
possibility of parole and temporarily suspending new death sentences
for five years. Click here for more information on the costs of the death penalty.
- Families to Amend California's Three Strikes (FACTS) proposes limiting Three Strikes penalties to those convicted of violent crimes, rather than shoplifting, drug possession and other nonviolent property offenses, for a savings of over $1 billion per year. Click here for the FACTS proposal.
The
People's Budget Fix would save the state $12 billion dollars over the
next five years, save lives, and help us realign our priorities toward
shared prosperity.
How You Can Help
Organizations Endorsing the People's Budget
- ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties
- Asian Law Caucus
- Asian Pacific Environmental Network
- Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers
- California Church Impact
- California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (for ACLU platform)
- Californians for Justice
- Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice
- Center for Young Women's Development
- Children's Defense Fund
- Death Penalty Focus of San Diego
- Death Penalty Focus (for ACLU Platform)
- Equal Justice Soceity
- Friends Committee on Legislation of California
- Erik D. Fritsvold, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Criminology, University of San Diego
- Lifetime
- National Center for Lesbian Rights
- National Council on Crime and Delinquency
- New Year's Movement for Justice
- Progressive Jewish Alliance
- UC Students Association
The People's Budget Saves Vital Services
The Governor's proposed cuts will only further
devastate our communities and our state. The Governor's proposal would
barely touch the bloated prison budget, while making deep, permanent
cuts to the state's vital services. The Governor's proposal includes:
- Eliminating the Healthy Families program, which helps provide health insurance for more than 900,000 children;
- Eliminating state funding of community clinics, state parks, in-home care and Cal Grants for community college students;
- Cutting hundreds of millions in state funding to California universities and public schools.
The People's Budget Fix would produce $2.4 billion dollars in annual savings, which would pay for:
- Enrolling 200,255 students who stand to lose all or part of their tuition assistance under the Governor's plan;
- Insuring 942,000 children who would be denied health care if the Healthy Families program is eliminated;
- Preserving in-home care for 426,000 elderly, blind and disabled Californians;
- Keeping open 220 state parks and dozens of community clinics;
- And
supporting the 521,000 families who would lose temporary
financial assistance, childcare and job training if the Governor
eliminates funding for the state's welfare-to-work program.
The People's Budget Fix alone will not solve the economic crisis.
But these reforms to California's justice system will help protect
essential state services and keep us on track to not only recover, but
to begin building an equitable and prosperous California together.
