County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles A. City Councilmember Curren D. Price Jr., state Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer, religious and labor leaders today joined Susan Burton, executive director of an organization that helps female parolees rebuild their lives, in urging voters Prop. 47 next Tuesday.
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Susan Burton, executive director of A New Way of Life Reentry Project
A New Way of Life Reentry Project, led by Ms. Burton, was founded by Mr. Ridley-Thomas. If the statewide initiative is approved, it would reduce the classification of most non-serious and non-violent property and drug crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor.
At the noon hour, the political leaders gathered at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME).
“On Nov. 4, we have an opportunity to invest $250 million each year to make our schools and neighborhoods safer,” Mr. Ridley-Thomas said. “We can redirect money currently being spent on state prisons to fund K-through-12 education programs.”
Prop. 47 is called the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. Law enforcement, crime victims and teachers support the measure that would change certain petty theft charges to misdemeanors and keep minor offenders from serving state prison sentences. Prop. 47 would dedicate millions in state funds for safe neighborhood and school programs. Judges and district attorneys statewide endorse Prop. 47.
“We can give our young people a second chance,” said Mr. Ridley-Thomas.
“Judges, district attorneys, teachers and labor leaders statewide endorse Prop. 47. Religious leaders, like Rev. Edgar Boyd and Bishop Charles E. Blake, support Prop. 47.”
Rev. Edgar Boyd, senior pastor, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Michael Green, County regional director, SEIU 721, Rev. K.W. Tulloss, director, National Action Network Los Angeles, Rev. Norman S. Johnson Sr., senior pastor, First New Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, and Alex Johnson, state director, Children’s Defense Fund, spoke in favor of Prop. 47.
Mr. MacFarlane may be contacted at fredmacfarlane@mac.com
Susan Burton, executive director of A New Way of Life Reentry Project, a community-based organization dedicated to providing the services and housing to transform their lives of South L.A. women who’ve been incarcerated said, “Proposition 47 takes state prison funds used for locking up minor, nonviolent offenders and uses that money for schools, drug treatment and mental health diversion programs. Let’s send a message on Election Day. Let’s dismantle the cradle to prison pipeline. Let’s make schools and diversion programs our top priority, not prisons and incarceration of women for minor offenses. Vote yes on Prop 47.”
For more information on Prop 47, go to: safetyandschools.com/.
