The No campaign says Prop 36 is a fraud, while the Yes campaign calls for consequences

In the final days of the 2024 campaign, those opposed Proposition 36 gathered in downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning to voice their disapproval of the proposal, while supporters say they want consequences.

Proposition 36 would allow felony charges for possession of certain drugs and for theft under $950 if the defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions.

If passed, it would mean that people convicted of certain drug or theft offenses could receive harsher penalties, such as longer prison terms. In certain cases, people who possess illegal drugs would have to complete treatment or serve up to three years in prison.

Opponents say it’s a fraud that will set us back. Prop 36 would essentially repeal Prop 47 which was passed ten years ago and made some theft and drug offenses felonies instead.

“Proposition 36 will eliminate billions of dollars in funding that would otherwise have gone to crime prevention and harm prevention services,” said LaNaisha Edwards, with the group Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “Services like drug and mental health treatment, trauma recovery centers for victims and re-entry services for those coming home who need stability and opportunity.”

Supporters of Proposition 36 call it reform, not a repeal of Proposition 47, and include many Democratic state mayors and Democrats running for congress.

Los Angeles City Councilman Eunisses Hernandez is urging voters to vote no because he says Proposition 36 will lead to mass incarceration.

“If you are serious about tackling crime, then you will make investments to fight crime. This initiative right here is a corporate-driven knock-off that they’ve been pushing since Prop 47 was passed, and many of our Democrats are Democrats, but they’re moderate Democrats who are tied to the success of these corporations,” Hernandez said.

Prop 36 supporters say offenders will be able to make a decision about treatment and prison, and if they choose prison, they won’t be able to use drugs while incarcerated. But drugs continue to end up in prisons. just this week seven inmates were hospitalized after a possible drug exposure incident.

But former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, who is running ads urging a yes vote, tells Eyewitness News we need to have consequences for drug crimes and retail theft, or the same people will continue to commit these crimes .

“There are two things that people feel. One is that they see more crime around them and two is that they feel unsafe. So what you have on the ballot with Prop 36 is an opportunity to change that Caruso said.

“A cornerstone of good governance is trying something and when it doesn’t work, pivoting and trying to fix it. 36 does that by holding serial killers accountable,” he added.