Santa Cruz residents fed up with crime effects of Prop. 47

It’s almost beenone year since voters passed Proposition 47 – ameasure that reduces many non-violent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.

The initiative aimed to reduce prison overcrowding, potentially saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars on criminal justice costs.

But residents in Santa Cruz County said they’re feeling the effects.

“Things are really, really escalating and a lot of the community is
concerned,” said resident Samantha Olden.

More than 100 residents showed up in Santa Cruz to learn more about Prop. 47. The meeting was hosted by both Olden with Take Back Santa Cruz and Deborah Elston with Santa Cruz Neighbors.

“I think things are falling through the cracks and there area lot of
people that don’t understand what they voted in last November,” said Elston.

The measure reduced penalties for most non-violent property and drug crimes. For example,being caught with a stolen firearm worth less than $950 is now a misdemeanor under the new law.

“It’s changed a lot and with Prop. 47 we are noticing that things
are changing even more,” said Elston.

This year Santa Cruzhas seen nearly10 percentmore property crimes compared to 2014 as well as an uptick in homicides.

Some fear it’s just the start of a growing crime wave.

“Now we are experiencing shootings and stabbings and armed
robberies, home break-ins; bike thefts are rampant,” said Olden.