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| Prop 98 Threatens California's Public Safety |
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There is a dangerous measure on the June 2008 ballot that would threaten the ability of local police and sheriffs’ departments to address public safety issues in local communities. Dubbed the “Hidden Agendas Scheme”, this measure would prohibit government from taking over crime-infested properties (such as drug labs).
It also
would prohibit the adoption of laws and regulations that "transfer an
economic benefit to one or more private persons at the expense of the
private owner." Since the courts have ruled that virtually all
land-use regulations are likely to impose costs on the affected party,
while transferring economic benefits to another private party, this
prohibition would negatively impact the police powers of government.
Shockingly, this measure contains NO exemption for actions intended to
protect the public's health and safety! That why groups like the California Police Chiefs Association, California Fire Chiefs Association, and California Professional Firefighters all OPPOSE Prop. 98.
Many times, local police and sheriffs' departments work with local governments to address public health and safety problems through regulations before a more serious issue arises. This initiative would prevent those regulations from being enacted. Local and state governments would have no power to regulate or take over properties that have become blighted and crime infested. Proposition 98 would prevent the enactment of laws and regulations intended to protect the public's health, safety and welfare, including: · Regulations to limit the operating hours of liquor stores, or bars and nightclubs in residential areas, even if the bar or nightclub had a history of noise, litter, and loitering. · Regulations on the number or the types of businesses that are permitted near homes or schools. For example, a local jurisdiction may want to limit the concentration of liquor stores in an area because of problems with crime. · Regulations or actions intended to eliminate the conditions that contribute to crime, such as revitalizing areas rife with blight, absentee landlords and slums, and acquiring properties that have a history of criminal activity. |