San Mateo County Supervisors delay vote on Prop 36 support

San Mateo County supervisors tabled a vote that had been scheduled for Tuesday on a resolution in support of Prop 36, a November ballot measure that would impose stronger penalties for retail theft and drug crimes.

The statewide initiative would reform parts of Prop 47, a 2014 measure that classified theft crimes under $950 as misdemeanors with the aim of keeping low-level offenders out of crowded prisons.

The resolution in support of Prop 36 was authored by District 3 Supervisor Ray Mueller. The measure would allow prosecutors to charge repeat offenders with a felony and increase punishments for drug dealing. But the proposal has also met with stiff opposition from criminal justice reform advocates and progressive lawmakers, and its passage in November is far from certain.

The measure also doesn’t have support from all members of the board.

District 2 Supervisor Noelia Corzo said she opposes Prop 36.

“As a former social worker who has seen the ugly reality of addiction in my own family, I do believe in supporting crime prevention and drug treatment programs. Prop 36 will not address the problem it is trying to solve,” she said. “I do not support misguided mandates that increase local and state costs in the tens of millions of dollars annually and our voters shouldn’t either.”

Dozens of residents came to Tuesday’s meeting to speak about the bill, but the board asked County Executive Officer Mike Callagy to provide more information on the fiscal impact Prop 36 would have on the county. The board plans to discuss the details at a future meeting.

A day before Tuesday’s meeting, Mueller led a press conference with leaders who support Prop 36.

He cited increasing retail crime thefts as the reason for such a measure.

“The county’s largest cities — Daly City, San Mateo and Redwood City — all have seen increases in retail thefts in the last several years,” Mueller said.

The small town of Colma in San Mateo County leads the Bay Area in the highest number of retail thefts.

At the news conference, Supervisor-elect Jackie Speier said she supports tougher penalties for retail and drug crimes.

“I supported Proposition 47 and I support Proposition 36 because it is necessary and a common-sense adjustment to our current law,” the former congresswoman said. “Under current law, you can repeatedly commit retail theft and continue to be charged with a misdemeanor.”