Stanton council adopts resolution supporting Proposition 36 after extended debate

The Stanton City Council voted to adopt a resolution supporting Proposition 36, the homelessness, drug addiction and theft reduction act, following a presentation by Connor Medina of the League of California Cities and a discussion among council members on public safety, treatment incentives and fiscal impacts.

Connor Medina, regional public affairs manager for the Orange County division of the League of California Cities, told the council Proposition 36 would allow prosecutors to aggregate the value of multiple thefts so felony charges can be sought against serial retail thieves. "Prop 36 removes this restriction aggregation and permits the value of any stolen property or merchandise to be added together so that a felony may be charged," Medina said. He also described provisions that increase sentences for fentanyl trafficking and create a drug-court/treatment pathway that can convert certain felony charges into mandated treatment with eventual expungement on successful completion.

Supporters on the council said the measure targets organized, habitual theft and fentanyl traffickers rather than one-time petty thefts. "The citizens of our city are sick and tired of what's going on with fentanyl, local crime, prostitution, theft. And if we don't hold people accountable, it's gonna continue on," Mayor Schauffer said when moving for adoption. Opponents and some council members cautioned that enhancing criminal penalties can increase incarceration and that treatment programs are difficult to complete; one council member compared potential effects to prior "three strikes" policies and urged more emphasis on prevention and reentry supports.

Medina and council members discussed fiscal questions raised in the agenda packet and the Legislative Analyst's Office materials. Medina said treatment funding would largely be drawn from Medi‑Cal and other state programs and that Proposition 36 does not entirely reverse Proposition 47 but instead amends parts of it to allow felony charges in some cases. He cited UCLA research supporting coercive treatment programs as effective at encouraging treatment entry and retention.

On a roll call vote the council approved the resolution in support of Proposition 36 with three votes in favor and one recorded abstention (Anne Alafsane). The motion was made by Mayor Schauffer and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Warren; Council Member Taylor voted yes, Council Member Perez spoke at length and recorded concerns prior to the vote.

The council packet included the Legislative Analyst's Office analysis and a Cal Cities primer showing how Proposition 36's measures relate to other retail theft legislation that the legislature enacted. Medina noted several neighboring Orange County cities had already taken positions backing the measure and that many jurisdictions across the state had expressed bipartisan support.

Council members who spoke said they expected the issue to continue to generate debate in the public and at future council meetings; council direction was limited to adopting the resolution, not to specific local implementation steps.