Coastal voices: Help support local law enforcement

Whether California faces rosy or gloomy times, we must make public safety the number one priority. If our streets, parks and schools aren't safe from gang violence and other crimes, then nothing else really matters.

Unfortunately, in recent years funding for public safety has been significantly cut. While funding for K-12 and higher education has increased a total of 21.8 percent and Health and Human Services funding has increased 12.2 percent since fiscal year 2003-2004, public safety has experienced an 11.9 percent decrease during this same time.

These continued cuts in public safety dollars do nothing for the safety of Californians and are especially a slap in the face to the law-abiding citizens of our communities.

Democratic members of the Budget Conference Committee have approved deep cuts to public safety programs including the Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS), which provides for front-line law enforcement and the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) while altogether eliminating several vital programs such as California's Methamphetamine Interdiction Program (CALMMET) and the Small and Rural County Sheriffs Grant Program.

This represents over $650,000 to the Del Norte Sheriff's Office. The resulting cuts will reduce narcotics enforcement, special investigations and reduce uniformed patrol presence in our community. Combined with a proposed corrections package that puts some offenders back out on the streets without supervision, these cuts will significantly exacerbate the ability of law enforcement to provide essential public safety services.

These programs are critical in preventing our most at-risk youths from joining gangs, getting involved in drugs and entering a lifetime of crime.

Therefore, we must secure public safety funding so we can work locally to protect the streets of our communities and not rely on Sacramento as they continue to demonstrate a lack of regard for our needs as it relates to your safety. That's why I support Proposition 6, the Safe Neighborhoods Act, which protects and secures funding for public safety in any type of budget environment.

In addition to protecting important gang prevention and intervention funding, this initiative prohibits bail to illegal aliens who are charged with violent or gang crimes; it creates tougher punishment for gang crimes, drive-by shootings, methamphetamine distribution and victim intimidation; it helps victims who have been intimidated by gang criminals and it funds victim-witness protection programs in our communities.

As your sheriff, I am asking you for your support in helping local law enforcement do the job your community deserves and to send a message to Sacramento that public safety is a priority and it's funding should never be at risk. To learn more about Proposition 6, the Safe Neighborhoods Act, please visit the Web site at www.safeneighborhoodsact.com. Click on "Join the Fight" and "Contributions to help make this initiative become law."

All of us deserve to feel secure in our homes and communities and to know that law enforcement has the resources it needs to keep us safe.