Members of the organization held a workshop Sept. 11 to alert the community about the propositions that will be facing voters on the November ballot.

Proposition 6, if passed, would be earmarked for criminal justice programs that could cost taxpayers billions. The funds would go toward law enforcement and corrections as well as to prisons, probation or police. The funds would come out of the States general fund and would threaten funding for vital programs such as education and welfare.

But more disturbingly, coalition organizers said that Proposition 6, known as the Safe Neighborhood Act, would target youth for adult prosecution. Youths 14 years or older charged with a gang related felony, including nonviolent felonies, would be presumed unfit for trial in a juvenile court. If convicted, the youths would be tried as adults and serve longer prison sentences. The charge would also leave permanent felony convictions on their records.

Proposition 6 would also provide money to local housing authorities to conduct criminal background checks for Section 8 recipients and occupants which could lead to the withdrawal of the housing subsidy for tenants with recent convictions.

The measure would also enforce stiffer penalties covering a wide range of infractions, including increasing penalties for nonviolent violations of gang injunctions, vandalism, gun possession, and even penalties for a minor if he or she attempts to remove a GPS device.

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