Mike Reynolds, author of the infamous Three Strikes legislation, is also the author of the Runner Initiative, which he says "will use a three-prong attack of tougher laws, cheaper jails, and more funding for public safety without raising taxes." Reynolds held a press conference on April 24 in front of the Fresno County Clerk's office. Joining Reynolds was Fresno County initiative chairperson Debbie Poochigian, Fresno Police Department Chief Jerry Dyer, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Fresno City Council member Jerry Duncan, and Fresno District Attorney Elizabeth Egan who were there to support the effort.

Throughout the press conference, members of the California Prison Moratorium Project (CPMP) could be heard criticizing the initiative. Debbie Reyes, the Fresno director of CPMP, said "the initiative would bankrupt the state by directing billions of dollars to fund prisons, probation, and police in the midst of a budget crisis that has caused drastic cuts to education and health care."

Reynolds, in his press release, referred to himself as the "father of three strikes" and said "when it comes to punks with guns, they've got to be stopped the first time. You can't wait for three strikes."

The purpose of the press conference was to announce that they were turning in over 700,000 signatures in 58 counties to qualify the Safe Neighborhoods Act for the November 2008 ballot.

Video and article | Defeat the Runner Initiative coalition grows