On Monday, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner and I submitted an initiative to the Attorney General called the Safe Neighborhoods Act - a comprehensive measure that would solve many of our street crime problems, particularly those associated with rampant distribution of methamphetamine, gang violence and the coercion of youths to commit criminal acts.

Within hours of introducing the measure, a handful of opponents were out in force touting arguments apropos to nothing in the Safe Neighborhoods Act.

Were the opponent left wing fringe groups who support criminals over victims?

No. In fact, they were out-of-touch legislators who represent California communities that rank high in street crime and gang violence - Pro Tem Don Perata of Oakland, Speaker Fabian Nunez and Sen. Gloria Romero, both of Los Angeles.

What is the basis for their opposition?

• Perata's spokeswoman said we can't afford to spend more money on fighting crime. However, I believe that cities like Oakland, where murder increased more than 50 % and robbery increased 33 % between 2005 and 2006, are perfect examples of why the Safe Neighborhoods Act is necessary. It is time to reprioritize spending to protect residents in Oakland and other communities.
• A spokesman for Nunez called the measure "ballot-box budgeting." But the Speaker supports Prop. 98, which commits 40 % of the budget to education. The Safe Neighborhoods Act is far less onerous committing less than 1 percent.  
• All three claimed the measure would further crowd prisons. The same claim was made before 'Three Strikes" was enacted, yet never materialized.

Instead of firing off knee-jerk comments, I encourage my colleagues to take a closer look at the measure. I would be surprised if both the California Democrat Party and the Democrat presidential nominee - most likely Sen. Hillary Clinton, a co-author of the Feinstein anti-gang bill - didn't support the Safe Neighborhoods Act. After all, law enforcement agencies up and down the state support the measure, and I am confident Californians will overwhelmingly support the measure - Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike - as they always do with tough-on-crime measures.

Senator George Runner Represents Senate District 17

Senate District 17 incorporates several different counties. In Los Angeles County, the district incorporates the Antelope Valley, a majority of Santa Clarita Valley, and several communities in the San Fernando Valley including portions of Northridge, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, Sunland, and Tujunga.

The district incorporates portions of San Bernardino County including the Victor Valley and the district in Ventura County goes within one miles of the ocean near Carpentaria and includes the cities of Santa Paula, Fillmore and the community of Piru.

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