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Dear Editor-
I read the Op-ed written by Susan Sher, a member of Ukiah City Council, and published on MendoFever. This was titled “False Promises regarding proposition 36”. Prop 36 is basically a fix to Proposition 47. Prop 47 was clearly false promises and cleverly marketed by our legislators. Prop 47 in its most simplistic view was legislation aimed at draining our prison populations, however it was sold to the voters as a way to make us safer. Those two goals simply didn’t coincide with one another.
There are a couple of glaring omissions from this editorial, which sadly seem to be a sign of the times. Standard values that were once normal aren’t represented here. Values such as stealing anything from someone else are wrong. Also, I saw no mention of our victims of crime. Outside of the District Attorney and Law enforcement it doesn’t seem like anyone is thinking about our victims, no one is talking about our victims. In this editorial, no one is representing our victims. We see our leaders making excuses for some extremely bad behaviors and that is also an example of lowering the bar. When you argue for mistakes, you get to own them forever. It’s time for the excuses to stop and accountability to begin.
When a person commits a crime, and that crime is investigated by a peace officer it begins a process of vindication and justice for the victims. The investigation is provided to the District Attorney who has the role of representing the victim and society, the defense represents the suspect. Throughout the prosecution, their work is overseen by our magistrates. Ultimately if found guilty, the duty of representing our victims and society is handed to our judges when they hand down a sentence. These judges are standing in for the victim because we need someone fair and impartial to represent the victims and society. It wouldn’t be fair if the victim was left to decide the punishment against someone who had victimized them. I see nowhere in this opinion any mention of justice for our victims.
I have written before about this strange new direction our state has gone. This is a case where the architects and engineers of the law (our legislators) are no longer speaking with the carpenters (Peace Officers and District Attorneys) who are tasked with enforcing the law. I see no mention of Council Member Sher speaking with leaders in law enforcement including our District Attorney, the Ukiah Chief of Police or myself. When confronted with issues that require one to be educated in, why not reach out to those who are educated in the field of study? That didn’t happen here and is another example of the architects not speaking with the carpenters.
The statements that Prop 36 would incarcerate drug dealers and users may be true. There has been a push to move away from punishment for crimes as if a stay in jail is a horrific event, it isn’t. When I see addicts dying in the brush surrounded by trash and human feces, and compare it to the folks I see in our classrooms at the jail, learning, growing, and becoming more, even if it is just for the time they are incarcerated I absolutely see what is humane and what is not. The Mendocino County Jail isn’t “Shawshank State Pen”. Also, people have forgotten when someone is in custody they aren’t victimizing folks in neighborhoods.
Currently, a prison sentence in the State of California has become a lifetime achievement award for the most persistent criminal who has refused several levels of supervision and have continued forward on a life of crime.
Let’s face it, narcotics are killing people. Lots of folks are getting rich on the addictions of others and poison is being marketed, distributed, and paid for with the lives of our residents including our children. I don’t think any of us should be arguing for more of the same. It isn’t working and we can all see it. Our state legislators have stated time and time again the dealer didn’t know he was going to kill someone when he sold them drugs so they shouldn’t face incarceration. I’ve seen a lot of folks not intending to kill someone in an accident when they were drinking and driving, they still face the consequences.
Many parts of Prop 47 simply didn’t work and we can all see it. So why was Prop 36 being fought with such vigor in Sacramento? The real issue was a little deeper and darker than most folks realize. Prop 47 created a lot of savings by closing prisons, and these savings provided a lot of programs in which a lot of people began getting paychecks. I am all for these programs if they work, however they haven’t. In a recent CAL-MATTERS report, we see the state simply misplaced about one billion dollars which they couldn’t account for. This money had been funneled through grants to various groups to help solve homelessness. Obviously, this isn’t working and it’s not working to the point no one seems to know where a billion dollars went. So, when we ask about the price of Prop 36 who is asking about the funding spent on Prop 47 and the funding which had no effect and simply can’t be found? To the contrary statistics show homelessness and drug usage is up 53% since the passage of Prop 47. Who is asking about that? Recently Senator Ernst from Iowa brought forward reporting which shows our federal food stamp program is losing roughly 1 billion dollars a month to fraud and errors. No one is talking about that either.
There is a way to reduce prison populations, they would require work our legislators simply don’t have the backbone for. This work must begin with education, opportunities and accountability. Sadly, these are three things that California seems to be struggling with constantly. Draining prison populations in the correct fashion would have taken a long time and it would have placed the focus on these societal issues. People would have had to ask themselves how many failures in a system occurred prior to 911 ever being dialed. It was simply easier to blame the legal system. So, the easy way out was to simply decriminalize a whole lot of crime. That was lowering the bar, and we can see it didn’t work.
When we fall on hard times, the only solution is to raise the bar, not to lower it. If we ever want to see this change, it is time to raise the bar and stop making excuses for bad behaviors. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” This makes me wonder if perhaps many leaders simply want us to wait until the entire nation is equally outraged and victimized before real changes can be made. We need to get back to basics, if you’re in a hole, perhaps you should stop digging.
Thank you
Sheriff Matt Kendall
Because DA Eyster did such a great job holding Kevin Murray accountable.
Shh… we were supposed to forget all about that by now. They don’t want anyone to bring it up ever again.
And the police beat down of a naked mental illness case near the airport that got wide spread youtube attention?
The only thing Mr. Kendall failed to mention it’s the part that he has taken money from funding to pocket himself. He has committed crimes as well as his sheriff’s committing crimes. But we won’t speak of that.
Good job Matt scandell
That’s bullshit, I know Matt and he is a stand up man, a local man of principle. You want Matt in your corner and your statement is complete bullshit.
“The statements that Prop 36 would incarcerate drug dealers and users.”
You must not have proofread. Perhaps attend some of those GED classes the inmates do.
Subject, verb, predicate. It’s very simple Sheriff. https://www.grammarwiz.com/parts-of-a-sentence.html
As the publisher, I think Matt Le F has an obligation to insert a (sic) at some point.
Truthfully, it’s frightening that someone who can barely write, a third grade level command of grammar, can be given a badge and gun and told to command other people with badges and guns.
An uneducated robot makes the perfect county sheriff.
Thank you Sheriff Kendall. Well said.
Does Ernst talk about the billions of dollars spent on Law Enforcement accountability?
What did Kevin Murray cost Ukiah? A couple million at least.
Is the EBT program really your best example of poorly administered programs Sheriff? I agree, there is a Homeless Industrial Complex that siphons funding away from those that it could help. EBT lets people pay rent and eat. Stop it with the victim blaming.
Even Kevin Murray is a societal problem. He is an example of an addict who has family to support him. The ones on the street don’t. The point is rapists are everywhere because rape is barely prosecuted. We have the lowest bar ever for rape. It’s barely a crime, much like street shitting it is viewed with tolerance and sympathy for the perpetrator.
The Sheriff also didn’t mention the guards union that got like 43% wage increase which prompted the momentum for prop 36 that motivated the state gov’t to empty/close some of the prisons. The state wanted to stop the bleeding by the guards union (and the health care requirements). In addition, most of the Fed covid money went to law enforcement agencies not housing or healthcare. There are articles on it. Law enforcement is sizable part of the accountability problem this state has with criminal justice not the just the voter frustration (via proposition 47) which I do think is a poor method to dealing with complex issues like drug addiction.
*Correction: Prop 47 not Prop 36
Thank you Sheriff.
Great letter, Sheriff…!!!
You have got to be joking.
New term: “Toxic Empathy”. The act of having empathy exclusively for the lawbreaker and none for the victims.
My husband spent 22 years in prison, benefited by time served, good behavior, and Prop 47. He’s been home for 4 years now. Had held a job and gone to school and graduated with welding and water treatment certification.
According to the Ukiah Police department, and also the FBI, crime rates are firm 15% in the first quarter of 2024. So, there may be bad apples coming out of prison under prop 47, but it’s nothing like the picture Matt Kendall is painting. Drug addiction and homelessness should not be painted as the reason prop 47 failed.
I do agree that the prison system lacks bigly in providing adequate programs for reentry, and parole offers 0 support to ex cons in terms of job training programs or help for recently released inmates.
I don’t know enough about prop 36 yet. I need to read my voter book, but until then, I don’t agree with trying to scare the public with this “crime is up” because of prop 47 nonsense. I encourage everyone to do their homework and think for themselves, not vote based on how a Sheriff tells you to vote.
Sorry for my fat thumbs…Ukiah PD and FBI report that crime is down 15% in 2024
The California DOJ reports show different. And the Governor was taken to task for saying crime was down in the state as well. The reporting of crime is down because retailers and residents have stopped reporting it. Closures of stores all over the state including In and Out burger in Oakland due to crime tells a different story.
The Governors office finally admitted reporting is down following retailers providing their loss reports due to theft being in the billions of dollars.
Sher is not representing her community and won’t be getting my vote in the future.
Way more elegant than I would have put it. Great response Matt.
As far as holding criminals accountable, I agree with the sheriff. It’s time to get tough on crime, not easier. It’s become a revolving door. The criminals know they will get a slap on the wrist. Yes on 36.
With the decay of morality criminals have become role models for many in our society. Being poor is not an excuse, being addicted is not an excuse, feeling discriminated against is not an excuse.
“ a prison sentence in the State of California has become a lifetime achievement award for the most persistent criminal who has refused several levels of supervision and have continued forward on a life of crime.”
Very true Sheriff! People wonder why we have criminals following our children on the streets of ukiah with very bad intentions. Eventually the parents will be FORCED to deal with these creeps because our “leaders” want to seem caring and inclusive to feel good about themselves. These “Leaders” have forgotten the criminals aren’t paying taxes or voting in city council election but I am.
Very well said Sheriff.
Is it possible that Matt Kendall is upset that people like him aren’t the ones who got ahold of that billion dollars? Or maybe they did get ahold of it?
We know one thing for sure… jail/prison doesn’t work either. All it does is churn out more determined criminals.
Incarnation is criminal college.
Sounds like you miss your babys daddy in the big house?
To the contrary I think jail does work. The two creeps who burglarized my house caught a few years and I haven’t seen them sense. So if you don’t want criminals in jail let them rob your house don’t call the police and they can just keep stealing from you. Then everyone can be happy.
Well said.
I already voted No on 36. I have no sympathy for drug users and no interest in “helping” them with their substance abuse issue. They gettin’ high day in and day out, enjoy it, have no desire to change, and if they OD so be it. If 36 had been about cracking down hard on drug dealers, lock them up for 10 years or more I would have been for it, but that’s not what it’s about.
Fuck you, Sheriff Matt akendall!!! You’re a cop! The absolute worst, most corrupt job on the planet outside of politicians! This letter is all political. Your SWORN job is to uphold the constitution of the USofA! You & your fellow clowns in uniform act like God’s amongst mortals. You serve & protect us! That’s your civic duty you swore to. You’re paid by us, the taxpayers. Your politics aren’t welcome or, needed! Do your fucking job, shut the fuck up, & keep your blue line gang members in check!
Sounds like you miss your babys daddy in the big house?
You write eloquently. Like somebody that should be doing 25 to life. Do you know they can record your IP address and figure out who you are. You write like a seasoned criminal everything you said shows that. You are a dumbass. I once wrote a rude email to attorney general Rob Banta in March 2022 now I can barely buy a firearm or ammunition in California even though I’ve never been arrested. If you had two brain cells, you would’ve kept your mouth shut. You’re on their list now. And you are the problem the kind of guy that stole my bicycle and the tools out of the back of my truck.
Keep your mouth shut and protect yourself if you don’t trust Johnny Law. Then pray they show up when you go down in smoke to protect your loved ones.
The paramount of Mendocino Counties dirtbags. Why the hell would you even comment. You bumped your head.
So you’re a criminal for sure. Probably a meth cooking scumbag that steals from his neighbor. Only people with that much disdain for LE are those looking over their shoulders because they know it’s only a matter of time until they get the silver bracelets. Would love to see the look of surprise on your face when the hammer falls. What a puke!
Well stated Sheriff Kendall. Seems to me it’s time to get back to common sense and recognize that prop 47 has been a complete failure, I voted for prop 36. I support Law Enforcement and law and order. I have lived in this community all of my life and raised my children here. Our State and cities and communities need help. Businesses have closed and left our State due to this reckless idea that crime shouldn’t have a consequence. Seems to me that society is teaching that you are a victim because you chose to go into a store and steal a business owner blind and it’s your right to do so. Most parents teach there children that stealing is wrong and there are consequence, so what are we teaching our children? Prop 47 has given a green light to literally run businesses owners out of business and hogtie Law Enforcement. Seems to me the tax payer is the victim and on the hook constantly. Matt Kendall has built a very good inmate services program at our County Jail. There are programs for addiction rehabilitation, educational programs, gardening, spiritual needs are being meant for anyone requesting them. We as a community need to support our sheriff and the men and women who protect and serve this County.
Be nice to see real names behind this sort of local democracy forum. I will public comment: I appreciated reading this public letter article, I also think Mendocino County is fortunate to have a Sheriff like Matt Kendall. My Two Cents, William A. Self from Redwood Valley.
William, my real name is Michael. And I do not disagree with you. But the priority should be a harsh crackdown on drugs. All the problems stem from drugs. The ready availability and cheap price. Meth is very inexpensive. People who use meth could not afford that much cocaine. both meth and fentanyl are very inexpensive.
Sheriff Matt Kendall is too intelligent and eloquently outspoken for Mendocino County. The influx of the cannabis capitalists that began in the early seventies set in motion a tolerance for criminal behavior that endures to this day. Unfortunately, this look-the-other-way attitude is supported by the alt-progressive politics of Mendocino County. It’s a generational phenomenon that in all probability won’t diminish until the price of dope utterly implodes, or Mendocino County experiences a political change driven by sanity.
The fentanyl users are killing themselves off, like Martha Stewart would say, ” and that’s a good thing.” In San Francisco the coroner sends their van around to all the free, supportive housing hotels, loading up the bodies every morning. The van is set up to hold 4 bodies. Then it drops them off, and goes out to get a second load.
The problem really began in 1996 with Proposition 215. The medical marijuana proposition. That was the beginning of the downfall of our County. I remember it well. How excited everyone was. If only they knew what it would lead to.
Sheriff Kendall, it is ironic that you claim no one is thinking or caring about our victims of crime. You don’t mention that Prop 36 will do away with the massive savings provided by Prop 47, 10% of which currently funds trauma recovery services for victims of crime. These funds are distributed as competitive grants administered by the California Victim Compensation Board. Nor do you mention that Prop 36 provides no additional funding for the likely flood of new inmates in our jails and prisons. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst has concluded that Prop 36 will raise criminal justice costs by tens of millions up to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Who will cover those costs? Our broke and mismanaged county?
There also seems to be reluctance on the part of our DA to prosecute low level crimes of retail theft. We hear stories of local stores that instruct their employees not to report these crimes because no action will be taken. Is it really necessary to have Prop 36 make these crimes felonies in order to inspire the DA to actually prosecute? Or is he too busy conducting a petty, vindictive, expensive and botched prosecution of an honorable elected official?