| Dear Community, Newsom’s “CARE” Court legislation (SB 1338) dishonestly uses words like voluntary and graduation, when in fact, what we are talking about is coercion and intimidation. It is disturbingly obvious that the real function of this bill is to further embed the judicial system and the prison industrial complex inside of our health care system. Tomorrow this dangerous bill heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a vote. Take action: tell key state legislators to oppose “CARE” Court. |
| This CARE Court proposal has a $65 million starting cost and claims to combat houselessness and support people with mental health disabilities, but provides no funding for permanent supportive housing or mental health services such as peer supporters and community-based organizations. The bill instead pushes for ineffectual forced treatment, allocates funds to expand our racist criminal legal system, and gives law enforcement sweeping new powers over people with mental health disabilities. For years we’ve been fighting to remove police from mental health response; this bill all but guarantees it. Dozens of organizations oppose CARE Court, and this past week two of the state’s largest newspapers, the LA Times and the SF Chronicle, came out against it as well. Still, Assemblymember Ash Kalra is the ONLY legislator to vote NO so far. SB 1338 is headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee this Wednesday, August 3rd. Once it gets out of this committee, it will move quickly to Newsom’s desk to become law. This is our last real chance to stop it. Send a message today to members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee: tell them people need housing and real care, not courts. |
In solidarity,
Justice Teams Network
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