The Truth about Measure S

Written by: CURB

Since 1980, California has built 23 prisons and one university. This construction has been matched by harsher sentences, increased policing, and a shift in financial priorities from health and human services to policing and prisons. These changes have caused the prison population to go from 20,000 to 170,000—more than any other state—proving that the number of cages determines the number of people locked in them. The trend for the past thirty years has been clear: California builds a new prison, fills the prison to over its capacity, and then builds another.

Measure S is a unique opportunity to stop that trend. California has been given a federal court order to reduce its prison overcrowding by 43,000 over the next two years. Both the District Court 3 Judge Panel and the Expert Panel on Adult Offender and Recidivism Reduction Programs agree that we cannot build our way out of this problem. If Santa Barbara county builds another jail, the State will avoid any real plans for reducing overcrowding and instead will shift the cost and suffering due to overcrowding to Santa Barbara County jails and taxpayers.

!!VOTE “NO” ON MEASURE S!!

 What is Measure S?

Measure S is a ½ cent sales tax that will generate approximately $30 million - $15 to build a new jail, $5 to cops and firefighters, and $5 to mental health services.
What is the truth about Measure S?

Proponents want you to believe that Measure S is an answer to overcrowding and mental health needs. But Measure S will only increase the prison population and continue a trend of prioritizing imprisonment over social welfare.

We don’t need another jail!

How will this affect you?

More jails means more arrests, especially for poor people and people of color in Santa Barbara County. If Santa Barbara County residents are prepared to increase our taxes, we need to prioritize community basic needs like: affordable housing, education, living wage jobs, and medical and mental healthcare – not another jail!

Measure S is Dangerous

A new jail will not improve conditions and will increase the prison population. It will not make us safer. It will not address overcrowding. The trend for the past thirty years has been clear: California builds a new prison, fills the prison to over its capacity, and then builds another. It will mean more people denied their basic needs. It will mean more people get locked up!

!!VOTE “NO” ON MEASURE S!!

For more information about stopping prison spending, visit us at http://www.curbprisonspending.org/