Beaumont School Board's Orozco Touts 'Public Safety Realignment' Forum 2/15

A Beaumont school board member who is running for State Assembly announced on Monday a forum "to discuss the impact on community safety" created by passage of Public Safety Realignment Act AB 109.

The forum is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 15 at Casa Palacios Restaurant, 410 E. 6th St., according to Beaumont Unified School District board member Mark Orozco.

Speakers will include Banning police Chief Leonard Purvis, Beaumont police Chief Frank Coe, Desert Hot Springs police Chief Pat William, and a representative from District Attorney Paul Zellerbach's Office, according to the forum announcement.

The law AB109, enacted by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown last year, took effect in Octobor 2011.

The law "specifies that certain offenders and parole violators can no longer be housed in State prison and will instead be incarcerated in the local County jail," Orozco said Monday in the announcement.

"Under the measure, so-called 'nons' - individuals convicted of crimes that fall into the non-violent, non-serious, non-sexually oriented category and whose principal offense results in a sentence of three years or less - are to be incarcerated in county jail to serve their time."

The state Corrections & Rehabilitation Department web site touts AB 109 as "The Cornerstone of California's Solution to Reduce Overcrowding, Costs, and Recidivism."

Orozco, a history teacher in Pomona, he is running for the newly-formed State Assembly District 42.

Orozco sent out the forum announcement under Beaumont Unified School District letterhead with the following quote:

"Many parents have approached me expressing their worries on early release of inmates due to overcrowding, and lack of funding. On early release they ask: 'will there be a trickle, or will the flood gates open.'

"As we are experiencing high unemployment another question is, the rise on petty crimes, and how vulnerable seniors are to these types of crimes. However, I hope that by working together, through workshops like these, community and law enforcement authorities, we can help ensure the safety of the Pass Area."

Asked for additional comment Monday after the forum was announced, Orozco declined.

Orozco said the event is being hosted by himself and recently-elected Banning Unified School District board member , and it is supported by Beaumont City Council member Nancy Gall and Banning City Council member Debbie Franklin.

Organizers said no tax payers dollars will be used to pay for the event.

"This is why we are working collaboratively with local business," Orozco's announcement said.

For more information contact Edward Nerey at Ednerey@hotmail.com or (951) 663-4763.

A pdf copy of Orozco's announcement is attached to this report.