On Wednesday October 23, a press conference was held on the steps in front of the Hall of Justice – 330 W. Broadway, San Diego at 10am PT in opposition to Prop36.
For 25 years A New PATH has been effective in demanding a change in drug policies by sharing stories of grief and loss to change the dialogue about drug use and addiction and to recognize it as a public health concern, not a criminal justice issue. A New PATH has been a part of many effective drug policy reforms in California including the original Prop 36 (treatment instead of incarceration) in 2000 and Prop 47: the Safe Neighborhoods & Schools Act.
Speakers represented a large coalition of partner organizations who spoke in opposition to Prop 36 and in favor of Prop 6 which would abolish forcing prisoners to work. Speakers from A New PATH included Gretchen Burns Bergman, Caroline Stewart, L.C.S.W., and Elon Burns, CADCII. Other speakers included: Shelby Huffaker, MPH, SD Chapter Americans for Safe Access Askari Abdul-Muntaqim, Pillars of the Community, Lon Chhay, Asian Solidarity Collective, Cheri Hampton, Issa Vibe, Jessie Schmitte, Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund and Yusef Miller, All of Us or None. Other groups who attended in solidarity included: Health Advocacy with Mutual Inclusivity, Viet Voices, Our Time to Act and PHATCAMP.
A New PATH works to reduce the stigma associated with addictive illness through education and compassionate support, and advocates for therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies.
