Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)

Proposition 36, misleadingly called the "Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act," promises to tackle key social issues but fails to deliver real solutions. It proposes no new housing, shelters, or treatment programs, but instead focuses on sending individuals with drug-related problems to prison, significantly increasing incarceration costs. Estimates suggest Prop 36 would drain around $100 million annually from crucial substance abuse and reentry programs, forcing cuts to essential services like education and healthcare. California's previous approach, such as Prop 47, which reduced drug possession charges, has successfully diverted individuals from prisons to treatment programs, reduced recidivism rates, and alleviated prison overcrowding. By contrast, Prop 36 threatens to return to the failed War on Drugs model that disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. Despite proponents' claims that the measure would curb retail theft and encourage people into treatment, there's no evidence that harsher criminal penalties will further reduce retail theft. Additionally, retail crime has been declining post-pandemic, and the state’s existing laws already address these concerns. This is about protecting our communities and focusing on real solutions, not punitive approaches. We need investment in care, not cages! via The Sacramento Bee Read full article here: https://ow.ly/SVk050TN8i8 #NoOnProp36 #CareNotCages #ItTakesCURYJ #CloseYouthPrisons #BuildYouthLeaders

CURYJ Team showed up strong to BOSS No on Prop 36 Press Conference in The Town! Special shout out to the Violence Interruptors constantly in different parts of Oakland where they’re most needed. #dreambeyondbars #closeyouthprisons #buildyouthleaders #endmassincarceration #stopprop36 #oakland #thetown #ittakescuryj #curyj

Join us on Wednesday, October 30th at the Youth Power Zone (1150 35th Ave, Oakland) for our Voting Party and Dream Beyond Bars Institute Celebration! ?? ?? 5-6 PM: Celebrate DBB Leadership ?? 6-8 PM: Voting Party Walk-In – Bring your ballots and fill them out with us! ??? *Food and drinks will be provided. *Free BART parking after 3 PM. Let’s make an impact together! #DreamBeyondBars #BuildYouthLeaders #CloseYouthPrisons #ItTakesCURYJ

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe & allies were arrested yesterday in Washington DC as they tried to reclaim the horses that were stolen by the slave catchers. Multiple elders & women were assaulted with no remorse but our indigenous elders held their ground! This comes a day after Indigenous People’s Day.. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe were on the Trail of Truth, in which they rode on horseback from Occupied Ohlone Land all the way to Washington DC to seek federal recognition of The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Instead they were met with violence & imprisonment by the settler colonial slave catchers, continuing their racist legacy towards Native people as did their pilgrim ancestors.. the white right wing trump supporters who attempted to overthrow their government on January 6th were treated with much more grace.. it is important to point out there was in facts cops amongst those crowds

The Community gathered in solidarity with the Mario Gonzalez Family this past Friday. @justice4eriksalgado spoke about her experience & @antipoliceterrorproject spoke as well about their work & support. 67 Sue?os had a youth do a spoken word. Please join us October 25th as we come back to court to ensure Mario Gonzalez gets justice!! #dreambeyondbars #justice4mariogonzalez #justice4eriksalgado #closeyouthprisons #buildyouthleaders #ittakescuryj #curyj

From Motown to The Town! Our Violence Interruptors & CURYJ team went out to Detroit to the FICPFM National Convening where they had the opportunity to enrich our strategies, exchange knowledge & build with Black & Brown organizations doing great work in different neighborhoods & barrios where they most need it! #dreambeyondbars #closeyouthprisons #buildyouthleaders #yesonprop6 #stopprop36 #thetown #motown #oakland #detroit #ittakescuryj #curyj

Today Jesus Coba spoke about the Mario Gonzalez case & how the judge dismissed charges on 2 of the murderers based off technicality… not justice. Shout out to @curyj510 @frisco_copwatch @antipoliceterrorproject @67suenos for continuously supporting impacted families of police terrorism ?? @townvisions

Meet Pam ? After her release from prison in 2018, Pam found a new beginning through Prop 47 programs. With support from A New Way of Life Reentry Project, she received help with employment, housing, and reuniting with her family. Now, Pam is paying it forward as a life coach with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, mentoring others navigating reentry challenges. But programs like the ones that helped Pam are at risk. ? Prop 36 threatens to cut crucial funding, increase incarceration for low-level offenses, and undo the progress we've made in reducing recidivism and homelessness. We can't afford to go backwards. Let's protect our communities and continue investing in what works. Vote No on Prop 36 and learn more at peopleagainstprop36.org. #NoOnProp36 #JusticeForAll #EndMassIncarceration #CareNotCages #ProtectProp47

We want to send our prayers to Wounded Knee, an elder in our community, who’s transitioned to the spirit world. May he rest in peace & look over us as we continue fighting the fight our ancestors long before us took on against the colonizers & to protect this sacred land we call Mother Earth ??? Video by Jesus Coba

Yesterday, KPIX | CBS San Francisco/Bay Area published an article and interviewed our Executive Director and Co-Founder, George Galvis, to discuss and comment on Oakland's Public Safety Committee that's in discussion about renewing the city's 20-year-old ShotSpotter program, a gunshot detection system. Here at CURYJ we believe that the push to renew ShotSpotter is politically driven, which makes us question the effectiveness of the ShotSpotter program, especially given the city’s $170 million budget deficit. We know that this type of program is not cost effective. Council member Noel Gallo said it's because of the police department's limited manpower that they must turn to technology. Our Executive Director has this to say, "Our elected officials, I think, are concerned about being perceived as being 'soft on crime' or not supporting public safety. And so, that means they're willing to actually get behind strategies that they know are actually ineffective." Click the video above to watch the full coverage. To read the full article visit the link here: https://ow.ly/QeYp50TIlP3 #ItTakesCURYJ #DreamBeyondBars #CloseYouthPrisons #BuildYouthLeaders #LandBack #StopShotSpotter