Alanis seeks 2nd term in Assembly, again challenged by Self. Where they stand on issues
Assemblyman Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, made retail theft and the fentanyl crisis part of the legislative agenda for his first term.
A retired sergeant with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, Alanis is seeking re-election in a state that grapples with widespread homelessness and a difficult fiscal outlook.
Democrat Jessica Self is challenging the incumbent as an advocate for Central Valley families that struggle to pay their bills. She also wants to increase funding for schools and bring an end to domestic violence.
During his first term in Sacramento, Alanis swam upstream against a Democratic majority that’s progressive on law enforcement issues. But he was part of a bipartisan legislative package this year that dealt with emerging concerns about crime.
His bill AB 1972 targets a lesser-known problem, cargo theft, by providing resources and equipment to combat criminal groups that steal from warehouses and trucking terminals. The bill was signed in August by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who also signed Alanis bills dealing with release of sexually violent offenders, the opioid crisis, livestock theft and financial literacy curriculum in schools.
Alanis is supporting Proposition 36, which would allow felony prosecutions and stiffer penalties for some drug and theft crimes when defendants have prior convictions. It also would create a drug treatment option for certain criminal convictions, with the threat of prison time for not completing treatment.
Self said she supports changes in California’s criminal statutes to again include enhanced penalties for repeat theft offenders and organized retail theft. But the state can’t return to failed criminal justice methods and expect good results, the candidate said.
Problems with retail theft and drug use are related to the housing crisis, homelessness and the lack of mental health resources, Self said. “I intend to enact and support pragmatic, cost-efficient and effective solutions,” Self said. “I have the background, knowledge and political will to actually get work done, and I think that is what Valley residents are looking for, fewer promises and more results.”
Alanis defeated Self in the 2022 election, by a 58.1% to 41.9% margin, earning the right to represent the newly drawn 22nd Assembly District. The district includes Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Patterson and Newman, plus a small part of Merced County.
Self, a former public defender, is a child advocate attorney for Stanislaus County child support services. She said her budget priorities, if she’s elected, will be fighting for residents in the district to restore funding needed for growth and protection of communities.
“Right now, we are missing out on critical funding for projects in our region,” she said. “The state budget is volatile, and we need an assembly member who can effectively work with leadership to ensure our communities aren’t getting the short end of the stick.”
The Democrat promised to ensure adequate resources for mental health services and supportive housing, to promote investment in schools and job-training programs and expand housing opportunities for students, seniors and other residents. Support for hospitals and health clinics are also budget priorities, Self said.
Alanis foresees state budget limitations for the coming year; nonetheless, his priorities are addressing a regional nursing shortage and declining access to quality health care, along with support for law enforcement and school districts, he said.
How to address the homelessness crisis
When asked about California’s homelessness crisis, Alanis said the state should identify people at risk of being homeless and make sure they can access job training, employment opportunities and affordable housing. People with mental illness and substance use addiction also need support, he said.
“The state needs to do better at keeping more hard-earned dollars in the bank accounts of those who earned them,” Alanis said. “The cost of everyday needs like gas and groceries is higher than ever before, and yet costs continue to increase, making it even harder for working-class families to stay in their homes.”
Self said passage of Proposition 5 on the November ballot would be a good start in addressing the homeless crisis by making it easier to pass housing bonds.
The barriers facing veterans and seniors deserve closer examination, as does the need for mental health and drug addiction treatment for a portion of the homeless population, Self added. The candidate said there are quick and easy ways to assist homeless people who are working, before their circumstances cause them to lose employment.
“This would be an early priority for my first term in office,” Self said. “Through my work as a children’s advocate for Stanislaus County, I also know there are hundreds of children here in the Valley who don’t have a stable home to grow and thrive. It’s unacceptable, and I will make sure Sacramento is giving us the resources we need to help these kids, and everyone in need throughout our community.”
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 8:21 AM.
