Maldonado wants new public safety changes

Santa Maria resident and former California Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado is supporting a soon-to-be submitted ballot measure to end prison realignment.

Supporters say they will need in excess of 600,000 signatures from registered voters to get the measure on the November 2014 ballot.

The issue of realignment and early prison release has been controversial for Governor Jerry Brown since a federal court order required solutions to state prison crowding.

Maldonado made his case in front of the Santa Maria Sheriff’s office saying crime has gone up in his city since the relocation of some prison inmates to local county

In addition to more murders, burglaries have increased substantially, said Maldonado.

He wants action to make sure those who have stiff sentences, serve their full penalty.