San Jose, California. – A group of two dozen California 7-Eleven owners stood shoulder to shoulder Tuesday in South Central San Jose as proof of solidarity for the passing of Prop 36.

“We heard loud and clear that prop 36 is a step in the right direction,” said Elizabeth Graham of the California Fuels & Convenience Alliance.

Many of those gathered were shaken, outraged and exhausted by the rising tide of retail crime. They complained to politicians that their shops had become fertile ground for criminals.

“And it’s not just smash-and-grabs. It’s everyday theft that happens because there’s this notion of petty crime not being responsible,” said owner Jawad Ursani, who has two stores in Los Angeles.

Supporters of Proposition 36 pointed to the passage of Prop. 47 a decade ago as the real problem. It reduced certain low-level offenses, such as burglary, from misdemeanors to felonies.

“We need to restore balance to the criminal justice system and ensure accountability for repeat offenders, particularly with a focus on treating repeat drug offenders,” said Mayor Matt Mahan, (D) San Jose, who spoke to KTVU while attend an event. separate press conference. “We cannot continue to leave people trapped in a cycle of addiction, theft. In some cases, homelessness”.

Opponents of Prop-36 said it would make worse all the things it aims to cure by crowding prisons with people who need help, not incarceration.

“The reason people feel unsafe in our communities, Proposition 36 doesn’t address or attack any of that,” said Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods. State Sen. Dave Cortese, (D) San Jose, added, “Proposition 36 is at least 20 percent flawed. I tell you that 20% of the people caught in this measure and the new sentence of this referendum will be considered an injustice. … This prop 36 does not add another dime to mental health treatment or mental health beds.”

Experts believe that Proposition 36 already has overwhelming support and is likely to pass on Election Day.

“This close to the election, if it’s over 60 percent, it’s very, very likely to pass. And all the public polls I’ve seen, it’s north of 60 percent,” said Dr. Corey Cook, OH of political science and prev at St. Mary’s College.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D) California, has previously said he opposes Proposition 36 but will implement the will of voters if it passes.

Jesse Gary is a reporter in the station’s South Bay bureau. Follow him on Instagram, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU